A new football stadium has sprung up in Cambodia that has an Indian connection. SkaSports Investments Private Limited, a fully Indian-owned organisation focusing on sports-related businesses, and the Cambodian Premier League team Angkor Tiger Football Club, joined hands to build the privately-owned football-specific stadium with floodlights at Siem Reap, Cambodia. This is famous for its UNESCO heritage Angkor Wat.

R Rohit, Director, SkaSports, said both were planning the project for the past one year. “We are very happy to complete phase 1 of the construction and played our inaugural game on November 9 at Siem Reap.”

“It is a big boost to the football ecosystem there as we have a dedicated space for our senior team and youth teams. We are also open to working with the Cambodian FA and the Cambodian Premier League to organize more football-related educational courses for the development of football in the region,” he said.

It is essential to tap into new revenue potentials like stadium naming rights, and naming rights for stands. Since no sporting activity can happen without infrastructure, it is essential for teams to own facilities, which also allows them to earn money during non-competition periods, said Rohit.

The TVS motors in June signed a partnership with Angkor Tiger FC and have taken space on the back of the playing jersey.

Sudhir Menon, Director, SkaSports said the stadium’s size, including the Field of Play, spectator stands and parking is over 3 hectares of land. The seating capacity is currently close to 2000 numbers. “We have installed floodlights of 1500 lux. The total cost of Phase 1 construction is $2 million (₹16.5 crore),” he said.

The Phase 2 construction is going on where to expand capacity on the other side and have roofing for seated areas. “We are also the only stadium in Cambodia with dedicated indoor warm-up areas in the Team Dressing Rooms, which is a part of the Asian Football Confederation best practice suggestion,” said Menon.

On future plans, Rohit said the club has a land holding of 7 hectares and aims to expand that. “There is already a property development of 100 villas nearby and we are getting interested in commercial space development, as well as other parties showing interest in developing the area around the stadium,” he added.