Pune stadium named after Subrata Roy
Originally, the stadium was proposed to be named after the Sahara India Group, but owing to technical reasons whereby rules don’t permit naming after any corporate brand or company name. The MCA decided to name the stadium after the Sahara India Pariwar chariman.
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) announced on Saturday that the Pune stadium has been named as Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium.
Originally, the stadium was proposed to be named after the Sahara India Group, but owing to technical reasons whereby rules don’t permit naming after any corporate brand or company name. The MCA decided to name the stadium after the Sahara India Pariwar chariman.
MCA started working on the project in 2007 after locating a suitable land at Gahunje; alongside the expressway. The stadium was being built in two phases and the work for the first phase started in November 2009. Designed by world renowned architects, Hopkins from UK, the work is being carried out by Shapoorji Pallonji and Co.
Sahara India Pariwar, which was the top bidder for the Pune franchise, immediately saw the merits of the stadium and its advantages vis-a-vis other venues and chose Pune for its new team, the Sahara Pune Warriors.
The viability of the project improved dramatically with an IPL team based there and the MCA thought of new methods for financial closure including offering naming and other rights option to intending bidders. Offers for the same were invited from interested parties through advertisements and interest was expressed by three parties. Sahara India Pariwar with its own team in Pune turned out to be the best bidder and their offer for the naming and ancillary rights was unanimously accepted by the MCA.
ICC president Sharad Pawar was the chief guest for the event.