Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium

About this place

Old Stadium Football represents the tradition of football associated with the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Kollam, a long-established sporting venue that has contributed to the city’s football culture. Also known as LBS Stadium or Corporation Stadium, the venue has hosted football alongside other sporting competitions, including Santosh Trophy matches, placing it within the wider competitive football heritage of Kerala. The concept centres on the sporting culture that develops around established grounds, where local players, amateur teams, football enthusiasts and spectators come together through matches and community competitions. Football has a strong following in Kollam, and established grounds such as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium provide an important setting for organised sport, grassroots participation and community engagement. The stadium’s history extends beyond informal local games, as it has hosted major football competitions and has also served as a venue for cricket and athletics, reflecting its multipurpose sporting character. Government planning documents have identified the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium as a major outdoor stadium in Kerala, while its long association with competitive football gives it particular relevance to the sporting identity of Kollam. Football at such a venue offers players opportunities to develop teamwork, fitness, tactical awareness and competitive discipline, while spectators experience the excitement and community atmosphere surrounding the sport. Grassroots and amateur football are especially important to sustaining the game because they provide opportunities for players to participate outside professional competitions and gain valuable match experience. The stadium’s connection with Santosh Trophy football also links Kollam’s local football culture with the wider competitive sporting landscape of Kerala. For visitors interested in sports and local culture, Old Stadium Football is best understood as a representation of Kollam’s football heritage and grassroots sporting environment rather than as a standalone festival with a fixed programme. The experience is centred on football itself, including participation, competitive matches, spectatorship, sporting development and the history of an established public stadium. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium therefore provides a meaningful setting for understanding the role of football in Kollam’s community life and Kerala’s broader sporting culture. Overall, Old Stadium Football reflects the continuing importance of football in Kollam and the role of established sporting venues in bringing players, supporters and communities together through competition and shared enthusiasm for the game.

🚆 Nearest Railway: Kollam Junction Railway Station (~1.2 km)

✈️ Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (~56 km)

🚌 Bus: Kollam KSRTC Bus Stand

🏨 Stay: Nani Hotels and Resorts; Hotel Karthika; Sree Janardhana Residency

✅ Notes: Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium is a multipurpose outdoor stadium in Kollam Cantonment that has hosted football and cricket events.