Pruthviraj at 07:48, 27 December 2025

2025-12-27T07:48:45Z

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{{Short description|Building in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = EKA Arena
| nickname =
| fullname = EKA Arena by TransStadia
| image = Aka arena .jpg
| image_size = 350px
| caption = Panoramic view of the stadium
| location = [[Kankaria Lake]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]]
| country = India
| coordinates ={{Coord|23|00|39.7|N|72|35|56.8|E|display=it}}
| opened = 7 October 2016
| owner = TransStadia
| dimensions = {{convert|105|x|68|m|abbr=on}}
| surface = [[Cynodon dactylon|Bermuda Grass]]
| cost = [[United States dollar|US$]] 82.15 million
| architect = Holmes Miller & DSP Design Associates
| capacity = 20,000 (10,000 more with temporary seats on the pitch area) (outdoor)<ref name="outdoor capacity">{{cite web | title=TransStadia Pitch | url=https://transstadia.com/pitch/# | website=transstadia.com | access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>
| tenants = [[India national football team]] (2019–present)<br />[[ARA F.C.]] <br> [[Gujarat football team]] <br> [[Gujarat Giants (kabaddi)|Gujarat Giants]]
| website = {{URL|http://transstadia.com/}}
| public_transit =  [[Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System|Janmarg]]<br> [[Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service|AMTS]]
}}

'''EKA Arena''' (formerly '''The Arena by TransStadia''') is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], located near [[Kankaria Lake]]. The stadium was officially opened on 7 October 2016. It was built in a [[public-private partnership]] between the [[Government of Gujarat]] and SE TransStadia, a company led by entrepreneur Udit Sheth.

The stadium seats 20,000 spectators in its main [[association football|football]] configuration. It is capable of being partitioned into an [[arena|indoor arena]], allowing it to host other sporting events (such as [[kabaddi]] and [[table tennis]]).

== History ==
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the ceremony to inaugurate the TransStadia Integrated Sports & Entertainment Arena Project & Khel Mahakhumbh-2017, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on June 30, 2017 (4).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] at the inauguration ceremony of the stadium in Ahmedabad, June 30, 2017.]]
[[File:EKA Arena Stadium(TransStadia).jpg|thumb|Interior of the stadium]]
TransStadia was established by entrepreneur Udit Sheth after being introduced to British footballer and stadium consultant [[Paul Fletcher (footballer)|Paul Fletcher]]. Sheth sought to build a multi-purpose stadium on an otherwise-unused property in Gujarat,<ref name=":0" /> licensing technology from Fletcher's company StadiArena to allow part of the facility to be converted into an indoor arena to maximise its utilisation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Raje|first=Aparna Piramal|date=2019-01-24|title=The entrepreneur who built a stadium|url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/business-of-life/the-entrepreneur-who-built-a-stadium-1548259019347.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=mint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-04|title=StadiArena targets US, UK expansion|url=https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2016/11/04/stadiarena-targets-us-uk-expansion/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=The Stadium Business|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Sheth stated that the design of the stadium and its facilities were intended to meet the needs of players, spectators, and broadcasters, including training facilities, ensuring there were no obstructed views and adequate [[Fiber-optic communication|fibreoptic]] connections for [[Wi-Fi]], and working with [[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]] officials to plan the necessary infrastructure for broadcasting.<ref name=":1" /> He cited [[Amsterdam Arena]], the [[Tokyo Dome]], and [[Wembley Stadium]] as influences on its overall design.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pathak|first=Maulik|date=2016-10-10|title=Arena by TransStadia: A sneak peek into India’s first convertible stadium|work=Mint|url=https://www.livemint.com/Sports/QkCbhhAJxZuw65l1iPwXuK/Arena-by-TranStadia-A-sneak-peek-into-Indias-first-convert.html|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref>

The facility cost ₹550 crore to construct, as part of a public-private partnership with the state government; Sheth explained that "the project would not have been viable if we decided to charge commercial market value rent and still expected sports to develop. A regular project will recover money in around five years while we will do it in seven to nine years."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=TransStadia, the Rs 550 crore sports complex that may put Gujarat on the global sporting map|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/transstadia-the-rs-550-crore-sports-complex-that-may-put-gujarat-on-the-global-sporting-map-3763329.html|access-date=2018-04-16|website=Firstpost}}</ref>

