Owen79097529716 at 16:13, 26 December 2025

2025-12-26T16:13:29Z

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{{Short description|Football stadium in Bengaluru, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Bangalore Football Stadium
| nickname =
| logo_image =
| image = BFS on a matchday May 2023.jpg
| image_size = 275px
| image_caption = Stadium on a matchday
| location = Magrath Road, [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|12.968866|77.611585|format=dms|type:landmark_scale:3000|display=it}}
| broke_ground = 1967<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece">{{cite web|last=Chowdhury|first=Aniruddha|title=The Bangalore Football Stadium is probably the oldest in an incomplete state|url=https://bangalorebuzz.blogspot.com/2009/11/bangalore-football-stadium-is-probably.html|work=Bangalore Buzz|access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref>
| opened = 1970–1971<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/>
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = [[Karnataka State Football Association]]
| operator =
| surface = [[Artificial turf]]
| capacity = 15,000 to 40,000 (1969–2013)<ref name="Business Standard Capacity">{{cite web|last=Sharma|first=Aabhas|title=A sports club succeeds with professionalism: Mustafa Ghouse|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/a-sports-club-succeeds-with-professionalism-mustafa-ghouse-114042600848_1.html|work=Business Standard|access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Hindu Capacity">{{cite news|last=Ashok|first=Kalyan|title=Where the fast-paced action is afoot|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-neighbourhood/where-the-fastpaced-action-is-afoot/article4096439.ece|work=The Hindu|date=14 November 2012 |access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref><br/>8,400 (2013–)<ref name="Goal.com Capacity">{{cite web|last=Munjunath |first=Akash |title=Bengaluru FC's Home Support: Their 12th man! |url=https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/bengaluru-fc-home-support-12th-man-023000201.html |work=Goal.com |access-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504192637/https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/bengaluru-fc-home-support-12th-man-023000201.html |archive-date=4 May 2014 }}</ref>
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| general_contractor =
| tenants = {{ubl|[[Bengaluru FC Reserves and Academy|Bengaluru FC B]]|[[FC Bengaluru United|Bengaluru United]]|[[Sporting Club Bengaluru|Sporting Bengaluru]]|[[Karnataka football team]]|[[Bangalore Football League]]|[[Karnataka Women's League]]}}
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/football-i-league-qualifiers-fc-bengaluru-united-madan-maharaj-fc-shares-spoils/article36901412.ece|title=FC Bengaluru United, Madan Maharaj FC shares spoils|website=sportstar.thehindu.com|date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HAL Bangalore 1-2 Pailan Arrows: Allwyn scores late in his side's second successive win |url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/69667/hal-bangalore-vs-pailan-arrows/report |work=Goal.com |access-date=22 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630232949/http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/69667/hal-bangalore-vs-pailan-arrows/report |archive-date=30 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HAL to go all out against ONGC|url=http://www.gcsstars.com/2011/02/hal-to-go-all-out-against-ongc.html|website=gcsstars.com|date=5 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416194117/http://www.gcsstars.com/2011/02/hal-to-go-all-out-against-ongc.html|archive-date=16 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
| public_transit = {{rint|bengaluru|metro}} {{rcb|Namma Metro|Purple|broute|X}} at [[Mahatma Gandhi Road metro station (Bangalore)|MG Road]]
}}

The '''Bangalore Football Stadium''' is a [[association football|football]] stadium in [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Defending Champions Bengaluru FC all set for BDFA Super Division League |url=https://www.bengalurufc.com/2019/bfc-b/defending-champions-bengaluru-fc-set-bdfa-super-division-league/ |access-date=12 December 2019 |work=BengaluruFC.com |date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212133235/https://www.bengalurufc.com/2019/bfc-b/defending-champions-bengaluru-fc-set-bdfa-super-division-league/ |archive-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> It has served as a venue in three editions of the [[I-League]], then top-tier football league in the country. The stadium was the home of [[Bengaluru FC]] for one season, when they won the I-League trophy in their first attempt. Now the stadium is currently used by [[SC Bengaluru]] for I-League matches which also hosted [[I-League 2]] and [[2023–24 I-League 3#Group D|Group D]] of [[I-League 3]] matches for them.

