Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium – stadium description

What is the Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium?

The 60,000-seat Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium is the centerpiece of a large, flagship sports complex built in Nansha – a remote southern district of Guangzhou, located 80 km south of the city center. However, its location is far from arbitrary: it is described as the “geometric center” of the Guangzhou–Hong Kong–Macau megalopolis.

Although the area has been underdeveloped until recently, this is set to change. A branch of the 24-kilometer crossing connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan has already been completed, and plans include a metro station and further investments.

The complex was co-designed by the renowned British firm Zaha Hadid Architects, with each of its structures featuring distinctive architecture meant to symbolize pearls scattered along the coastline.

The stadium itself is notable for its striking arch, which creates a large gap between the roof and the stands. This design allows the building to “open” to the east, giving spectators a view of the Pearl River estuary.

The roof of the stadium is styled after a traditional Chinese fan, while the facade evokes the appearance of ancient Song dynasty ships. The venue is multifunctional, equipped with an athletics track and two large video screens.

Who designed the Greater Bay Area Sports Center?

The design for the Greater Bay Area Sports Center was selected through an international competition, the results of which were announced on 21 July 2023. The winning vision was developed by the renowned British firm Zaha Hadid Architects, in collaboration with the GuangDong Architectural Design & Research Institute.

The design of the Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium can be viewed on a dedicated page

When was the Greater Bay Area Sports Center built?

The complex was constructed by two branches of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC): the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau and the China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau.

Construction proceeded at an extraordinary pace, setting speed records for a project of this scale in China. Work began in August 2023, and the complex was completed by June 2025. The total cost exceeded 8 billion yuan.

The project was initially referred to as the Nansha Cultural and Sports Complex, but the venue ultimately received the name Greater Bay Area Sports Center.

A construction report for the Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium is available on a dedicated page

When was the Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium inaugurated?

The first event held at the new complex was a basketball tournament in the sports hall on 10 August 2025. The opening of the main venue, the stadium itself, took place on 23 August 2025.

The stadium’s inauguration featured a match in the Guangdong Football Super League between the Nansha Bay Area Youth Team and the Wuchuan Youth Team (0:3). The game and accompanying festivities were attended by over 25,000 spectators.

In December 2025, the new stadium hosted its first concerts.

What does the Greater Bay Area Sports Center Stadium look like?

The stadium is multifunctional, equipped with an athletics track surrounded by stands with a capacity of 60,000 spectators. The seating area is covered by a roof of distinctive, irregular shape, designed by the architects to resemble a traditional Chinese fan.

One of the most striking features of the venue is a massive arch that creates a space between the roof and the stands. This structure “opens” the stadium toward the east, allowing some spectators to enjoy views of the Pearl River estuary and the new bridge spanning the waterway.

The stands are fitted with folding seats in shades of blue, and two large video screens are mounted on the curves. The decorative exterior facade references the appearance of ancient Song dynasty ships.

What is the Greater Bay Area Sports Center?

The stadium was built as the main component of a larger sports complex, which also includes a 20,000-seat multipurpose sports and events hall, a covered swimming complex with seating for 4,000, a secondary stadium with an athletics track and modest stands, as well as supporting infrastructure.

The architecture of the complex’s individual facilities is innovative and unconventional – the designers intended the buildings to resemble pearls scattered along the coastline.

The complex is designed to serve as one of the leading sports centers in the Guangzhou–Hong Kong–Macau metropolis and is equipped to host high-level sporting and cultural events.

Where is the Greater Bay Area Sports Center located?

The complex is located in Nansha, a remote southern district of Guangzhou, approximately 80 km from the city center. The facilities are situated at the tip of a peninsula extending into the Pearl River estuary.

Although the area is not heavily urbanized, it is considered the geometric center of the Guangzhou–Hong Kong–Macau megalopolis. Plans call for intensive development in the area, including the extension of Metro Line 18 and the construction of one of its stations (Ershichong) near the sports complex.

Between 2017 and 2024, an approximately 24-kilometer bridge–tunnel crossing of the Pearl River estuary was constructed, connecting Shenzhen in the east with Zhongshan in the west (the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link). A branch of this crossing leads directly to the vicinity of the sports complex.