Why states other than Odisha haven't hosted international hockey in a long time

The first of those 'sponsorship' hugs between Hockey India and the state of Odisha in 2018 was a five year commitment. It warmed up so nicely that an extension of 10 years, until 2033, was announced even before the previous five-year contract period was over. Like Bhubaneswhar in 2014, international hockey in India travelled to three other new venues over the next two years: Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh for the 2015 Test series against Australia, Raipur in Chhattisgarh for the FIH Hockey World League Final and then to Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh for the 2016 Junior World Cup, which turned out to be India's historic second triumph in the tournament.

(Hockey India Photo)Since then, or precisely since Odisha stepped forward to sponsor the national teams, the state of mines and minerals has managed to enjoy exclusivity when it comes to hosting international hockey matches in India, including all FIH Pro League fixtures, the 2018 men's World Cup and also the upcoming 2023 men's World Cup. Many reckon it's part of the perks that come along with being a sponsor of the national teams and filling the national federation's coffers with crores. But Odisha's rich hockey history in Sundergarh, Rourkela and the tribal belt, producing international stars regularly in both men's and women's hockey, has also had a role to play in the state's all-out support. It's also spread across other sports, with franchises in the Indian Super League (football) and Ultimate Kho Kho also owned by the state. But that doesn't become reason enough to assume that tournaments of eminence, in this case India's international hockey fixtures, will remain confined to Odisha because of its unmatched support. More recently, in 2021, when India won the hosting