Transformed and shrunk Saltlake Stadium ready for ISL

Kolkata: The Saltlake Stadium's wow factor of hosting 120,000 spectators is now a thing of the past as the capacity has been brought down drastically to 68,000 keeping in mind the spectators' comfort during the upcoming Indian Super League.

Home ISL franchise Atletico de Kolkata's co-owner Utsav Parekh on Wednesday said the capacity had been reduced, but viewers' comfort experience would reach a new high, something which was never seen during a cramped East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby.

"It was a deliberate move to give enough elbow room to the specators and also to facilitate smooth passage during the breaks," Parekh told reporters, adding that the breaks would be a 30-minute affair and there would be wholesome entertainment with a match spanning upto four hours.

"As a matter of fact even during a derby when about 55,000 tickets were sold there was in fact a one lakh-plus crowd of spectators watching the match.

Clarifying the four-hour duration, he said, the match would be a 90-minute affair plus entertainment programmes spanning up to four hours.

Briefing the media along with two other ATK officials, Parekh said viewers would be up for a never-before-experience in a transformed spick-and-span Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan keeping the FIFA U-17 World Cup in mind.

"Everything will be in tune with the European leagues like bucket seats, locker rooms, jacuzzi and ice bath for players and hospitality boxes.

"It's our venue and with ISL many international officials will come here and FIFA officials will also visit in due course. We want to showcase the stadium to the world which will be one of the veues of the U-17 World Cup," Parekh said.

The first edition of the ISL will kick off at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan with ATK taking on Mumbai City FC on October 12.

20,000 tickets have already been sold out or distributed while 10,000 across all categories have been earmarked for a 50 per cent concessions to students, IFA-associated footballers and members of three big clubs of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting.