Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium – stadium description

What does the Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium look like in a nutshell?

Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium was created as a result of a complete reconstruction of the former Shenzhen Stadium. The facility retained the oval shape of the old stadium and its distinctive external structure. Inside, completely new stands were created in a football-oriented layout, with a new, larger dome-shaped roof over them.

The stadium has a capacity of 45,000 spectators, and is hosted by Shenzhen Peng City FC. The facility is located near the center of Shenzhen and is part of the Shenzhen Sports Center, which also includes a large sports hall with retractable roof and an indoor swimming pool.

How was the new Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium built?

In January 2018, Shenzhen was awarded the hosting of the WTA Finals, the prestigious women's tennis competition held at the end of each season. Shenzhen was to host the WTA Finals for 10 years (2019–2028).

The possibility of hosting the WTA Finals was the impetus for a comprehensive modernization of the Shenzhen Sports Center, which had been planned for some time, and was designated as the venue for the competition.

What did the remodeling of the Shenzhen Sports Center include?

The Shenzhen Sports Center complex occupies a triangular plot of land near the center of the metropolis and includes three major sports facilities: a stadium, a sports hall and a swimming pool.

The redevelopment was to involve the sports hall and the stadium. The arena was to be built completely from scratch, replacing the old 1985 Shenzhen Gymnasium. The work missed only the indoor swimming pool, the youngest of the complex's three main venues, completed in 2002.

Major changes were also planned for the surrounding area, which was to be revitalized, with the construction of new playing fields, as well as a large underground parking lot.

How was Shenzhen Stadium to be remodeled?

From its existing structure, the stadium was to retain only the outer skeleton. After the reconstruction, the facility was to receive completely new stands in a football-specific layout, without the athletics track, as well as a new, larger roof. The venue's capacity was to increase to 45,000 spectators. The stadium was also to be equipped with the latest technology and meet the conditions for hosting top-level events.

The design of the Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

What did the old Shenzhen Stadium look like?

The old Shenzhen Stadium opened in 1993, with an athletics track flanked by oval, single-tier, covered stands capable of holding 32,500 spectators.

The facility served as Shenzhen's main stadium, but in the 21st century, the rapidly growing metropolis, which has the status of a special economic zone, saw the construction of several large and modern venues: Longgang Stadium, Bao'an Stadium and Shenzhen Bay Sports Center.

How did the redevelopment of the Shenzhen Sports Center proceed?

Since the priority was to host the WTA Finals, the first step was to build a new sports hall to host the event. Already in the summer of 2018, the site was fenced off and preparatory work began.

The first plans called for the opening of the new hall by June 2020, but the investment was significantly prolonged. The first WTA Finals tournament in Shenzhen (in 2019) was held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center complex. Due to severe restrictions in China related to the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent editions were moved to other countries.

Demolition of the old arena was completed in late 2019 and early 2020, with a groundbreaking ceremony for the next phase of work, which included intensive earthworks, taking place on May 24, 2020.

In July 2021, the construction tender was won by China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau and the actual construction phase began. The new arena was the first to begin construction, and in November 2021 the reconstruction of the stadium also began.

The reconstruction of the complex took much longer than planned. The new hall was not put into use until October 18, 2024, when it hosted a basketball game of the CBA league between the Shenzhen Leopards and Jiangsu Kentier (121–100).

When was the new Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium inaugurated?

The stadium was ready a few months after the opening of the arena, and was inaugurated with a Chinese Super League match between Shenzhen Peng City FC and Yunnan Yukun (3–4), played on March 28, 2025.

A report on the construction of the Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

How does the Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium look?

After the reconstruction, the stadium has retained the oval shape of its predecessor, as well as the exterior reinforced concrete skeleton, which creates a distinctive facade. Inside, however, the stands match the rectangular football field and are divided into two tiers, with a capacity of 45,000 spectators.

The main stand is located on the west side, and the stand behind the northern goal has movable segments in the lower part, which, when tucked away, give more space, for example, for setting up a stage. The audience is equipped with folding seats, mostly in blue.

Most of the seats in the stands are covered by a huge roof in the form of a dome, ending with a glass section. Underneath the canopy are mounted floodlights, a sound system, as well as four video screens.

What purpose does the Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium serve?

Although it is no longer the largest stadium in Shenzhen, after the reconstruction, the facility has at least regained its status as the city's main football arena – it is the only major stadium with a football specific character. The facility can be used for high-level football matches, as well as various cultural events.

In November 2025, the venue will be one of the arenas for the 15th Chinese National Games, which will be hosted by Guangdong Province along with Hong Kong and Macau.

Who is the host of Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium?

For years, the leading football club in Shenzhen was Shenzhen FC. This club spent many years at the old Shenzhen Stadium, but the team was disbanded after the 2023 season. The gap left by it, however, was quickly filled by a new team: in 2024 Sichuan Jiuniu FC, previously based in Chengdu, moved to the city.

The club, which was promoted to the Chinese Super League in 2023, adopted the new name Shenzhen Peng City FC after the move. The team played its first season (2024) at Bao'an Stadium, and after the opening of the new Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium, became its main host.

What is located in the surroundings of Shenzhen Sports Center Stadium?

The stadium is the main component of the Shenzhen Sports Center, which also includes an arena and indoor swimming pool. The complex is complemented by additional playing fields, including an auxiliary stadium with an athletics track, as well as greenery and small architecture.

Special attention should be paid to the new sports and entertainment hall. It can accommodate 15,000 spectators and has been equipped with an opening roof, as well as an attractive facade. The hall is designed to host high-level sporting events in a number of disciplines, and its host has become the Shenzhen Leopards basketball team, which plays in the CBA league.

Between the complex's three main venues is a main plaza with an underground parking lot underneath. The complex occupies a triangular plot of land near the center of Shenzhen.