His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5 December 2007, Sports Complex

His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5 December 2007 Sports Complex (Thai: ศูนย์กีฬาเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 80 พรรษา 5 ธันวา 2550) is a multi-use sports facility in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, that was built for the 2007 Southeast Asian Games which coincided with the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, hence the name of the venue.

His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5 December 2007 Sports Complex
Korat Stadium
Former names333rd Nakhon Ratchasima Anniversary Stadium
LocationNakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Capacity20,141
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened2 July 2007
Construction costUS$65 (estimated)
Tenants
2007 Southeast Asian Games

Completed on 2 July 2007 at a cost of US$65 million, the complex includes tennis courts, swimming pools, an indoor arena "Korat Chatchai Hall" and "Liptapanlop Hall", a velodrome, a gym, a football training pitch complete with floodlights and a small stand, an office block, ticket sales booths, large parking areas, a large lake (an architectural feature not designed for sporting purposes) and, the centre piece, the 80th Birthday Stadium. The athletes' village is not actually on the site, but is a kilometre further along Highway 304 by which the complex is situated.

The complex was purpose-built for the 24th Southeast Asian Games[1] and was also used for the ASEAN Para Games which was held shortly after the SEA Games finished. Unlike many such developments, the complex has not become a "White Elephant" in the time since the SEA Games. Many schools tournaments have been held there as has an international tennis tournament, a "masters" (older athletes) athletics tournament, and a friendly-cum-warm-up match played between the Thai national team and Nakhon Ratchasima XI. The 80th Birthday Stadium is also the home ground of Nakhon Ratchasima F.C.[2] who moved there from the Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium in June 2008.

References
  1. "Nakhon Ratchasima 2007". Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  2. Burnett Brown (2014). Isaan Intro: Information and Insights for Travelers, Explorers and Those Just Passing Through. ISBN 978-1499074130.

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