80th Birthday Stadium - Nakhon Ratchasima F.C Stadium Guide

His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5th December 2007 Stadium was built over a period of just over 27 months. Construction began in March 2005 and finished July 2007 although the ground didn’t officially open until the start of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.

Multi-purpose by design the stadium features an athletics track around the perimeter of the pitch, and a continuous ring of single-tiered orange seating.  Costing a reported $65 million U.S dollars for the stadium, and wider sports complex the 80th Birthday Stadium appears to be excellent value for money.

Very much built in the outdoor stadium mould, only the 7,000 seats within the main stand receive coverage from the cantilevered roof. These include the Royal Box which sits in the middle of the main stand, allowing the King to observe the sports taking place.

Before moving into the 80th Birthday Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima F.C played their home fixtures at the nearby Central Stadium within the Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District.

The move was initially made on a trial basis but football team have remained here ever since  despite not always filling the stadium on matchdays. There has been suggestions that the club should move to the smaller adjacent ground but it lacks adequate floodlights and other basic facilities.