Mumbai City FC may have to look beyond the city for a home venue in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season after reportedly being quoted a 250% increase in rental charges for the Mumbai Football Arena at Andheri Sports Complex, according to sources in the football fraternity.
The ISL season is expected to begin in mid-October, leaving the club with limited time to finalise its home ground. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which owns and manages the sports complex, has proposed a substantial increase from the approximately Rs 10 lakh the club paid per match two seasons ago.
With Mumbai City expected to host around 10 home matches, the revised charges could significantly increase the club’s overall expenditure. Discussions between the club and civic authorities are reportedly continuing, with the team hoping to reach a more affordable arrangement.
The Mumbai Football Arena has become an important home venue for Mumbai City, providing the team with a familiar setting and strong home support. Losing the venue could therefore have both financial and sporting implications.
The issue comes at a time when ISL clubs are attempting to control expenses following Reliance-owned Football Sports Development Limited’s (FSDL) exit from the league. Mumbai City has also invested in upgrading seating and maintaining the stadium and playing surface during the seven-to-eight-month ISL period.
Prashant Damle, who was appointed managing trustee of the Brihanmumbai Sports and Fine Arts Foundation in July, said, “We are studying the rates at which the ground was rented out during the Covid period and before that, and comparing them with the rates being charged now. We want to understand whether the current charges are commensurate with the nature and duration of the events being held. In the case of the Indian Super League, the ground would be required for only around 10 matches, although the arrangement would extend over a period of approximately eight months. We are still studying the matter, and no final decision has been taken on the charges yet.”
Mumbai City had faced similar difficulties securing the Andheri venue during the shortened 2025-26 ISL season, with the home ground confirmed only shortly before the campaign began. Goa and Kerala were reportedly considered as alternative options at the time.
The latest uncertainty also comes amid concerns over Mumbai’s shrinking football infrastructure. The BMC has approved a proposal to change the reservation of Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation from a playground to a convention and exhibition centre, triggering protests.
The club’s ownership has also undergone changes, with City Football Group, which owns Manchester City, ending its association with Mumbai City FC late last year, citing uncertainty surrounding the ISL.
If the current negotiations fail, Mumbai City could again be forced to play its home fixtures outside Mumbai, bringing additional logistical costs and potentially reducing the home advantage built at the Andheri venue.
Source: The Times of India
