Major plans are being drawn up to upgrade M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) beginning work on what is described as a long-term renovation effort designed to boost seating capacity and elevate the match-day experience for fans. The development follows discussions involving KSCA officials, headed by president Venkatesh Prasad, who met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to talk through an ambitious expansion proposal.
The plan targets a significant rise in capacity at the Bengaluru venue, which currently holds close to 34,000 spectators. Under the proposed expansion, the KSCA wants to add a further 20,000 seats, taking the stadium to a far larger scale to meet growing demand. As an initial step, the association has floated an Expression of Interest (EOI), inviting submissions for a full-scale overhaul that can address both the stadium’s physical structure and the overall spectator set-up.
The envisioned work is expected to include architectural and structural redesign, upgraded spectator amenities, and better systems for moving crowds in and out smoothly. Alongside the on-field and stand-related improvements, the KSCA also plans to enhance parking arrangements and strengthen traffic management measures to reduce bottlenecks during high-profile fixtures. Although no end date has been officially set, Prasad acknowledged that the undertaking is extensive and will require careful planning and multiple approvals.
“We haven’t set a timeline for completing the renovation because it’s a lengthy process,” Prasad said. “We have to invite bids and hold multiple meetings to secure various approvals. It will take considerable time. But we are determined to transform the stadium, hopefully during my tenure.”
Prasad also stressed that the project is not something that has emerged suddenly during his time in office. “It’s not that I’ve come into office now and want to make changes immediately,” he emphasised. “I’ve been thinking about this for the last 10 years. Even when I was pursuing my MBA in International Sports Management, I kept coming back to one thing — the spectators. They are our biggest stakeholders, yet they have little say. The game is what it is because of them, and the least we can do is provide the best possible match experience at the stadium.”
Linking the need for modernisation to the city’s rapid growth, Prasad noted that the venue, originally built in the 1970s, can no longer remain unchanged. “The stadium is, of course, quite old,” he said. “With due respect to those who built it, it needs to evolve. It was constructed in the 1970s with perhaps a vision for the next 50 years. But Bengaluru has grown beyond anyone’s imagination, so everything must evolve accordingly.”
He pointed to improvements made at other celebrated cricket grounds across India, citing Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens and M. A. Chidambaram Stadium as examples of how iconic venues have kept upgrading over time. “So many facilities at the stadium look temporary and inadequate at the moment. Commentators’ boxes, spectator amenities… All that needs to change, and that’s the only constant,” Prasad added. With Bengaluru continuing to strengthen its role as a key cricket destination, the proposed revamp could be a major step towards bringing one of India’s best-known stadiums in line with current standards.
