The state is also famous for its beaches, attracting millions of tourists annually. One, in particular, is the Alappuzha beach, where the main attraction is the Nehru Boat Race, which takes place every year in August.
However, Alappuzha beach is not the only place where the people of Kerala enjoy watching live sporting events. Across the state, there are many impressive stadiums, in which the most recognizable ones are featured in this article.
Overview of Sports in Kerala
The first sport played in Kerala was cricket, which was introduced in 1800 by Arthur Wellesley, better known as the Duke of Wellington. Surprisingly, football is actually the most popular sport in Kerala. The beautiful game was introduced to the locals in the 20th century, and many clubs were founded. Interestingly, the oldest football club in the country is RB Ferguson Club, established in 1899, which is still operating today.
Yet, the biggest club in the state is Kerala Blasters. The team plays in the Indian Super League (ISL), and continues to grow in popularity with the locals yearly. Several ex-Premier League players have even played for the Blasters, including; David James, Michael Chopra and Sanchez Watt. Now, the squad is mainly made up of Indian players, and they came runners-up in the 2022 ISL season, narrowly losing out to Hyderabad.
Because of their success, in recent years, people in Kerala have taken an interest in placing bets at Indian legal betting sites. Indians enjoy placing accumulator bets on the ISL, with the most popular wagers being first goalscorer, match result and Asian handicaps.
Now, let's take a look at some of the most impressive stadiums in Kerala, where mainly cricket and football are played.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
The most iconic stadium in Kerala is the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is located in Kochi. It was opened in 1996 and is the home to the ISL team, the Kerala Blasters. To the locals, it's known as the Kaloor Stadium, and the total capacity is 80,000, which is reduced to 39,000 for ISL matches.
But, the highest ever attended event was in 1997 when India played Iraq, and 100,000 fans watched the action. The stadium has been the host of many important national and international events, including the South Asian Games in 1987 and 1995. Moreover, Kaloor is used for concerts, and in 2018, the famous Indian musician AR Rahman performed to a sell-out crowd.
Greenfield International Stadium
The Greenfield International Stadium is a multi-purpose arena located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. The stadium is the home to the Kerala cricket team, which competes for the Ranji trophy. It's a modern arena constructed in 2014 and built on land leased by Kerala University. The deal is a 15-year lease where the university pays ₹94 lahks each year.
Furthermore, the Greenfield International Stadium has hosted many Indian national cricket matches. The first ODI match occurred on October 1st, 2018, when India faced off against The West Indies. India won by 9 wickets, with star batsman Rohit Sharma scoring 63 runs.
In football, the stadium hosted the 2015 SAFF Championships, with the final between the hosts, India and Afghanistan. In an exciting match watched by 48,500 fans, India defeated Afghanistan 2-1 in extra time.
The Corporation Stadium
The Corporation Stadium holds numerous records, with the most famous one being the largest and highest temporary stadium in the world. Because of this, it's in the Guinness Book of Records. Also, what makes the stadium famous is the pitch. In 2015, it was the first ever synthetic pitch in India which was supplied by a US company.
The Stadium is located in the city of Kozhikode and was built in the 1970s. Since its construction, the seating capacity has increased to around 25,000 people. The arena is primarily used for football matches, with FC Kerala and FC Thrissur calling The Corporation Stadium home.
In 1982, the prestigious football tournament, the Santosh Trophy, was held at the Corporation Stadium. In the final, the Bengals defeated Railways 2-0 to claim their 20th Santosh Trophy at that time.
EMS Stadium
The EMS Stadium is a true architectural marvel and a sports enthusiast's paradise. The arena gets its name from the first Chief Minister of Kerala, E.M.S. Namboodiripad. With a seating capacity of around 50,000, it has played host to some of the most iconic football and cricket matches in Kerala's history.
One of these was when the EMS hosted the football competition, the 1987 Nehru Cup. In total, 8 teams entered the competition, and the Soviet Union lifted the trophy.
Beyond sports, the stadium has also been a venue for concerts, political rallies and religious functions. As it is located in a central location, it's easily accessible to visitors, making it a must-visit destination for sports fans.
