As per emerging reports, Kerala Blasters are likely to move their home matches away from Kochi, with Malappuram’s Payyanad Stadium or Kozhikode’s EMS Stadium emerging as possible alternatives to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kaloor.

Sources indicate that the club’s management is reassessing its home venue options due to mounting financial pressures, with the high rental costs proving increasingly difficult to sustain. Preparing the venue for matches at short notice is also expected to considerably raise expenses, apparently prompting the club to explore more cost-effective solutions.

EMS Stadium in Kozhikode or Payyanad Stadium in Malappuram are reportedly being considered as possible options, as they would require relatively lower investment to be match-ready. With budgets already stretched, the focus remains on minimising avoidable expenditure while ensuring operational readiness for the season.

The upcoming Indian Super League season, scheduled to begin on February 14, will be played in a single-leg format, limiting Kerala Blasters to just six or seven home matches. Spending heavily on a high-rent venue for a reduced number of fixtures may not be financially viable.

This season’s matches will be televised on Doordarshan, and the football federation has reportedly relaxed its insistence on AFC-standard stadiums, further strengthening the case for a shift to Malabar. With sponsorship revenue limited, the club is expected to rely heavily on ticket sales.

Official updates are awaited. (With inputs from Agencies)