The EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode will host Viva Kerala's home matches in the 2009-10 season of I-League. This is the second time calicut has become the home for Viva Kerala in the I-League, the last time hosting Viva in its I-League debut.
Viva's first home match is scheduled on 23rd October against Chirag United in Round 4 of the league. The floodlights that has been installed in the stadium a few months ago made Calicut emerge as hosts over Cochin. Viva's first match will be played against familiar oppponents Salgaocar at Goa on 3rd October.
The construction of the stadium located in the heart of the city began in 1977. However, the work got delayed for more than a decade. Finally, it was opened in 2005. Now with the floodlights getting installed, the city can boast a stadium with international standards. The stadium has a gallery capacity of 40,000.
Kozhikode is also gearing to host the 35th National Games in May 2010. A few of the events will be held in the city. The government has allocated funds to construct a new indoor stadium on Golf Links Road near the Government Leprosy Hospital.
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Saturday 12 September 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.