Shanghai Municipality to build eight new professional sports stadia by 2035

The municipal government of the Chinese city of Shanghai has unveiled plans to construct at least eight new venues for professional sport in the city by 2035.

The Yutang Sports website reported this week that the Shanghai Municipality city plan for the 2017-2035 period highlights the hope for Shanghai to gain an advantageous edge in the sporting industry.

In an effort to achieve such a goal, the municipal government states that there should be four sport complexes in the city, including the Shanghai East Asia Sports & Recreation Centre, Oriental Sports Centre, Jiangwan Sports Centre and the Pudong Sports Centre, which is currently under construction.

In addition, land for new sports stadia has been reserved with the goal to to build venues that could host mega sporting events.

Shanghai also laid out plans to have between five and 10 professional football stadia in the city by 2035. As it stands, there is currently two such venues: Shanghai Shenhua’s Hongkou Football Stadium and SIPG’s Shanghai Stadium.

For this goal is to be achieved, the Shanghai Municipality would need to construct up to eight additional professional football stadia in the next 18 years.

Image: Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium.

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About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.