Its indoor arena hosted its facility's first sporting event — the [[2016 Kabaddi World Cup (Standard style)|2016 Kabaddi World Cup]]—in November 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Kabaddi World Cup 2016, India vs South Korea Highlights: South Korea stun India in opener|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/kabaddi-world-cup-2016-india-vs-south-korea-live-scores-and-updates-hosts-look-for-winning-start-3040154.html|access-date=2018-04-16|website=Firstpost}}</ref> A formal inauguration ceremony was held 30 June 2017, attended by [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] and other political and sporting dignitaries. During a speech at the ceremony, Sheth referred to The Arena as "the most modern stadium in the world".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-06-30|title=Narendra Modi Gujarat visit: PM inaugurates Asia’s biggest multi-purpose stadium TransStadia Arena; take a look|language=en-US|work=The Financial Express|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/photos/business-gallery/743514/narendra-modi-gujarat-visit-pm-inaugurates-asias-biggest-multi-purpose-stadium-transstadia-arena-take-a-look/6/|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-06-30|title=‘The Arena’ by TransStadia inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi|language=en-US|work=The Indian Express|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/the-arena-by-transstadia-inaugurated-by-prime-minister-narendra-modi-4729749/|access-date=2018-04-16}}</ref>

== Major events ==

=== Kabaddi ===
The Arena hosted the [[Kabaddi World Cup (International Kabaddi Federation)|Kabaddi World Cup]] in 2016.<ref name=":2" /> It has hosted legs of the [[Pro Kabaddi League]], serving as designated home arena of the [[Gujarat Giants (kabaddi)|Gujarat Giants]].

=== Football ===
In July 2019, the stadium hosted the [[2019 Intercontinental Cup (India)|2019 Intercontinental Cup]], marking the first international football matches held at the Arena.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vasudevan|first=Shyam|title=Intercontinental Cup: Ahmedabad's EKA Arena's first tryst with international football|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/eka-arena-ahmedabad-intercontinental-cup-spectator-friendly-facilities-technologies/article28310771.ece|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Sportstar|language=en}}</ref>

It was to host matches during the [[2021 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup|2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Subramanian|first=Vishal|date=2020-02-18|title=FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2020 schedule revealed - Navi Mumbai to host the final|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/fifa-u-17-women-s-world-cup-2020-schedule-revealed-navi-mumbai-to-host-the-final|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref> but the tournament was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Update on FIFA Club World Cup 2020 and women’s youth tournaments|url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/update-on-fifa-club-world-cup-2020-and-women-s-youth-tournaments|access-date=2020-12-03|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> India were awarded the [[2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup|2022 tournament]], but Ahmedabad was not named a host city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhubaneswar, Margao in Goa and Navi Mumbai confirmed as Host Cities for tournament |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/u17womensworldcup/india2022/media-releases/draw-for-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-india-2022-tm-to-take-place-on-24-june |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413145031/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/u17womensworldcup/india2022/media-releases/draw-for-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-india-2022-tm-to-take-place-on-24-june |archive-date=13 April 2022 |accessdate=13 April 2022 |publisher=FIFA.com |language=en}}</ref>

It hosted football during the [[2022 National Games of India]].<ref>{{cite web |date=12 October 2022 |title=National Games: W Bengal hammer Kerala 5–0 to clinch gold in men's football |url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/sports/national-games-w-bengal-hammer-kerala-5-0-to-clinch-gold-in-men-s-football-122101101341_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012050045/https://www.business-standard.com/article/sports/national-games-w-bengal-hammer-kerala-5-0-to-clinch-gold-in-men-s-football-122101101341_1.html |archive-date=12 October 2022 |access-date=12 October 2022 |website=wap.business-standard.com |publisher=Business Standard India |location=Ahmedabad |agency=IANS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sarangi |first=Y. B. |date=11 October 2022 |title=National Games: West Bengal routs Kerala 5–0, wins men's football gold medal after 11 years |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/national-games/national-games-narohari-shrestha-hat-trick-west-bengal-beats-kerala-5-0-wins-men-football-gold-medal/article65998238.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012050037/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/national-games/national-games-narohari-shrestha-hat-trick-west-bengal-beats-kerala-5-0-wins-men-football-gold-medal/article65998238.ece |archive-date=12 October 2022 |access-date=12 October 2022 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |publisher=[[Sportstar]] |location=Ahmedabad |agency=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

=== Other ===
On October 11, 2025 the [[70th Filmfare Awards|70th Filmfare awards]] were hosted at the Arena.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fans Are Raving About 70th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2025 With Gujarat Tourism {{!}} Filmfare.com |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/fans-are-raving-about-70th-hyundai-filmfare-awards-2025-with-gujarat-tourism-78771.html |access-date=2025-11-12 |website=www.filmfare.com |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[ List of football stadiums in India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Twitter|SETransStadia}}

{{Ahmedabad topics}}
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2016]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in India]]
[[Category:2016 establishments in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Kabaddi venues in India]]
[[Category:Football in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Football venues in India]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Ahmedabad]]

EKA Arena - Revision history

Pruthviraj at 07:48, 27 December 2025