Plans are afoot to significantly upgrade the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the Karnataka State Cricket Association beginning steps towards a long-term renovation aimed at enhancing capacity and overall fan experience.The move comes soon after KSCA officials, led by President Venkatesh Prasad, met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to discuss the ambitious expansion plan. The proposal seeks to increase the stadium’s capacity, which currently stands at around 34,000 seats, by adding an additional 20,000 seats.
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Taking the first formal step, the KSCA issued an Expression of Interest (EOI), calling for proposals for comprehensive reform. The project will cover architectural and structural redesign, improved spectator facilities, better crowd movement systems, along with the development of parking and traffic management solutions.While a specific deadline has not yet been set, Prasad acknowledged the scale and complexity of the project.“We have not set a timeline for completing the renovation as it is a long process,” Prasad told Deccan Herald. “We have to call for bids and hold multiple meetings to get various approvals. It will take a long time. But we are determined to transform the stadium, and we hope to do so during my tenure.”Prasad also clarified that the idea has been in the works for years and is not a sudden initiative.
“It is not that I have come into office now and want to make changes immediately,” he stressed. “I’ve been thinking about this for the past 10 years. Even when I was pursuing my MBA in International Sports Management, I kept coming back to one thing – the spectators. They are our biggest stakeholders, yet they have little say. The game has become what it is because of them, and the least we can do is provide the best possible match experience on the field.
“Highlighting the need for modernization, he noted that the place, which was originally built in the 1970s, must now evolve with the rapid growth of the city.“The stadium is of course very old. With all due respect to those who built it, it needs to evolve. It was built in the 1970s with a vision for maybe the next 50 years. But Bengaluru has evolved beyond anyone’s imagination, so everything has to evolve accordingly.”He also pointed out the upgrades made at other popular Indian venues such as Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens and M.
A. Chidambaram Stadium, stressing that it is time for Chinnaswamy to undergo a similar transformation.He added: “Many of the facilities in the stadium seem temporary and inadequate at the present time. The commentators’ boxes and amenities for the fans… all of this needs to change, and this is the only constant.”As Bengaluru continues to grow as a major cricket hub, the proposed revamp could represent an important step towards bringing one of India’s most iconic stadiums up to modern standards.Stay updated with the IPL table, check your team’s position on the IPL 2026 points table, and follow the race to win the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap titles.