Kochi’s famend Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, house to the Kerala Blasters Football Club, is about to increase its horizons past sports activities as plans emerge to host non-sporting occasions corresponding to live shows and award exhibits. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the stadium, has unveiled intentions to put money into cutting-edge ‘turf safety tiles,’ a transfer impressed by the practices of main stadiums worldwide throughout low season durations as per Manorama Online.

Allocating a considerable Rs 8 crore from its annual finances, the GCDA is spearheading this initiative to maximise the stadium’s utility all year long. Chairman Ok Chandran Pillai outlined the imaginative and prescient, emphasizing the necessity to capitalize on the enduring venue’s potential past its present seasonal utilization. “The JLN Stadium has a rich history of hosting international cricket matches and is now the proud home ground of the Kerala Blasters. However, its facilities lie idle for a significant portion of the year, between October and February,” Pillai remarked to Manorama online.

Acknowledging the constant repairs of the turf regardless of durations of inactivity, Pillai underscored the plan to rework the stadium right into a hub for cultural occasions able to accommodating as much as 35,000 attendees in the course of the low season. Central to this transformation is the adoption of turf safety tiles crafted from high-density polyethylene, clear buildings that facilitate grass progress whereas safeguarding the enjoying floor. Pillai outlined the income potential in internet hosting occasions like award ceremonies, live shows, and public gatherings, indicating efforts to safe funding from the state sports activities division.