Chennai, Mar 17 (Representative) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin todayinaugurated the newly constructed and renovated two stands andnamed a gallery after late DMK Patriarch M.Karunanidhi at the iconic M.A.Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk ahead of the third ODI between India and Australia on March 22 and the IPL starting onMarch 31.Both the stands–Pavilion Stand and the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) stand– were demolished and reconstructed at a cost of nearlyRs 90 crores. With the opening of the two new stands and the refurbished I,J & K,stands, which was closed for a few years due to legal wrangles andre-opened two years, the historic stadium now sports a swanky look and its capacity is expected to be around 38,000. Mr Stalin also named a gallery in the stadium after former Tamil NaduChief Minister M.Karunanidhi, in the presence of Sports and YouthWelfare Minister and Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin, former BCCI President and India Cements Vice-Chairman and Managing Directpr N.Srinivasan, former Indian Cricket Captain and CSK Skipper M.S.Dhoni, CSK star and West Indian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, TNCAofficials and others.
The new-look Pavilion stand included a state-of-the-art indoor trainingfacility on the ground floor. The renovation works at the Stadium, the second oldest in India after Eden Gardens in Kolkata, has been going on for the last two yearsahead of the 50-over World Cup later this year.Although no stands in the Stadium have been are named after anyformer player, administrator or politician, the TNCA has made anexception to honour five-time CM Mr Karunanidhi, an ardent cricketenthusiast, who had inaugurated the pavilion named after formerDMK leader and CM CN Annadurai. However, before the pavilion end of the stadium could be renovated, legal troubles surrounding the I, J & K stands cropped up and the workcould not be carried out for a long time. These three stands were also opened today after renovation and thespectators will be allowed for the March 22 ODI and the IPL. For the players, there will be spacious dressing rooms, a gym and anindoor nets facility on the first floor above the pavilion.
The rest of the stadium has also been given a facelift along with the newgalleries for a better spectator experience, including wheelchair accessat the I-Lower stand. “After the I, J & K stands issue was sorted out and the lease renewed, theold structure was demolished in December 2021, and the work commencedin April last year and it was now ready to accommodate the ardent cricketloving spectators. A striking aspect of the stadium will be a museum which will showcase thehistory of the hallowed turf. Apart from ththe Museum, there will be a Chennai Super Kings superstoreand a place with other memorabilia. The stadium will also sport artwork and murals on the walls featuring iconicgames played at the venue, including the famous 1986 Tied Test betweenIndia and Australia, the second in test cricketing history.