Suphachalasai Stadium, also known as the National Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium

Multi-purpose stadium

Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...

 in Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

, Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. The stadium holds 26,000 people and was opened in 1935.

History

It is used mostly for football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 matches. It served as the main stadium for the 1966

1966 Asian Games

The 1966 Asian Games, also known as the V Asiad, is a multi-sport event which held from December 9, 1966 to December 20, 1966 in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 142 events in 14 sports will be contested by athletes in the game. Taiwan and Israel returned to the Asian Games, reversing the decision...

, 1970

1970 Asian Games

The 6th Asian Games were held from December 9, 1970 to December 20, 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally Seoul, South Korea was selected to host the 6th Games but it declined due to both financial reasons and security threats from neighboring North Korea. Previous host Thailand stepped in to save...

, and 1978 Asian Games

1978 Asian Games

The 8th Asian Games were held from December 9, 1978 to December 20, 1978 in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally, the host city was Singapore but Singapore dropped its plan to host the Games due to financial problems. And then Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan was decided to host the 8th Games...

. It was also used for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup

2007 AFC Asian Cup

The Asian Football Confederation's 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals were held from July 7 to July 29, 2007. For the first time in its history, the competition was co-hosted by four nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The tournament was won by first-time champions Iraq, who defeated Saudi...

, but only for one game (Oman v Iraq in Group A). The stadium is easy for spectators to get to as it is served by the Bangkok Skytrain

Bangkok Skytrain

The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain , is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration...

 which stops at the 'National Stadium' station right next to the stadium.

The stadium is a single tier construction which is uncovered on three sides. A plain but effective roof covers the main-stand side. Although there is a running track, the tribunes are immediately adjacent to it so spectators are not as far from the action as they are at the newer Rajamangala Stadium

Rajamangala Stadium

Rajamangala National Stadium , also known as Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, is the national stadium of Thailand and the home stadium for the Thailand national football team. Located in Khwaeng Hua Mak, Khet Bang kapi, Bangkok, it officially opened in 1998....

. Spectator comfort was increased in 2007 with the addition of red bench seats to the previously bare concrete steps on the three open sides.

Thai league clubs often play at the Suphachalasai in Asian competitions as their own stadiums do not meet Asian Football Confederation

Asian Football Confederation

The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...

 criteria. However, it is now rarely used by the national team who usually play at the Rajamangala. Other stadiums in Bangkok include the Thai Army Sports Stadium

Thai Army Sports Stadium

Thai Army Sports Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road in the Din Daeng district of north Bangkok, Thailand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Army United F.C. The stadium holds 20,000 and has a single stand with covered seating on...

, the Thai-Japanese Stadium

Thai-Japanese Stadium

Thai-Japanese Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 10,000....

 and Chulalongkorn University Stadium

Chulalongkorn University Stadium

Chulalongkorn University Sports Stadium, formerly Charusathian Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium owned by Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Chulalongkorn Soi 9 in Pathumwan in the centre of Bangkok. It is currently used mostly for football matches and to host intra- and...

.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

 performed two sold out concerts at the stadium, on 24 and 27 August 1993 during his Dangerous World Tour

Dangerous World Tour

The Dangerous World Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson. The tour, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, included 69 performances to an audience of 3.5 million. All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's own "Heal the World Foundation". The...

, for a total estimated audience of 110,000 fans (approximately 55,000 people per show).