| Qi Zhong Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Location | Shanghai PR China |
| Built | 2003 |
| Opened | October 5, 2005 |
| Owner | Tennis in China |
| Construction cost | RMB ¥ 2.4 billion USD $ 200 million |
| Capacity | Tennis: 15,000 Basketball: 15,000 |
| Tenants | |
| Shanghai Masters (tennis) (2009-present) Tennis Masters Cup (tennis) (2005-2008) FINA World (Swimming) (April 2006) |
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The Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena,[1] also known as Qi Zhong stadium,[2] (pronounced "chee-jong") is an arena in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.[1][2] The complex is located on an 80-hectare area, in the southwest of Shanghai, the Minhang District.
It has a steel roof with eight sliding petal-shaped pieces (moved in 8 minutes) which resembles a blooming magnolia, Shanghai's city flower.[3] The roof enables the stadium to host both indoor and outdoor tennis events. The seating capacity is 15,000 people.[3] The stadium was specially created to host the ATP World Tour Finals between 2005 - 2008,[3] and was the largest tennis venue in Asia, until the construction of the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing.
From 2009, it will host the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, a new ATP Masters Series tournament. It also served as one of the venues used for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic during their tour of China in 2007.
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The Tennis Centre covers a total area of 338,836 square meters, of which 85,000 square meters are made up of structures.[3] The volume rate is 0.187, the building density 15.1%, green/open space 46.1%, with parking capacity of 993 parking spaces.
During the ATP World Tour Finals event, there was a retail zone, with the public eating/drinking areas outside the stadium.[3]
The stadium is located in Ma Qiao Town[3] in southwest Shanghai, the Minhang District. The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Construction and Administration requested international bids in 2003, for building the stadium.[3]
The winning bid was submitted by Japanese architect Mitsuru Senda and his company Environment Design Institute (EDI), an architectural and landscape firm specializing in children's environments including schools, museums, hospitals, sports facilities, parks, play structures, daycare centers, and housing.[3]
EDI had designed sports stadiums in Japan, including the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Centre and the Tokoname Municipal Gymnasium. Mr. Senda, a former President and now honorary member of the Architectural Institute of Japan, established EDI in 1968 with a design philosophy to adapt comprehensive planning along with the layout of the environment.[3]
Each leaf, of the roof, was constructed on the ground beforehand. The method of testing each leaf on the ground was similar to that used by China Aerospace, where each roof piece must pass a test, before it can be elevated to its position for final installation.[3]
Other companies involved in the center's construction include: [3]
There will be a total of 40 tennis courts when Phase 2 is completed (Centre Court Stadium, 3 small indoor stadiums, 14 indoor courts and 22 outdoor courts).[3]
| Preceded by Westside Tennis Club Houston |
ATP Year-end Championships Venue 2005-2008 |
Succeeded by The O2 arena London |
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