Jakarta International Stadium – stadium description

How did the construction of a new stadium for Persija Jakarta happen?

Persija Jakarta is one of Indonesia's strongest football clubs, with a whole lot of supporters. Plans to build a new stadium for the club date back to the end of the first decade of the 21st century. In 2012, the first concept was created and a location selected. The original idea was to build a stadium with an athletics track, capable of holding 50,000 spectators. The planned facility was initially known as BMW Stadium (short for the park in which it was to be built - Bersih Manusia Wibawa).

The start of development was significantly delayed, mainly due to problems with land purchase. The site chosen for the development was largely bare, but for several years squatters had been illegally building their houses there, which led to conflict with them. While the situation was being attempted to be resolved, a completely new concept was created by the same studio (PDW Architects), which called for a much larger, football-specific (no athletics track) facility with a retractable roof.

How did the construction of the new Jakarta stadium proceed?

Once the land issue was resolved, illegally built houses were demolished and the site was cleaned up. The ceremonial groundbreaking, with Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in attendance, took place on March 14, 2019. However, in the first few months, the principal works for the stadium were not carried out and the construction tender, which was won by a consortium of PT Wijaya Karya Gedung, PT Jaya Konstruksi and PT Pembangunan Perumahan, was awarded in August 2019. The actual construction started in September of the same year.

The construction faced many challenges. The facility was being built on a muddy waterlogged area, making the construction of underground floors impossible. The operation to lift the trussed roof structure, which weighs 3,900 tonnes and spans 267 meters, was one of the largest of its kind in the world. Due in part to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stadium's scheduled completion date of the end of 2021 was missed by several months. The construction cost was approximately 4.5 trillion Indonesian rupiah and was covered by municipal funds.

When was the Jakarta International Stadium inaugurated?

From April 13-19, 2022, a youth football tournament involving four teams was played at the nearly completed stadium: FC Barcelona U-18, Atletico Madrid U-18, Bali United U-18 and Indonesia All-Star U-20. The competition, played in front of a small crowd, was described as a 'soft opening' of the facility. Since then, various events have already been organised at the venue, with the grand opening, which included a concert and a friendly match between Persija and Chonburi FC of Thailand (3:3), taking place on July 24, 2022.

By whom is Jakarta International Stadium being used?

The main user of the facility is Persija Jakarta, but the national team is also expected to play there occasionally. In addition, the stadium is to host a variety of sporting and non-sporting events, including concerts and other cultural or religious events.

What does the Jakarta International Stadium look like?

The stadium has a concise, enclosed form. The pitch is surrounded by high, three-tier stands, sloping at angles of: 24, 29 and 32 degrees. The lowest rows of stands are slightly above the level of the pitch. The stands have a simple shape, with rows of seats running parallel to the side and end lines of the pitch, with rounded corners. The upper edge of the stands curves, reaching its highest point in the central part along the pitch and its lowest point in the corners, so that the stands fit into the oval shape of the facility.

The stands are equipped with folding plastic seats in orange or grey, with orange dominating (grey seats are only found in the upper part, where they mix with orange to form a mosaic). The capacity of the stadium is 82,000 spectators There are LED screens in two corners. The stands along the pitch, on both sides, have premium areas. A total of 186 VIP seats, 1610 box seats, 3490 open business seats and 316 media seats are provided.

The auditorium is entirely covered by a permanent canopy made of a huge trussed structure. The roof is also equipped with two moveable sections. When these are closed, the roof is closed, also covering the pitch.

The roof is mostly made of sheet metal, with a transparent section made of the polymer material ETFE at the end, closest to the pitch (the movable sections are also transparent). The canopy is partly covered with photovoltaic panels, although these cover a relatively small area. Around the perimeter is a terrace offering views of the metropolis and the nearby sea.

Beneath the stands, there are as many as nine storeys of facilities, including meeting rooms and commercial space. From the outside, the stadium is covered with a façade formed by vertical, convex, perforated strips made of aluminum. The perforations form a pattern imitating tiger stripes. Gaps in the exterior allow for better ventilation inside the stadium. At night, the façade can be illuminated.

The facility is surrounded by an elevated main entrance promenade, which is extended by two wide pedestrian routes running east and west. Adjacent to the stadium are two full-size training pitches, equipped with modest stands, lighting and, like the main stadium pitch, a hybrid turf. There are also car parks within the arena. The venue is located a short distance from the urban agglomeration centre, next to a small lake and Jakarta's northern ring road.

What are the distinctive features of Jakarta International Stadium?

The stadium's height (73m) makes it one of the tallest of its kind in the world. The venue is also one of the largest stadiums in the world with a retractable canopy; the first of its kind in Indonesia and the second in Southeast Asia (after the Singapore National Stadium). In addition, it is the largest stadium in the country (although Gelora Bung Karno Stadium used to be able to hold well over 100,000 spectators) and the largest football-specific stadium in Asia.

What is the name of Persija Jakarta's new stadium?

The name of the stadium refers to its international character and potential. However, it may be possible to change it if a title sponsor is secured. There have also been proposals for the venue to be named after Indonesia's National Hero, Mohammad Husni Thamrin.