Zhongshan Soccer Stadium

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium
Zhongshan Soccer Stadium
Traditional Chinese	中山なかやま足あし球場きゅうじょう
Simplified Chinese	中山なかやま足あし球だま场
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Zhōngshān Zúqiúchǎng
Wade–Giles	Chungshan Tsuch'iu-ch'ang
Tongyong Pinyin	Jhōngshān Zúcióuchǎng
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Tiong-soaⁿ Chiok-kiû-tiûⁿ

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium
Location	Taipei, Taiwan
Coordinates	25°4′10.2″N 121°31′15.8″E / 25.069500°N 121.521056°E
Owner	Taipei Sports Office
Operator	Taipei Sports Office
Capacity	20,000 (Football); 40,000 (Concerts)
Field size	300 x 184 m
Surface	Grass
Opened	1989
Closed	2008

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Chungshan Soccer Stadium, or Taipei Soccer Stadium (Chinese: 中山なかやま足あし球場きゅうじょう; pinyin: Zhōngshān Zúqíuchǎng) was a multi-purpose stadium in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. It was established in 1923 as Maruyama Stadium (Japanese: 圓山まるやま運動うんどう場じょう) during the Japanese period. The soccer stadium was opened in 1989, it was reconstructed from the former site of Yuanshan Baseball Ground (Chinese: 圓山まるやま棒ぼう球場きゅうじょう) under the guidance of then Chinese Taipei Football Association President Chiang Wei-kuo.^[1] Although it was built as a soccer-specific stadium, it was mostly used for live concerts or other activities due to lack of professional football league in Taiwan. The stadium was able to hold 20,000 people for football games and 40,000 for concerts. It was managed by the Hope Foundation led by former athlete Chi Cheng.

Location

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium was located across of Yumen Street (Chinese: 玉門ぎょくもん街がい) and Minzu West Road (Chinese: 民族みんぞく西にし路ろ). Nearby was the Yuanshan Station of Taipei Metro (Tamsui Line, Red Line)

Events

The stadium has hosted a number of concerts by internationally renowned music stars. American singer Michael Jackson performed two sold-out concerts at the stadium on October 18 and 22, 1996, during his HIStory World Tour, with a 98,000 attendance. Bon Jovi performed at the stadium on April 28, 1995, during These Days Tour. Australian pop star Kylie Minogue performed there on December 4, 2008, as part of her KylieX2008 world tour.

Closure

In March 2007, Taipei City Government announced that Yuanshan will be replacing Guandu Plain as the main venue of the 2010 International Garden and Horticulture Exhibition to be hosted in Taipei.^[2] In their plan, Chungshan Soccer Stadium, being one of the major parts of the Yuanshan area, would serve as the primary venue of the exhibition featuring indoor activities. As a result, the stadium was closed on July 1, 2008.

However, the Chinese Taipei Football Association made a statement in its official site on June 29, 2007, opposing the proposal.^[3] They stated that Chungshan Soccer Stadium was the only FIFA-approved stadium in Taiwan at present. If it is closed, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) would lose its home ground and would not be allowed to hold international football competitions.

Though there were several ongoing construction projects for new stadiums, including the World Games Stadium for World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung and the new Taipei Municipal Stadium for 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei. But both cannot be complete prior to the end of 2008.

On September 30, 2007, Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-pin committed to delay the stadium's closing schedule to the end of 2008 for hosting 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.^[4] The stadium was closed on November 28, 2008.^[5]

As planned by the Taipei City Government, the stadium was later integrated into the Taipei Expo Park, hosting such amenities like the Expo Dome and the MAJI hall.