The Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium has hosted its first football match since undergoing a major rebuild, with a crowd of 50,000 attending the Chinese Super League (CSL) game between Beijing Guoan and Meizhou Hakka at the weekend.
With Saturday marking the opening weekend of China’s top tier football competition, CSL fixtures were also able to welcome fans at matches for the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
Reports indicate that a sold out capacity crowd filled the rebuilt venue, which, since August 2020 had undergone a major program of renovation and reconstruction.
As one of the 10 major projects to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Beijing Workers' Stadium, known locally as Gongti, was designed and constructed in the then-eastern suburb of Beijing in 1959, becoming China's biggest multi-functional sporting complex at that time.
During subsequent decades, the venue staged a number of domestic and international events, including China's inaugural National Games, events at the 2008 Olympic Games, the 1990 Asian Games and became home to Beijing Guoan in 1996.
Rebuilt within its former external façade design but with an all-new interior, the Stadium, which no longer features an athletics track, is the Chinese capital's first football-specific venue. Now featuring a state-of-the-art LED lighting system and two giant screens hanging at the north and south ends of the stands, it also boasts an innovative cooling system that helps players and spectators beat the heat that comes with the peak of Beijing summer.
Commenting on the rebuild, Song Peng, Vice General Manager of Sinobo Gongti which oversees the rebuilding program, told China's Global Times "the stadium carries memories from generation to generation.
"The principle for rebuilding is to keep the exteriors unchanged but have the interior facility modernised."
The rebuilding of the venue was to have seen it to host games for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which was to be held in China. However, the Chinese Football Association conceded the hosting rights in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hampered the preparation of the tournament.
Designed to serve as a year-round destination capable of hosting sport and entertainment events, access to the Beijing Workers' Stadium is set to be improved through a train station that will provide a direct connection to the venue.
Song went on to advise that “the surrounding area will be established as a city park”, adding that the 30,000-square-metre lake toward the south side of the stadium will remain in place.
A skate park and other exercise facilities will also be placed in the area as well as a shopping mall, this landmark building of the city is deemed to restore its pride and again become a vitality hub.
The weekend’s opening CSL fixtures marked the start of a restored home-and-away season format, which marks the 30th year of the professional era of Chinese football.
Images: The rebuilt Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium. Credit: Sinobo Gongti.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
Related Articles
14th April 2023 - WTA ends Peng Shuai-inspired boycott and resumes tournaments in China
23rd March 2023 - FISU University World Cup Football among expos and sports events planned for southeast China
9th January 2023 - Beijing’s rebuilt Workers’ Stadium set for March opening
30th December 2022 - Growing number of nations imposing COVID rules on China arrivals
28th December 2022 - Chinese Government’s announcement of easing of pandemic border measures prompts rush of overseas travel bookings
2nd December 2022 - 2023 Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix cancelled due to ‘ongoing difficulties’ with COVID
8th September 2022 - Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal opens for tourism navigation
5th August 2022 - Chinese property giant Evergrande cancels Guangzhou football stadium deal
30th May 2022 - Empty Stadiums a sign of China’s fading football dream
16th May 2022 - Covid-hit China relinquishes hosting rights for 2023 AFC Asian Cup
22nd March 2022 - China’s latest COVID outbreak forces closure of Shanghai Disneyland
1st February 2022 - IOC aims for 30% venue capacity at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic venues
29th November 2021 - Chinese Government takes control of half-complete Guangzhou Stadium project from struggling Evergrande Football
17th September 2021 - Opening of China’s National Games marks return of major spectator events
2nd March 2021 - Chinese Super League champions ceases operations in blow to nation’s football aspirations
15th September 2020 - New Shanghai football stadium ready for match action
23rd August 2020 - Plans unveiled for new football stadium in China’s ancient capital
1st May 2020 - China looks to FIFA World Cup hosting with new football stadia
27th March 2019 - White paper flags rise of Chinese Super League football
12th January 2018 - Shanghai Municipality to build eight new professional sports stadia by 2035
27th January 2017 - Populous designs training centre for Hebei China Fortune Football Club
25th July 2016 - China to build 60,000 football fields by 2020
16th March 2016 - Football attendances rise in China and India
4th September 2015 - China ready to host the World Leisure Games
