Rajamangala Stadium

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Rajamangala National Stadium
ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน
Rajamangala Stadium Panorama.jpg
Location Bangkok, Thailand
Owner Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)
Capacity 49,772(seated)[1]
65,000
Surface Grass
Construction
Opened 1998
Architect Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University
Tenants
Thailand (1998–present)
1998 Asian Games
1999 ASEAN University Games opening ceremony
External view of the stadium

Rajamangala National Stadium (Thai: ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน; rtgsRatchamangkhala Kila Sathan, pronounced [râːt.t͡ɕʰā.māŋ.kʰā.lāː kīː.lāː sā.tʰǎːn]) is the national stadium of Thailand and the home stadium for the Thailand national football team. It is part of the Hua Mak Sports Complex, and is located in Hua Mak Subdistrict, Bang Kapi, Bangkok. It officially opened in 1998.

Overview

It was first used for the 1998 Asian Games in 1998 and 1999 ASEAN University Games in 1999. Since then, it has been used for many international matches and football tournaments. Most notably, for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Thai club sides have also used the stadium when playing in continental cup competitions. Krung Thai Bank FC (now Bangkok Glass FC) used it for AFC Champions League matches, and PEA FC and Chonburi FC have recently used it in the AFC Cup. Aside from football, it has been used for athletics, pop concerts and political rallies.

Rajamangala Stadium was designed by the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University. The main material used in construction was concrete and therefore, though the stadium is impressive and imposing, it could never be described as beautiful. However, it is undoubtedly dramatic. The stands rise and fall like a giant, exaggerated version of Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium. At each end are quite narrow tiers of seats but the tiers rise and rise as they move round the sides until they peak level with the half-way line. From an aesthetic point of view, the stadium is best viewed from a distance, preferably from the air, where the elliptical shape of the side tribunes seems particularly pronounced.

The aforementioned side tribunes are designated 'East' and 'West'. 'East' is the uncovered popular side; 'West' is the covered side where the more expensive seats are. The two ends are designated 'North' and 'South'. 'North' is the more popular of the two. It's where the more vocal and colourful elements of the Thai support congregate.

The capacity of the stadium is 50,000. When the stadium first opened the capacity was 65,000. But plastic seats were installed on the North, South and East sides, where previously there had been bare concrete steps, in readiness for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

The stadium is not served by public transport which has always been a source of frustration for fans. No Bangkok Skytrains, subway-trains or normal overground trains stop anywhere near the stadium (unlike at the Suphachalasai Stadium, which is served by the Skytrain - National Stadium Station). However, there are buses and taxis which pass fairly close to the stadium. But in 2010 Suvarnabhumi Airport Link was completed which means that the stadium is served by the City Line at - Ramkhamhaeng Station.

The stadium hosted the 2012 Race of Champions.

24 November 2013, a crowd estimated at 100,000 joined the rally around Bangkok's Democracy Monument in an anti-government protest, according to the Democrat Party, as pro-government red shirts gathered at Rajamangala Sports Stadium.

Other stadiums in Bangkok include the Thai Army Sports Stadium, the Thai-Japanese Stadium and Chulalongkorn University Stadium.

Performances

Past performances

  • Carabao 15 Year Celebrate-Made in Thailand Concert - 25 December 1999[2]
  • B - Day Concert - 10 December 2004
  • Bangkok Music Festival - 7 May 2005
  • Asanee-Wasan Rumrai Concert - 17 November 2007
  • YAMAHA Presents SMTOWN Live’08 in Bangkok - 7 February 2009
  • Show King M Bangkok - 6 April 2010
  • Soda Chang Presents Bodyslam Live In Kraam By Air Asia - 27 November 2010[3]
  • Korean Music Wave in Bangkok presented by JL Starnet - 12 March 2011
  • Bangkok Summer Festival By Coca-Cola - 7–8 May 2011
  • MBC Korean Music Wave in Bangkok 2012 - 7 April 2012
  • Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball Tour - 25 May 2012
  • M! Countdown Smile-Thailand - 11 October 2012
  • Race of Champions - 14–16 December 2012
  • The Voice Thailand "True Sound Real Sound" - 2 March 2013
  • One Direction On the Road Again Tour - 14 March 2015[4]

Upcoming performances

Gallery

References

  1. from Thai Wikipedia ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน
  2. บันทึกการแสดงคอนเสิร์ต 15 ปี เมด อิน ไทยแลนด์
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  4. Infos on ontheroadagain1d.com

External links

Preceded by Race of Champions
Host stadium

2012
Succeeded by
Bushy Park, Barbados
Barbados 2014
Preceded by AFC Women's Asian Championship
Final Venue

2003
Succeeded by
Hindmarsh Stadium
Australia Adelaide
Preceded by Premier League Asia Trophy
Venue

2007
Succeeded by
Hong Kong Stadium
 Hong Kong
Preceded by Summer Universiade
Opening and Closing Ceremonies

2007
Succeeded by
Belgrade Arena
Belgrade

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