January 18, 2023: The Odisha government has declared that the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, according to a certification by the International Hockey Federation, is the world's largest hockey facility, in terms of seating capacity.
The men's World Cup Hockey, organised by the FIH, will be hosted by the very same facility, along with Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The tournament is scheduled to take place between January 13 and January 29.
The stadium was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday, January 5, 2023. “Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela is the world's biggest. We are not saying this. It has been certified by FIH that the stadium is the biggest in terms of seating capacity,” said Sports and Youth Affairs Minister TK Behera. [Source: NDTV]
The stadium also has a World Cup village that can accommodate guests in 225 rooms and house 400 players, alongside officials. There will be 44 matches played under the World Cup and organised by FIH, 20 of which will be played in Rourkela.
Earlier, Odisha Sports Secretary R Vaineel Krishna had clarified that the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium can offer a seating capacity and a match experience, that is unavailable in any other part of India. Other stadiums in India might have the capacity of including more in the audience, but that includes standing accommodation as well.
On the other hand, the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has a seating arrangement for 15,000 people.