Chungshan Soccer Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Zhongshan Soccer Stadium
nickname =


fullname =
location = Taipei, Taiwan
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built =
opened = 1989
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = [http://jsss.tms.gov.tw/en_index.htm Taipei Sports Office]
operator = [http://jsss.tms.gov.tw/en_index.htm Taipei Sports Office]
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
structural engineer =
services engineer =
general_contractor=
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names =
tenants = Chinese Taipei national football team Tatung F.C.
seating_capacity = 20,000 (Football) 40,000 (Concerts)
dimensions = 300 x 184 m

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Chungshan Soccer Stadium, or Taipei Soccer Stadium (zh-tp|t=中山足球場|p="Zhōngshān Zúqíuchǎng"), opened in 1989, is a multi-use stadium in Taipei, Taiwan. It is built as a soccer-specific stadium, but due to the lack of a professional football league in Taiwan, it is mostly used for live concerts or other activities. The stadium is able to hold 20,000 people for football and 40,000 for concerts. It is now managed by the Hope Foundation led by former athlete Chi Cheng.

Location

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium locates in Zhongshan District, Taipei City, at the cross of Yumen Street (zh-t|t=玉門街) and Minzu West Road (zh-t|t=民族西路). Nearby is the Yuanshan Station of TRTS's Danshui Line (Red Line).

Temporary 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. [cite news
title=City Selects Yuanshan as Main Venue for 2010 Horticulture Expo
url=http://english.taipei.gov.tw/TCG/index.jsp?recordid=9706
publisher=Taipei City Government
date=2007-03-16] 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 scheduled to be 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. [cite news
title= 你們說可以嗎? (Do you say yes?)
url=http://www.ctfa.com.tw/hot_news_details.php?categoryid=1&newsid=74
publisher=Chinese Taipei Football Association
date=2007-06-29
language=Chinese] They stated that Chungshan Soccer Stadium is 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 are 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. [cite news
title=花博會與足球賽衝場 中山足球場 明年底才封館
url=http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-News/2007Cti-News-Content/0,4521,11050601+112007093000214,00.html
publisher=China Times
date=2007-09-30
language=Chinese]

References

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.taipeifootball.com.tw/ Chungshan Soccer Stadium] zh icon
* [http://jsss.tms.gov.tw/en_index.php Zhongshan Soccer Stadium at Taipei Sports Office official site]
* [http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/asia/taiwan/taipei_chungshan.shtml Pictures at World Stadiums]