The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was originally constructed by the Government of India to host the athletic events and ceremonies of the 1982 Asian Games.

[4] The stadium was substantially renovated and modernised for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, hosting all the track and field events and opening and closing ceremonies.

[5] In 2010, the final cost of the renovation was announced, which was ₹961 crore (US$210.16 million), making it as the most expensive stadium ever built in India and South Asia.

The stadium can also hold music concerts with up to 100,000 spectators, and due to its oval shape, it is suitable to host other sporting events such as cricket.

A total of 3,411 athletes from 33 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in these games, competing in 196 events in 21 sports and 23 disciplines.

[4] Delhi was selected as the host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games on 14 November 2003 during the CGF General Assembly in Montego Bay, Jamaica, defeating the competing bid from Hamilton, Canada.

The Indian government chose the design of the German architectural company Gerkan, Marg and Partners.

[14] The stadium was given a new roof, improved seating, and other new facilities to meet international standards to allow it to host the athletic events and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

[6] The 53,800 m2 (579,000 sq ft) Teflon-coated roof, designed by the German structural engineering and consulting firm Schlaich Bergermann Partner, was built at a cost of ₹308 crore (US$67.36 million).

[8] Taiyo Membrane Corporation supplied and installed the PTFE glass fibre fabric roof.

The stadium underwent massive redesign and reconstruction for the biggest multi-sport event hosted by India to that date.

[24][25][26][27] The India national football team will play its home matches in the Nehru Stadium after it was handed over by Sports Ministry to the AIFF.

[28] India's first match in the new stadium was to be played against UAE in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off in July 2011.

The show was headlined by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, and also featured Sting and Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N'Dour, and Ravi Shankar.

Michael Jackson was scheduled to perform 2 concerts at the stadium in December 1993 as a part of his Dangerous World Tour.

[33] A highly unusual feature of the ground was the inclusion of the running track as part of the cricket playing outfield area.

The ICC's playing regulations eventually discontinued permission for the running track to be used in this way and thus the stadium was felt to be no longer suitable for cricket.