==History==
===Construction and early history===

[[File:Bengaluru FC vs CIL in Bangalore Super Division.jpg|thumb|The stadium during a [[Bangalore Super Division]] match between [[Bengaluru FC]] and CIL in 2013.]]
Construction of the stadium began in 1967.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/> Initially the stadium was going to be based on the famed [[Estádio do Maracanã]] in [[Brazil]] which had a capacity of 250,000 back then. The idea was to design and construct the Bengaluru Football Stadium like that but with a final capacity of 90,000 instead.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/> After the first stands were completed around 1970 and 1971 then [[FIFA]] president [[João Havelange]] made the trip to Bengaluru to see the progress and start of the construction of the main stands.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/> He was left happy with what he heard about the stadium and reportedly said he would bring South American teams to India to play in the stadium.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/>

However, eventually, problems started to arise about the cost of constructing the stadium skyrocketed. Materials such as steel and cement were stolen and due to the rise of costs the state football federation, the [[Karnataka State Football Association]] (KSFA), were left without the needed funds to complete the stadium.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/> Even though an enquiry was started, the results were never published due to corruption within the Bengaluru system.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/>

In order to raise some funds a leasing agreement was made with a private builder for two corner areas for his own buildings. The lease was revealed to be an 88-year agreement for 1 crore a year being given to the KSFA.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/> Despite the agreement, the delay in construction meant one of the stands had to be re-constructed while [[slum|slum dwellers]] moved into the area where the southern stand would be. This led to problems with fans and players who found it tough to retrieve the ball from the area once it landed there.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/>

In 1996–97, in an effort to have the [[National Games of India]] hosted in Bengaluru the high court ordered the slum area of the stadium cleared, which thus happened.<ref name="Bangalore Buzz Piece"/> On 5 December 2004, the stadium was the site of the death of Brazilian footballer [[Cristiano Júnior]] during a [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation Cup]] match between his [[Dempo S.C.|Dempo]] and [[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]. He collided with the Bagan and [[India national football team|India]] international goalkeeper [[Subrata Pal]] while scoring his second goal for Dempo before collapsing to the ground. He was announced dead on arrival at the hospital.<ref>{{cite web|title=When Cristiano collapsed, no doctor was around |url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2004/12/10/1012doctor.html |work=India Info |access-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214160631/http://news.indiainfo.com/2004/12/10/1012doctor.html |archive-date=14 December 2004 }}</ref>

In 2006 the [[2006 AFC Youth Championship|AFC Youth Championship]] was held at the stadium partially.<ref>{{cite news|title=AFC youth championship set to roll|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/afc-youth-championship-set-to-roll/article3067609.ece|work=The Hindu|date=28 October 2006 |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref>

===I-League era (2010–2014)===
In 2010 the [[I-League 2|I-League 2nd Division]] was hosted by the Bangalore Football Stadium which saw local Bengaluru side [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited S.C.|HAL Bangalore]] promoted to the [[I-League]], the top-tier football league in the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kshetrimayum Malemnganba Meitei : Another Rising Star from the East|url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.Sports.Malemnganba_Another_Rising_Football_Star_from_the_East|work=e-pao|access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=I-League 2 : Today's Fixtures|url=http://footballkerala.com/2010/04/02/i-league-2-todays-fixtures/|work=Football Kerala|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140504161551/http://footballkerala.com/2010/04/02/i-league-2-todays-fixtures/|archive-date=4 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first ever [[I-League]] match at the stadium was held on 3 January 2011 in which HAL Bangalore took on [[Salgaocar F.C.|Salgaocar]]. The match ended 1–0 for Salgaocar. After two seasons of being in the I-League the Bangalore Football Stadium was removed as a venue for the league when HAL Bangalore were relegated and thus not included in the [[2012–13 I-League|2012–13]] season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Football : HAL SC Season Review 2011-12|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/hal-sc-season-review-2011-12/|work=The Hard Tackle|date=4 June 2012 |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref>

