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Indian Super League (ISL) glory has always been on a rise, right from its start in 2014. As each season progresses, the league has grabbed attention from various parts of the world. The standard of play, players, management and even the fans have always been on the up.
The credit of this boost needs to be awarded to the top-grade stadiums offered to the clubs. All the 10 competing teams have found an apt home for the players and supporters. These arenas provide perfect playing conditions for the competitors and as well as a perfect environment for the supporters.
We have witnessed stadiums turn into festive-grounds, which directly lifts the enthusiasm of the 22 men on the pitch. In this list, we take a look at the 10 home grounds, where the ball will be rolling in this ISL season:
#1 ATK - Salt Lake Stadium
Capacity - 85,000 (ISL - 50,500)
Record Attendance - 32,816
Average Attendance - 12,669
Salt Lake Stadium, officially known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan is a place of memories for Indian football. The stadium situated in Kolkata is India's largest stadium in terms of the seating capacity. Opened 34 years ago in 1984, it was the world's second largest football stadium until its renovation in 2011.
Salt Lake is where all the epic moments of Indian football has taken place. The epic Kolkata derbies between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan happens here and one such derby in 1997 witnessed a record attendance of 1,31,781. It has also hosted legends of the game like Lionel Messi and Oliver Kahn. The recent U-17 World Cup Final of 2017 was also played here.
#2 Bengaluru FC - Sree Kanteerava Stadium
Capacity - 25,810
Record Attendance - 25,753
Average Attendance - 19,053
The home ground of Bengaluru FC doesn't require any history or capacity. The West Block Blues never let the club supporters feel left out. Sree Kanteerava became a usual name in the football books, with the coming of the Bengaluru club in 2013. The stadium was built in 1997, and can be used for various purposes, but is mostly engaged by the Blues.
This is the place where most of BFC's wins sleep and where the Blue devotees formed the love for their club. Sree Kanteerava has rolled the ball on various milestones of Indian football and BFC's competitions in the International level. It holds a very good average attendance for a busy city with little past on football fields.
#3 Chennaiyin FC - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Capacity - 40,000 (20,765 - ISL)
Record Attendance - 19,013
Average Attendance - 15,538
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of Chennai has been the home to the ISL trophy twice, in 2015 and presently in 2017. The stadium was opened in 1993 for various sports competitions. It has a maximum capacity of 40,000 but only limited seats (20,765) are open for ISL matches.
It has been the field for Chennaiyin FC from its start in 2014. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has hosted some nail-biting and high goal scoring matches in ISL. The ground has proven its strength on various occasions and hosted matches even at very tough climatic conditions. The fans of the Marina Machans come in huge numbers, to support their club.
#4 Delhi Dynamos - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
Capacity - 60,000 (ISL - 14,342)
Record Attendance - 11,453
Average Attendance - 6,886
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of Delhi has hosted some of the most memorable events in Indian sports history. Established back in 1982, it has been the home ground for Delhi Dynamos in ISL ever since 2014.
It is one among those grounds with high standard pitches, but low standard attendance. Although the ground has not attracted a great number of spectators, it has been appreciated for the good playing conditions offered. At the end of the last season, ISL named it the "Best Pitch" in the league.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has also been the host of U-17 World Cup matches and the farewell match of Baichung Bhutia, an exhibition match between the Indian National Team and Bayern Munich.
#5 FC Goa - Fatorda Stadium, Goa
Capacity - 25,000 (ISL - 18,600)
Record Attendance - 18,600
Average Attendance - 17,604
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of Goa, better known by the name Fatorda Stadium, has been hosting the ISL matches for FC Goa. Opened in 1989, it is situated in Margao in Goa and is the only international stadium of the state.
The Goans well known for their carnivals, turn Fatorda into a festive ground when the ISL ball comes to there place. Fatorda has been the home ground the club since its beginning. The Gaurs supporters have never disappointed the team with full action packed houses for almost all home matches.
#6 FC Pune City - Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Capacity - 11,900 (ISL - 10,237)
Record Attendance - 9,968
Average Attendance - 8,711
Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium functions as the home ground for the Stallions. A ground built in 1994, it has been the host of various events and home to clubs like Air India and DSK Shivajians
Its link with ISL is entering into the 5th season and the stadium has held a decent number of the Orange Army. The pitch at Pune has felt the strict orders of Ranko Popović and the goal scoring boots of players like Marcelinho and Emiliano Alfaro.
#7 Jamshedpur FC - JRD Tata Sports Complex
Capacity - 24,424
Record Attendance - 24,212
Average Attendance - 21,374
Jamshedpur FC owns a football pitch of great quality in the form of JRD Tata Sports Complex Stadium in Jamshedpur. The stadium can contain up to 25,000 people, which have all been occupied in many of the crucial matches 'The Men of Steel' featured in.
JRD had the second-best average attendance for the 2017-18 season. The famous field, also known as ‘The Furnace’ saw the club miss the playoff spot narrowly last season, the only it has appeared in so far.
#8 Kerala Blasters - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi
Capacity - 60,000 (ISL - 38,086)
Record Attendance - 37,986
Average Attendance - 31,763
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium of Kochi is a place where no one who has ever played here will forget. Situated at the heart of the city, it was opened in 1996 and has served home to various cricket and football teams from the God’s Own Country.
In every ISL match, it hosts a large number of Yellow men, who never hesitate to come in despite the results. The stadium proudly owns the record of having the fifth loudest crowd in the world, when ATK took on Blasters in 2016 League final.
#9 Mumbai City FC - Mumbai Sports Arena
Capacity - 7,960
Record Attendance - 8,597
Average Attendance - 6,449
The Mumbai Football Arena is the home to the Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League. Located in the Andheri Sports Complex, it was built and opened for sports activities in 1988.
The Arena became the home ground for the Mumbai club from 2016 after its renovation the same year. The venue stands at the bottom in terms of average attendance, but the limited capacity of the spot should also be pointed out. Though one of the smallest ISL venues, it has once contained spectators more than its maximum capacity of 8000.
#10 NorthEast United FC - Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati
Capacity - 23,850
Record Attendance - 21,151
Average Attendance - 8,217
Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium situated in Guwahati, Assam has witnessed the emotions of the football maniacs of the 8 North East states. NEUFC fans who love beautiful football, have been bold enough to support the team when they require and stay away when they were let down. It is one of the freshest stadiums used in ISL, having been opened in 2007.
The stadium has been host to various matches of the Indian national team and a few matches in the U-17 World Cup. Indira Gandhi stadium was almost filled up, marking 21,151 supporters during one of the matches of 'The Highlanders' last season.
But the same season saw a record low attendance of ISL with just 1,121 occupied seats.
