Plans have been released for the latest major stadium project in China, with Wuhan set to receive a venue seating 60,000-plus.
The stadium is designed to be the new home of Chinese Super League (CSL) football club Wuhan FC. Chinese newspaper, Titan Sports, reports that Wuhan FC’s parent company, supply-chain property and trading services firm Zall Group, has acquired a plot of land spanning 503,100 square metres.
The stadium is intended to be the anchoring part of a wider sports complex, and will cost a reported CNY2.6bn (£290.9m/€337.2m/$398.7m). Wuhan FC currently plays in a 30,000-seat stadium at Dongxihu Sports Centre. Its new home is expected to open by June 2023.
China is currently engaged in a stadium development drive as it prepares for the Asian Cup. China initially pledged to build new stadia in seven of the 12 planned host cities after it was awarded hosting rights in June 2019.
Wuhan had been named as one of the 12 cities but this plan was then revised in December 2019 when the Chinese Football Association (CFA) confirmed 10 host cities – Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen and Suzhou.
In November, a concept by Pattern Design was selected as the winning scheme for a new 63,000-seat stadium in the Chinese city of Dalian. In October, the new Beijing Workers’ Stadium was confirmed as the main venue for the Asian Cup, with preparations commencing in earnest with the formation of the local organising committee.
Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium, the new home of CSL club Shanghai SIPG and a venue for the Asian Cup, was put into service in September, while the prior month saw plans unveiled for an iconic new 60,000-seat stadium in China’s ancient capital city of Xi’an.
The proposals were released by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), with the company focusing on legacy operations such as domestic and international football matches and concerts, as well as the Asian Cup.
Image: xiquinhosilva/CC BY 2.0/Edited for size
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