Dr. Ambedkar Stadium is a football stadium in New Delhi, India.[2][3][4] The stadium is named after Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, social reformer and architect of the Indian Constitution. It was earlier known as Corporation Stadium. It has held competitions like Delhi Football League, DCM Trophy, Subroto Cup and Durand Cup. It houses offices of Football Delhi, earlier known as Delhi Soccer Association. It was renovated and reopened in 2007 and has a listed capacity of 35,000. The stadium has hosted international football finals such as the 2007[5][6] and 2009 Nehru Cup.[7][8]

Dr. Ambedkar Stadium
A view of the stadium in 2011
Map
Former namesDelhi Gate Stadium
LocationFeroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi
Coordinates28°38′20″N 77°14′31″E / 28.639°N 77.242°E / 28.639; 77.242
OwnerMunicipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)[1]
Capacity30,000
Field size101.0 M x 67.5 M
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Renovated2007
Tenants
Delhi FC
Sudeva Delhi
Delhi Football League
Football Delhi competitions

In October 2022, I-League side Rajasthan United announced that they will use Ambedkar Stadium as home ground due to unavailability of prominent stadium in their state.[9][10][11]

History

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Renovation

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India vs Syria on the 2007 ONGC Nehru Cup International Football Tournament

In 2007, the stadium was renovated and floodlights were installed. In August 2007 the stadium hosted its first tournament under floodlights, the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament 2007.

Controversy

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At the start of the 2010–11 I-League season Indian Arrows were expected to play its I-League matches at the stadium, but due to the stadium owners, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), holding non-sporting events on the pitch the pitch forced Arrows to play their matches at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurgaon.

Renovation to meet International standards

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In 2024, plans were issued by the Delhi Soccer Association to revamp the stadium at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore. The revamped stadium will be equipped with dressing rooms, toilets, cafeterias and media centres.[12]

Major matches

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29 August 2007 2007 Nehru Cup Final India   1–0   Syria New Delhi
Pradeep   44' Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
Referee: Sikhrakar Surendra (India)
13 August 2008 2008 AFC Challenge Cup Myanmar   0–4   North Korea New Delhi
16:00 Report Pak Song-Chol   10', 12', 44' (pen.)
Ro Hak-Su   53'
Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Khalid Al-Senan (UAE)
13 August 2008 2008 AFC Challenge Cup India   4–1   Tajikistan New Delhi
19:00 Chhetri   9', 23', 75'
Bhutia   18'
Report Fatkhuloev   44' Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
31 August 2009 2009 Nehru Cup Final India   1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
  Syria New Delhi
Renedy   114' Report Diab   120+3' Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Ali Adil (Maldives)
Penalties
  Lawrence
  Renedy
  Chhetri
  Dias
  Wadoo
  A. Ali
  Surkumar
Rafe  
Ayan  
Haj Mohamad  
Balhous  
Al Agha  
Al Hussain  
Al Aitoni  
28 July 2011 2014 FIFA WC AFC Qualifier Round2 India   2–2   United Arab Emirates New Delhi
Lalpekhula   73'
Singh   90+2'
Report Al Shehhi   39'
Al-Wehaibi   71'
Stadium: Ambedkar Stadium
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Abdul Malik Bashir (Singapore)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ambedkar stadium to host India's World Cup qualifier". The Times of India. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  2. ^ Sayak Dipta Dey (17 November 2017). "I-League 2017/18 : What does the season have in store?". sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. ^ Bharat, Khelchandra (6 July 2016). "Durand Cup 2016: Minerva Academy FC Gets Direct Entry Along With 7 Other Clubs". indianfootballnetwork.com. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  4. ^ Tarafdar, Veronica (30 March 2023). "In the last matchday of the I-League season, teams compete for improved Super Cup qualifying ranking". footballexpress.in. Football Express India. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Nehru Cup Victory : Moment To Cherish For Indian Football Fans". syndication.bleacherreport.com. Bharanithar. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  6. ^ Media Team, AIFF (15 August 2022). "Indian Football Down the Years: Looking back at the glorious moments". www.the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Hindustan FC wins DSA Senior Division League". The Times of India. 21 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Hindustan FC hammer Bengaluru FC 4–0". i-league.org. All India Football Federation. 6 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  9. ^ DN Jaipur desk (27 October 2022). "राजस्थान यूनाईटेड ने दिल्ली के अम्बेडकर स्टेडियम को बनाया अपना होम ग्राउण्ड" [Rajasthan United made Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium their home ground]. dainiknavajyoti.com (in Hindi). Jaipur, Rajasthan: Dainik Navajyoti. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  10. ^ Shivhare, Shashwat (6 November 2022). "Hero I-League to be a different proposition, says Rajasthan United Head Coach Pushpender Kundu". i-league.org. New Delhi: All India Football Federation Media Team. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  11. ^ Sarkar, Sattyik (21 April 2023). "Rajasthan United to play next I-League season in Jaipur". KhelNow.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Ambedkar stadium to be renovated to meet international standards". The Times of India. 16 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 May 2024.