Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Mumbai City FC Faces Uncertainty After 250% Rent Hike
Mumbai City FC plays its home football matches in Mumbai.
The city corporation, called the BMC, owns and manages the stadium it uses.
The BMC has proposed raising the price for each match from ₹10 lakh to ₹35 lakh.
That would make the rent much more expensive for the club.
The club is talking with the BMC about the proposal.
If they cannot agree, Mumbai City FC might need to find another stadium.
The next ISL season is expected to start in October.
Cooperage Stadium is one possible option, but it has never hosted an ISL match.
Aaditya Thackeray says the higher price could hurt football in Mumbai, while the BMC’s position on the criticism was not stated in the articles.
The BMC has proposed raising Mumbai City FC’s match rent from ₹10 lakh to ₹35 lakh.
The proposed increase applies to matches at the BMC-owned Andheri Sports Complex.
Mumbai City FC officials are discussing the proposed rent with the civic body, but no agreement has been reported.
The ISL season is expected to begin in October, leaving the club uncertain about its home venue for roughly 10 matches.
Aaditya Thackeray criticized the increase, while Cooperage Stadium was identified as a possible alternative venue.
- Who
- Mumbai City FC, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray are central to the dispute.
- What
- The BMC has proposed a 250% increase in Mumbai City FC’s match rent, from ₹10 lakh to ₹35 lakh per game.
- When
- The proposal concerns the upcoming Indian Super League season, which is expected to begin in October; the earlier ₹10 lakh figure was paid two seasons ago.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the BMC-owned Andheri Sports Complex and Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai; Cooperage Stadium is a possible alternative.
- Why
- The proposed increase could substantially raise the club’s costs and force it to seek another home venue if no agreement is reached. Thackeray says the pricing could push football out of Mumbai.
Club and Football Advocates
Civic Body Proposal
Match rent
Club and Football Advocates
Mumbai City FC officials are concerned about the proposed rise from ₹10 lakh to ₹35 lakh per game and are discussing the matter with the BMC.
Civic Body Proposal
The BMC has proposed charging ₹35 lakh per match at the venue it owns and manages; the articles do not state the civic body’s rationale for the increase.
Impact on Mumbai football
Club and Football Advocates
Aaditya Thackeray called the proposed fees “absurdly high” and accused the BJP regime of trying to push football out of Mumbai in favor of leasing grounds for events and shows.
Civic Body Proposal
The articles report the BMC’s rent proposal but do not include a response from the civic body to Thackeray’s allegations.
Use of football grounds
Club and Football Advocates
Thackeray and sections of the football community and local residents have opposed a proposed convention centre at Neville D’Souza Football Ground, citing concerns about losing a dedicated football space.
Civic Body Proposal
The BMC-approved convention-centre development was reported as a proposal, but the articles do not provide the civic body’s detailed justification for changing the ground’s existing use.
- Earlier reported rent
- ₹10 lakh per game, paid two seasons ago
- Proposed rent
- ₹35 lakh per game
- Proposed increase
- 250%
- Venue owner
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
- Expected ISL start
- October
- Expected home matches
- About 10
- Possible alternative
- Cooperage Stadium in Nariman Point, which has never hosted an ISL match
- Mumbai Football Arena capacity
- Approximately 7,690 to 9,000 spectators
