Kozhikode Corporation EMS Stadium

The Kozhikode Corporation EMS Stadium, located in Kozhikode, Kerala, India,[1] is a multi-purpose stadium that is primarily used for football matches.[2][3] The stadium most recently was home to the I-League team Gokulam Kerala FC, as well as their IWL team women's team. Built in 1977,[4] the stadium has the capacity of 50,000 spectators. It is named after the first Chief Minister of Kerala E. M. S. Namboodiripad. The stadium is famous for its passionate football fans and has played host to several important football tournaments such as the Scissors Cup finals, Super Cup finals, Santhosh Trophy, and Sait Nagjee Football tournament. The Gokulam Kerala team has been playing their home matches at the EMS Stadium since 2017 and has had a successful run at the stadium winning their first I-League home match against East Bengal FC with a score of 2–1, and Shillong Lajong FC with a score of 3–2. The stadium is considered as a historic and important venue for football in the region and continues to attract large crowds for various matches and tournaments.

Kozhikode Corporation EMS Stadium
AddressIndia
LocationRajaji Road, Kozhikode, Kerala
OwnerKozhikode Corporation
OperatorKerala Football Association
Capacity50,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1977 (1977)
ArchitectRK Remesh
Tenants

Renovations

The Corporation Stadium has undergone significant renovations over the years to improve its infrastructure and facilities. In 2005, the stadium underwent a renovation to host State Bank of Travancore National Football League matches. Another renovation was done in 2011 in preparation for the National Games in 2012, with the Corporation of Kozhikode and the government investing around 18 Crore for the upgrade.

The new design of the stadium, by RK Ramesh, includes state-of-the-art amenities such as a VVIP lounge with a seating capacity of 200, dressing rooms, media center, and other facilities. The grandstand pavilion was also upgraded for the National Games in 2012, and the stadium was fitted with improved floodlights to ensure high-quality matches. The EMS Stadium has been renovated to be an international standard stadium for both football and cricket.

The stadium is also equipped with modern facilities like VIP seating arrangements, food courts, and washrooms. The stadium has also installed CCTV cameras for security and safety measures. The stadium is easily accessible to public transport and have enough parking space.[5]

There are plans to lease the stadium to the Kerala Cricket Association while the Kerala Football Association would like to have control of the stadium. With its excellent facilities and infrastructure, the EMS Stadium is a premier sports venue in Kerala and continues to host a wide range of sporting events, including football and cricket matches, as well as other events such as concerts and festivals.[6]

Images
Kozhikode EMS Stadium Gallery during the starting ceremony of Kerala Blasters match in Hero Super Cup, April 2023

Football

It was the home ground of Viva Kerala FC in the I-league, though now Kerala United FC is the team from Kozhikode trying to get into I League. It was also the home ground of Gokulam Kerala, and its women's team.[7]

This stadium is famous for the football crazy fans of Kozhikode. Famous scissors cup finals, super cup finals, Santhosh Trophy, Sait Nagjee Football Tournament are being held here. The stadium is the home ground for Gokulam Kerala team in I-League since 2017. Gokulam Kerala had won their first I-League home match against East Bengal FC for 2–1 and Shillong Lajong FC for 3–2.

The stadium hosted matches of 2023 Indian Super Cup.[8][9][10]

1980 AFC Women's Championship

1980 AFC Women's Asian Cup previously called Women's Championship Football, which the Indian team won silver was held here.

1987 Nehru Cup

The Kozhikode Corporation EMS stadium hosted the 1987 Nehru Cup, which was won by the Soviet Union. National teams of Bulgaria, China, Denmark Germany, India, Nigeria, Soviet Union and Syria participated in the tournament.

Sait Nagjee Football Tournament

2016 Sait Nagjee Trophy Teams

TeamLocationConfederation
FC Dnipro ReservesUkraineUEFA
1860 München IIMunichUEFA
Argentina U23ArgentinaCONMEBOL
Atlético Paranaense ReservesCuritibaCONMEBOL
Volyn LutskUkraineUEFA
Rapid BucureștiBucharestUEFA
Shamrock RoversDublinUEFA
Watford ReservesWatfordUEFA

National Games

The stadium hosted football matches for the 35th National Games.[11]

Other uses

Cricket

It also hosted the veterans of India and Pakistan cricket match in which legends like Ijaz Ahmed, Syed Kirmani and others played. In 1994, touring West Indies had taken Mumbai in a three-day encounter. West Indies were dismissed for 176 and Bombay ended the day at 53/2. The match, however, had to be called off after the opening day owing to law and order problems in the wake of a bandh.

Other Event

It also hosted many cultural events held at Kozhikode like malabar mahotsavam. It also hosted the inaugural performance of world tour of A. R. Rahman, the Academy Award–winning musician.

Accessibility

The Kozhikode EMS Stadium is located in the heart of the city. It lies beside the Pavamani Road between Rajaji road and New Bus stand, a common stretch among many city bus routes. The Stadium Mavoor Road from the Western side allows access from Mananchira and Arayadathupalam, although there is no public transport along this route. The stadium is situated at 2.5 km from the Kozhikode railway station and railway stations respectively. The stadium is 26 km (16 mi) from Calicut International Airport, and 30 km (19 mi) from Thamarassery.

See also


References
  1. 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.
  2. "football in Calicut". Kozhikode.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  3. PS, Sreerag (7 April 2023). "'Stepmotherly treatment to I-League clubs': Gokulam Kerala fans irate over no Super Cup qualifiers live telecast". thesouthfirst.com. Kochi: The South First News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. EMS Stadium: Our home Archived 21 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine Gokulam Kerala FC (official website). Retrieved 21 April 2021
  5. "E.M.S. Stadium Famous Stadium in Kerala". www.indiamapped.com. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  6. "EMS Stadium Gets Ready for Some Cricketing Action". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  7. s.pai, vinayak. "I League 2017/18: Gokulam Kerala FC 1-1 Mohun Bagan: 5 talking points from the game". Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  8. "Super Cup: Sreenidi Deccan beat Kerala Blasters". onmanorama.com. Kozhikode: Onmanorama News. 12 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  9. "Kerala Blasters vs Sreenidi Deccan HIGHLIGHTS, Super Cup 2023: Hassan, Castaneda goals help SDEC stun KBFC 2–0". sportstar.thehindu.com. Kozhikode: Sportstar. 12 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. Rawat, Akhil (25 April 2023). "Odisha FC bask in Kozhikode rain; beat Bengaluru FC to claim Hero Super Cup crown". the-aiff.com. Kozhikode: All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  11. "Kerala to host 35th National Games from January 31". 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.

Further reading
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