However, on 28 May 2013 it was officially announced that [[Bengaluru FC]] would be formed in the city for the [[2013–14 I-League|2013–14]] season.<ref name=ETMay28>{{cite web|last=Mazumdar|first=Rakhi|title=JSW bags franchisee rights for Bangalore team in I-league, group forays into football|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-28/news/39580342_1_jsw-steel-jsw-group-football-academy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719053506/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-28/news/39580342_1_jsw-steel-jsw-group-football-academy|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 July 2013|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref> Then on 20 July the stadium hosted a mega-event which officially launched the club and the stadium was officially announced as the home for the club for the upcoming season.<ref name=JSWLaunch>{{cite web|title=JSW Sports launches Bengaluru FC |url=http://i-league.org/?p=7088 |work=I-League |access-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203033708/http://i-league.org/?p=7088 |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> The team then played their first ever match against [[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]] at the stadium. Ending in a 1–1 draw, the encounter was made memorable by the crowd which was almost full to capacity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bengaluru FC 1-1 Mohun Bagan AC Match Report|url=http://swathichatrapathy.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/bengaluru-fc-1-1-mohun-bagan-ac-match-report/|work=Swathi Chatrapathy|date=22 September 2013 |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref>

The final I-League match to be played at the stadium was between Bengaluru FC and [[Pune F.C.|Pune]] on 28 March 2014. The match ended 1–1 with [[Anthony D'Souza]] scoring the final goal at the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bengaluru vs. Pune 1 - 1|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/03/28/india/i-league/bengaluru/pune-fc/1585434/|work=Soccerway|access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref> Overall, the average home attendance for Bengaluru FC at the stadium was 7,500.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vasavda|first=Mihir|title=Bangalore FC raises the bar, on and off field|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/bangalore-fc-raises-the-bar-on-and-off-field/|work=The Indian Express|date=23 April 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref>

The stadium in 2023, hosted matches of prestigious [[Stafford Challenge Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksfa.in/staffordchallengecup|title=THE HISTORY: STAFFORD CHALLENGE CUP – KARNATAKA|website=ksfa.in|publisher=Karnataka State Football Association|access-date=26 November 2022|location=Bengaluru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224073556/https://www.ksfa.in/staffordchallengecup|archive-date=24 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stafford Challenge Cup: A Brief History of Time |url=https://theawayend.co/2023/02/23/stafford-challenge-cup-a-brief-history-of-time/ |date=23 February 2023 |website=theawayend.co |publisher=The Away End |access-date=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224070459/https://theawayend.co/2023/02/23/stafford-challenge-cup-a-brief-history-of-time/ }}</ref>

==Redevelopment==
{{Main|New Bangalore Football Stadium}}

On 5 December 2013 it was officially announced by [[FIFA]] that India would be the hosts of the [[2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup]], the country's first FIFA international competition.<ref>{{cite web|title=India to host Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/217906-india-to-host-under-17-fifa-world-cup-in-2017|work=NDTV Sports|access-date=3 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110023100/http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/217906-india-to-host-under-17-fifa-world-cup-in-2017|archive-date=10 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also announced that [[Bangalore]] would be among the choices for being a host city for the tournament.<ref name="New Stadium 45"/> In March 2014 it was announced that at the end of the [[2013–14 I-League]] season the stadium would be demolished and then a new stadium would be built on that exact spot.<ref name="New Stadium 45">{{cite news|last=Achal|first=Ashwin|title=Under-17 World Cup to usher in better days for football|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/under17-world-cup-to-usher-in-better-days-for-football/article5430720.ece|work=The Hindu|date=6 December 2013 |access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="New Stadium 25">{{cite web|last=Shreekumar|first=S.S.|title=Move on Stadium May Hit Football Future|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/Move-on-Stadium-May-Hit-Football-Future/2014/03/05/article2091576.ece1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308054933/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/Move-on-Stadium-May-Hit-Football-Future/2014/03/05/article2091576.ece1|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2014|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref>

However, as of 2023 the stadium had not built, having been postponed to a 2027 opening.

