Suphachalasai Stadium

Suphachalasai Stadium, also known as the National Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The stadium holds 26,000 people and was opened in 1935.

History

It is used mostly for football matches. It served as the main stadium for the 1966, 1970, and 1978 Asian Games. It was also used for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, but only for one game (Oman v Iraq in Group A). The stadium is easy for spectators to get to as it is served by the Bangkok Skytrain which stops at the 'National Stadium' station right next to the stadium.

The stadium is a single tier construction which is uncovered on three sides. A plain but effective roof covers the main-stand side. Although there is a running track, the tribunes are immediately adjacent to it so spectators are not as far from the action as they are at the newer Rajamangala Stadium. Spectator comfort was increased in 2007 with the addition of red bench seats to the previously bare concrete steps on the three open sides.

Thai league clubs often play at the Suphachalasai in Asian competitions as their own stadiums do not meet Asian Football Confederation criteria. However, it is now rarely used by the national team who usually play at the Rajamangala. Other stadiums in Bangkok include the Thai Army Sports Stadium, the Thai-Japanese Stadium and Chulalongkorn University Stadium.

Michael Jackson performed two sold out concerts at the stadium, on 24 and 27 August 1993 during his Dangerous World Tour, for a total estimated audience of 110,000 fans (approximately 55,000 people per show).