Palaran Stadium
Foto: Sanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · zdroj
- Capacity
- 65,000
- Year opened
- —
- Club
- —
- Country
- Indonesia
Overview
About the stadium
Palaran Stadium (Indonesian: Stadion Utama Palaran, also known as Stadion Gelora Kadrie Oening) is a multipurpose stadium in Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan province in Indonesia, with a capacity of 65,000. It serves mainly as a football venue and is the largest stadium on the island of Borneo.
Location and surroundings
The stadium sits in the Palaran district on the edge of Samarinda, the largest city in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. It forms the heart of the wider East Kalimantan Main Stadium Sports Complex, which gathers the main arena together with additional sporting facilities. Samarinda lies on the Mahakam River in the humid equatorial tropics of Indonesia, so the area around the stadium is marked by lush greenery and a warm, humid climate throughout the year.
Main uses
Palaran Stadium is designed as a multipurpose arena with a strong football focus. It was built as the main venue for the 2008 Indonesia National Games (PON) and has since hosted sporting and public events for the region. With 65,000 seats and the distinction of being Indonesia's first all-seater stadium, it ranks among the most significant arenas outside the island of Java and is a natural hub for major sporting occasions on Borneo.
History
Journey through time
The history of Palaran Stadium is closely tied to hosting a nationwide sporting event in Samarinda. From the outset the arena was conceived as the flagship of a new East Kalimantan sports complex.
Construction and opening
Palaran Stadium opened in 2008 as the main stadium for the Indonesia National Games (Pekan Olahraga Nasional, PON), held that year in East Kalimantan. It was one of the province's largest infrastructure projects of its time, giving the region a modern arena on a scale matching Indonesia's big cities. The stadium became the largest sporting venue on the island of Borneo and the first Indonesian stadium built entirely with seats.
Major renovations
The venue was created as part of the East Kalimantan Main Stadium Sports Complex, which combines the main arena with adjoining facilities. The complex was built from the ground up to serve a national competition, so the arena's principal form dates from its construction ahead of 2008. As an all-seater stadium, it set a new benchmark for comfort and safety by Indonesian standards of the era.
Notable moments
The defining moment in the stadium's history was hosting the 2008 Indonesia National Games, where Palaran Stadium served as the central stage for opening ceremonies and key competitions. The event brought athletes and spectators from across Indonesia to Samarinda and cemented the arena's role as a symbol of sporting development in East Kalimantan and across the island of Borneo.
Atmosphere
Matchday
As the largest arena on the island of Borneo, Palaran Stadium creates a striking backdrop when full. Its capacity of 65,000 makes it one of the biggest gathering places for sport in the Indonesian part of the island.
Fan culture
Football is a deep-rooted passion in Indonesia, and stadiums are traditionally places of loud, colourful support. At Palaran Stadium, conceived as Indonesia's first all-seater stadium, major events carry the lively atmosphere typical of the Indonesian football scene. The all-seater layout brought a higher standard of comfort and order to the stands in Samarinda than had previously been common in the country.
Big matches
The high point in the stadium's life was hosting the Indonesia National Games (PON) in 2008, when the arena became the focus of national attention. As the main venue for the Games it welcomed top-level national competition and tens of thousands of spectators from different provinces. Thanks to its size and its location in Samarinda, Palaran Stadium remains a natural choice for major sporting and public events in the East Kalimantan region.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Visiting Palaran Stadium in Samarinda means allowing for a tropical climate and an edge-of-city location in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo.
How to get there
Palaran Stadium is located in the Palaran district on the outskirts of Samarinda. The city is reachable by road and by air through the regional airport serving East Kalimantan. Visitors typically reach the complex by local road transport; given its location away from the city centre, it is wise to plan the journey in advance.
Tickets and tours
Access to events depends on the specific programme staged at the East Kalimantan Main Stadium Sports Complex. The stadium does not offer standardised regular public tours, so the surest approach is to follow current activity around the arena and the scheduled sporting or public events in the region.
Visitor tips
- When to arrive: allow extra time before kick-off because of the edge-of-city location in Samarinda.
- What to bring: protection from the tropical sun and plenty of water — the climate on Borneo is warm and humid year-round.
- How to travel: arrange transport ahead of time, as the complex lies outside the city centre.
- What to expect: the largest stadium on the island of Borneo, with a capacity of 65,000.
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Samarinda, Indonesia
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