|
 The NEW
Lumpinee Stadium
Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is an indoor sporting arena
located in Bangkok, Thailand run by Royal Thai Army on behalf of Thai
Government. Although it opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium
it has become the symbol of Muay Thai. Muay Thai fighters are honored and held
in prestige with the title of "Muay Thai Champion of Lumpinee"
While countries like USA can boast about great
Football Stadiums and other countries boast about
their impressive Soccer Stadiums, Thailand can boast about their new
Muay Thai Stadium. The heart of Muay Thai in Thailand has always been Lumpini
Stadium. However it will be torn down and replaced with a modern facility in
northern Bangkok. The New Lumpinee Stadium is due to open in February
2014. It will be located at the Royal Thai Sports Center on Ramintra Road in
north Bangkok.
The new facility will have much better seating as well as impressive
facilities for the fighters. Some of the additions include much better parking
due to the new 5 story car park building that can hold 300 cars. The stadium
will have central heat and AC and be much more accessible to the elderly and
disabled. The stadium floor itself can be adjusted or folded for competitive
sports and includes it's own modern light and sound system.
2014 brings about the closing of not just a stadium, but an era of Muay
Thai. Established in 1956, Lumpini Stadium has been holding championship
bouts with famous fighters for over half a decade. So why tear down a monument
site? It all had to do with money as the rising value of the land it sits on
proved the value of the dollar is worth far more than the traditional stadium's
survival.
(fightliveshare.com) The new venue will be located on Ram Intra road
which could cause some confusion as it will retain the Lumpini name. The
location is not nearly as convenient, specially tourists coming from areas like
Sukhumvit or Khao San. Lumpini stadium operates a two-tier pricing plan for
Thais and foreigners, with a good portion of their income coming from inflated
foreign tickets. Will the reduced foreigner attendance have an effect? Who
knows. The other concern is the stark contrast between the two stadiums. The
Lumpini we know and love has a very raw and nostalgic atmosphere. Water dripping
from the ceiling while you sweat it out among a hoard of passionate gamblers in
the standing zone. The vibe that you get watching live fights there is something
that cannot be replicated in a modern facility with air conditioning in my
opinion. | 
