Providence Stadium to mark fifth anniversary

Mar 25, 2012 News

The only stadium in Guyana will be celebrating its fifth anniversary on Wednesday.

An aerial view of the Providence National Stadium.

The stadium was built by the Government of Guyana with substantial financial assistance from the Government of India. It was designed by C.R. Narayana Rao (CRN Architects & Engineers) and constructed by Shapoorji Pallonji Group.
Flooding in 2005 slowed site preparation, and delayed the start of construction, which began in May 2005. Construction costs were estimated at US$25 million.
The multi-purpose stadium has the capacity of seating 15,000 people. Providence Stadium is one of the largest sports arenas in Guyana, and now hosts Test cricket in place of the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda. Princess International Hotel is located next to the stadium.
For the preparation of the stadium Guysuco gave up land at Providence.
In August 2005 the first pile was driven at the Providence site. Work also began simultaneously on the playing surface by Teraforma, initiating the transformation of an empty plot of land, once used as a canefields.
Located in Providence, about nine kilometers south of the capital, Georgetown, the Providence stadium has three major stands and a grass mound, the pitch and field were made with sand, clay, and a layer of grass. It was built with a submerged drainage system capable of taking off 90 percent water.
Its durability was tested on several occasions with practice matches; it also has a Parking Lot and Public Transit.
The Providence Stadium hosted six ‘World Cup matches’ between March 28, 2007 and April 9, 2007. Most notable was the match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in which Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga became the first bowler in international cricket history to take four wickets in consecutive balls.
Built primarily for cricket matches, the stadium can be converted into a multi-purpose facility.
The stadium has also hosted scores of entertainment concerts and programmes.
National Stadium at Providence is Guyana’s premier sports facility. (Rabindra Rooplall)