iLead Sports Complex: The Story

by:Udayan Mitra

The new Ilead Sports Complex is a rooftop sports arena built for the most enthusiastic sports junkies in the city. The complex comprises of two main grounds: a full, FIFA verified AstroTurf football ground for those with the indomitable love for soccer, and a basketball ground, which can also accommodate tennis, badminton, volleyball and cricket matches. Don’t worry if your matches roll into extra time after dark, because the grounds comes fully equipped with floodlights that will allow you to hold day and night tournaments.

Apart from the two fields, the sports arena also comprises a large middle ground where players can prepare for the games, rest and enjoy snacks and beverages. The middle ground includes an air-conditioned club house as well where the spectators can relax and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire ground.

Built in 2017 under the direction and guidance of our chairman, Mr Pradeep Chopra, Ilead Sports Complex is a part of the new campus of Ilead College. Inspired from the Heritage Restoration and the DIY makers’ movements across the world, the foundation of the new campus is based on a vision to promote recycling and reuse of old and materials of heritage value. “We had decide that our new campus, that also comprises of the sports complex, will have display of all sorts of green practices which entails using recycled, up-cycled products and using waste material as the primary construction material,” said Mr Chopra. Apart from the sports ground, the campus also houses classes for several courses such as Animation and Skill Development and Training. The design and structure of the campus ensures that students can enjoy an eco-friendly atmosphere during their classes as well as games.

One can find screen walls made of shattered glass, all kinds of furniture made of various discarded material in the campus. The club house is mostly constructed out of discarded glass panels and the false ceilings are made of thermocol packaging material. The entire complex has a vertical garden made of discarded plastic bottles, having around six to seven thousand plants, ensuring an atmosphere of clean, pollution free air for the players. Rubber dust, grounded from old tyres has been used in developing the AstroTurf on the 5,520 square feet football field in an attempt to give the players a feel of a real grass ground.

"The AstroTurf also basically acts as a layer of waterproofing for the building. So you see, there are various uses of a material with multiple objectives. Even here we have tried to apply the concept of recycling," Mr Chopra added.

“As you understand, we are restricted by the availability of the space, therefore the sports complex has been designed in such a way that multiple games can be played on the grounds.” The second ground, which is a 3,770 square feet solid rubber ground field, can be used for playing basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis and cricket. The complex is home to Ilead’s signature sports fest Adrenaline along with the intra-college cultural fest Spotlight. The campus also played host to the first-of-its kind college Halloween part in October 2018.

The sports complex is available on rent to any interested party at very affordable rates. Apart from the general sporting activities, the grounds of Ilead Sports Complex are also let out for various other leisure events and activities such as carnivals, open air parties, children’s festivals, NGO events etc. A number of corporate sports tournaments, NGO events, video shoots and children’s carnivals have been organised here. Ilead Sports Complex provides you a truly ideal venue for any occasion, set in a safe and eco-friendly environment.