A TEAM COMPRISING BDP, Cox Architecture and Collage Design has revealed plans for a 350-acre sports complex adjacent to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Located along the Sabarmati riverfront, the proposed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave is envisioned as India’s next major city park, blending elite sporting infrastructure with public recreation and community spaces. The masterplan includes an international tennis centre, a multi-purpose indoor arena, an aquatic centre and a National Institute of Sports Excellence.
The unveiling follows Ahmedabad securing hosting rights for the Commonwealth Games 2030. The 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to stage the opening and closing ceremonies, with all Games venues planned within a 30–45 minute travel radius.
According to BDP, the masterplan is shaped by four core principles: climate responsiveness, integration with the natural environment, architecture that is contemporary yet contextually rooted, and the creation of a sustainable long-term legacy. The design weaves Games-ready venues with plazas, landscaped gardens and climate-sensitive streetscapes, while incorporating mandala-inspired grids and abundant greenery across facilities.
An 18,000-seat indoor arena is proposed at the eastern edge of the enclave, set to become one of the largest indoor venues of its kind in India. Designed to international standards for gymnastics and basketball finals, it will transition post-Games into a multi-use venue for concerts, family entertainment, kabaddi and other sporting events.
The tennis centre, positioned as the first of its scale in the country, will feature a 10,000-seat centre court, 5,000- and 3,000-seat show courts, along with eight additional match courts. A floating fabric roof and suspended soffit system will provide shade while enabling natural ventilation.
The aquatic centre will accommodate up to 12,000 spectators during major competitions, with a reduced capacity of 4,000 in legacy mode. It will be built to international standards for swimming and diving events.
Situated between the tennis complex and the stadium, the National Institute of Sports Excellence will house training halls, gymnasiums, recovery suites and bio-medical facilities to support athletes and coaches.
The riverfront precinct will be reimagined as a Games Plaza, designed to host ceremonial functions during the event before evolving into a year-round public destination featuring dining spaces, community courts and landscaped parkland.
BDP India urbanism director and head Manisha Bhartia said, “Our vision for the Sports Enclave is to create an inclusive, sustainable and distinctly Indian destination for world sport. By drawing on Amdavad’s architectural traditions and blending them with cutting-edge design and technology, we are designing-out single-use, sporting venues that decay over time. We are shaping new, visually beautiful places that will host the world’s greatest sporting moments, but also remain an active, vibrant part of the city’s everyday life for decades to come.”
Cox Architecture director Alistair Richardson added, “The rich architectural response, building on Indian modernity and tradition, has created a truly unique design full of meaning and context that will make a lasting experience for global sporting events as well as a legacy that goes beyond such events. This new public park and associated architecture will place Amdavad on the world stage for many years to come.”