==National League records==

===Hindustan Aeronautics Limited===
{{See also|Hindustan Aeronautics Limited S.C.}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[2010–11 I-League|2010–11]]<ref name="HAL Home">{{cite web|title=HAL SC - Home|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/india/hindustan-aeronautics-limited-sc/7773/matches/|work=Soccerway|access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref>
|[[I-League]]
|13||2||4||7||7||20||15%
|-
|align=left|[[2011–12 I-League|2011–12]]<ref name="HAL Home"/>
|[[I-League]]
|13||0||1||12||13||40||0%
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!26!!2!!5!!19!!20!!60!!8%
|}

=== Bengaluru FC ===
{{See also|Bengaluru FC}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[2013–14 I-League|2013–14]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Bengaluru FC - Home|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/india/bengaluru/25367/matches/|work=Soccerway|access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref>
|[[I-League]]
|12||7||4||1||19||9||58%
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!12!!7!!4!!1!!19!!9!!58%
|}

===FC Bengaluru United===
{{See also|FC Bengaluru United}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
| align="left" |[[2019-20 I-League 2nd Division|2019-20]]
|[[I-League 2]]
|8||4||2||2||12||6||50%
|-
|[[2020-21 I-League 2nd Division|2020-21]]
|[[I-League 2]]
|3
|0
|2
|1
|4
|6
|0%
|-
|[[2022–23 I-League 2nd Division|2022-23]]
|[[I-League 2]]
|12
|7
|2
|3
|24
|8
|58%
|-
|[[2023–24 I-League 2|2023-24]]
|[[I-League 2]]
|14
|6
|2
|6
|21
|19
|43%
|-
|[[2024–25 I-League 2|2024-25]]
|[[I-League 2]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!8!!8!!0!!0!!20!!7!!100%
|}

===Sporting Club Bengaluru===
{{See also|Sporting Club Bengaluru}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
| align="left" |[[2023–24 I-League 3|2023-24]]
|[[I-League 3]]
|1||1||0||0||3||1|| rowspan="2" |100%
|-
|[[2023–24 I-League 2|2023-24]]
|[[I-League 2]]
|7
|7
|0
|0
|17
|6
|-
|[[2024–25 I-League|2024-25]]
|[[I-League]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!8!!8!!0!!0!!20!!7!!100%
|}

=== Diamond Harbour FC ===
{{See also|Diamond Harbour FC}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
| align="left" |[[2023–24 I-League 3|2023-24]]
|[[I-League 3]]
|2||1||1||0||5||2||50%
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!2!!1!!1!!0!!5!!2!!50%
|}

=== Doaba United FC ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
| align="left" |[[2023–24 I-League 3|2023-24]]
|[[I-League 3]]
|2||0||0||2||0||4||0%
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!2!!0!!0!!2!!0!!4!!0%
|}

=== Vatika FC ===
{{See also|Vatika FC}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!League!!P!!W!!D!!L!!F!!A!!Win %
|-
| align="left" |[[2023–24 I-League 3|2023-24]]
|[[I-League 3]]
|1||1||0||0||3||2||100%
|-
! colspan="2" align="left" |Total
!1!!1!!0!!0!!3!!2!!100%
|}

==See also==
* [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
* [[New Bangalore Football Stadium]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170904185237/http://buzzingbubs.com/bangalore/bangalore-football-stadium-game-day Bangalore Football Stadium game day] at buzzingbubs.com

{{Football in Bangalore}}
{{Bengaluru FC}}
{{I-League venues}}
{{Football stadiums in India}}

[[Category:1970 establishments in Mysore State]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1970]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Football venues in India]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Football in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Bengaluru FC]]
[[Category:FC Bengaluru United]]
[[Category:Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC]]

Bangalore Football Stadium - Revision history

Owen79097529716 at 16:13, 26 December 2025