Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium – stadium description

How did the new football stadium in Dalian come about?

In June 2019, China was awarded the hosting of the 2023 Asian Cup football tournament. In preparation for the event, the country decided to build a number of new, football-specific stadiums. One of these was planned in Dalian, a port metropolis at the tip of the Liaotung peninsula.

Where was the new football stadium in Dalian built?

The new stadium was decided to be built on the shores of Suoyu Bay, on an artificially raised promontory. The site offers views of the harbour wharves, as well as the skyline of the tall buildings of the Dalian city centre on the opposite side of the bay.

When was Dalian's new football stadium built?

The design of the new arena was prepared by BDP Pattern in collaboration with Buro Happold, and the main contractor was China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau. The ceremonial start of construction took place on October 11, 2020, with an investment cost of 1.88 billion yuan. The facility was practically ready by the end of 2022, and the stadium successfully passed inspection procedures in April 2023.

Although the impetus for the construction of the facility was the 2023 Asian Cup, the stadium will not host matches of this tournament because, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has withdrawn from hosting the competition. The facility will, however, be used for various events, and its main user will be the Dalian Pro team playing in the Chinese Super League.

When did the new football stadium in Dalian open?

On April 23, 2023, the stadium hosted the first game of the under-16 youth competition. On April 29, fans were allowed into the U-21 teams' game for the first time, making the lower level of the auditorium available to them. On May 1, 2023, the venue was opened to the public.

The real inauguration took place in June 2023, when the Chinese national football team played two friendly matches at the stadium, on June 16 against Myanmar (4:0) and June 20 against Palestine (2:0).

What does Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium look like?

The architectural concept of Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

On a symbolic level, the building manifests many features that refer to Dalian's coastal location. The architects working on the project were inspired by sea waves and shells. The façade is formed by overlapping circles, intended to reflect the waves. The blue ETFE panels covering them reflect light, shimmering like the water in Suoyu Bay. At night, they can be used to create striking illuminations.

With its distinctive design and prominent location, the stadium is one of the more striking structures in Dalian.

Walking and jogging paths have been laid out along the upper edges of the circles in the stadium's façade. These can be used to reach the top of the building, where there is a platform with views of the bay and Dalian skyline. The paths are open to the public and open every day without charge.

From the outside, the venue has an oval outline, even approximating a circle, while inside, the stands have a typical football layout, tightly surrounding the rectangular playing field. The auditorium is divided into three tiers and holds 63,000 spectators. The stands are equipped with seats in blue and grey tones, arranged in the pattern of sea waves.

The auditorium is covered by a white membrane roof, held up by a tendon structure. Floodlights and two video screens are hooked up to the roof. The stadium has VIP boxes and extensive infrastructure. The venue is equipped with the modern technology and facilities necessary to organise events at the highest level.

The stadium was built on an artificial promontory covering an area of 26.5 ha. The entire area is dedicated to the stadium and its accompanying infrastructure. This included two full-size training pitches, paths, green areas and a semi-circular square resembling an amphitheatre. The premise is intended to be used for training and amateur sport, as well as for recreation and leisure activities.