Rajamangala Stadium

Rajamangala National Stadium ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน
Location	Bangkok, Thailand
Opened	1998
Owner	Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)
Surface	Grass
Architect	Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University
Capacity	65,000 (seating 49,722)
Tenants
Thailand national football team Big Bang Chula United

Rajamangala National Stadium (Thai: ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน; RTGS: Ratchamangkhalakilasathan) 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.

It was first used for the 1998 Asian Games in 1998. 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 49,722. 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.

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

Rajamangala National Stadium

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Past Performances

• Carabao 15 Year Celebrate-Made in Thailand Concert 25 December 1999
• 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 / Sold out
• 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 / Sold out
• Race of Champions, 14-16 december 2012
• David Guetta Live in Bangkok 29 January 2013
• The Voice Thailand "True Sound Real Sound." 2 March 2013

References

• World Stadiums.com

Preceded by Esprit Arena Düsseldorf	Race of Champions Host stadium 2012	Succeeded by TBA TBA
Preceded by Yunlin County Stadium Dounan	AFC Women's Asian Championship Final Venue 2003	Succeeded by Hindmarsh Stadium Adelaide
Preceded by Bukit Jalil National Stadium Kuala Lumpur	Premier League Asia Trophy Venue 2007	Succeeded by Hong Kong Stadium Hong Kong
Preceded by İzmir Atatürk Stadium İzmir	Summer Universiade Opening and Closing Ceremonies 2007	Succeeded by Belgrade Arena Belgrade