Compact, cheap and built in a year. Utama Sumatera Utara Stadium does not stand out for its capacity or spectacular design, but combines modernity with tradition and simplicity with functionality. Interestingly, although it is ideal for football games, it will not have a permanent host.

Fast, cheap... and good?

Indonesian soccer is not watched around the world. The national team there has not appeared at a World Cup since 1938 (!). However, Indonesia's stadium infrastructure is doing well, as several impressive venues have been built in recent years. The newest one would not be disdained by many teams of top European leagues.

This venue is Stadion Utama Sumatera Utara. Its stands have a typical football layout. Tradition, reflected in the typical green-tinted designs characteristic of the local culture, harmonizes with modern trends, as the facility is equipped with solar panels. Could this stadium turn out to be one of your favorite new venues? Check out the 23 arenas opening in 2024 and pick your favorite five.

The facility, with a capacity of 25,750 seats, was built for the equivalent of €35M. This means that the cost per chair is about 1360 €. In comparison, the construction of Gtech Community Stadium cost about €4,900 per seat, in the case of Inter Miami’s temporary home - more than €3,200, and in the case of Q2 Stadium - about €12,000.

In addition, it was built in just 12 months - from October 2023 to October 2024. This makes the stadium from Indonesia one of the most special venues among the nominated arenas for Stadium of the Year. Get to know them all with our YouTube video.

A stadium without a host

Interestingly, although the stadium seems like an ideal home for a soccer club, it will not have a host. Its function is representative, as evidenced by its name, meaning North Sumatra Province's Main Stadium. The facility will host major events for the region, while the home of the local PSMS Medan will continue to be Teladan Stadium.

This arrangement is unusual in that Teladan Stadium has a treadmill and thus its stands are distanced from the pitch, a solution that is typical for representative, multi-purpose facilities.

Utama Sumatera Utara Stadium, on the other hand, is ideal for football matches, but due to the lack of a treadmill, it won’t be able to hold athletic competitions. Whether the investment was worthwhile will therefore be seen in the future and will depend on the events that the authorities attract to the new Indonesian gem.

© Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika Provinsi Sumatera Utara, Info Sumut