Visitors in search of a conveniently located Bangkok apartment hotel close to venues such as the Rajamangala Stadium should stay at the decidedly elegant Citadines Sukhumvit 16 Bangkok. Offering luxurious amenities and facilities for long stay and short stay vacationers this charming rest provides a strategic location from which to explore the Thai capital.
Having opened its doors to the public back in 1998 Rajamangala Stadium holds the distinct honour of being Thailand’s National Stadium. Occupying pride of place in Bang Kapi’s Hua Mak region this mammoth sporting area is also the headquarters of the country’s national football team. Dubbed Ratchamangkhala Kilasathan in the local tongue this popular sporting hub is a must-see attraction for all sports lovers touring Bangkok.
Owned and managed by the Sports Authority of Thailand the Rajamangala Stadium at a glance is a grass surface sporting arena with the capacity to house a whopping 49722 spectators. Designed by Chulalongkorn University’s architecture faculty the arena is a stunning structure made almost entirely of concrete. As a building project that was completed by Thai nationals and local contractors the stadium designed by the architects from a national university is seen as a cultural icon of sorts in the capital.
Often referred to as a more dramatic version of Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield the first event to take place within the confines of the stadium was the 1998 Asian Games. As the centre piece of the Hua Mak Sports Complex the venue has hosted many a prestigious sporting event since its inception. Highlights include the AFC Asian Cup in 2007 and the games of the AFC Champions League. Besides football matches and the like the location is a popular choice for hosting music concerts, political gatherings as well as athletic meets.
Having served as the venue for the Bangkok Music Festival back in 2005 some of the other notable musical events that have taken place at the stadium include the MBC Korean Music Wave in Bangkok, Bangkok Summer Festival and a concert by Lady Gaga as part of her Born This Way Ball Tour in 2012. The locale will also serve as the venue for One Direction’s upcoming concert in Thailand which is part of the globally popular band’s On the Road Again tour.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.