M.A Chidambaram Stadium, which is also known as Chepauk Stadium, has hosted many international matches. This stadium is considered one of the most well-known stadiums in the country. The stadium, which is the third oldest Cricket Stadium in India, is owned by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. It has also been hosting the matches of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Nevertheless, owing to a few legal issues in the past few years, the venue has been affected.
Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has not received the government order for renewing the stadium’s lease agreement for 21 years in the recent news development. Former chief of the ICC, BCCI, and TNCA on Thursday, N. Srinivasan had a meeting with Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. The government order is expected to be received by the TNCA on November 22. The TNCA will knock on the doors of the High Court for the reopening of three stands- I, J and K.
M.A Chidambaram Stadium has a capacity of 50,000 seats
The stadium has a capacity of 50,000 seats but it uses only 38,000 seats. Seeing its ‘I, J, and K’ stands is not a pleasant sight, which is empty. The three stands can seat up to 12,00o people. Since November 2011, however, the stands have not been used as they have been facing legal issues.
The Supreme Court also ordered parts of the stands to be demolished in 2015, asking the TNCA to give the proposal to the Chennai Municipal Corporation. The main reason behind the issue is the gymnasium adjacent to the stands of the Madras Cricket Club (MCC). The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has declared parts of the Madras Cricket Club as heritage structures, making it difficult to demolish any part of the club.
There was a strong move ahead of the last year’s India-Australia ODI at Chepauk to make the three stands available as a “temporary” gesture of goodwill, but the government of the state-backed off at the last minute due to legal complications.
