When is a good stadium not a good stadium? Answer: when it is the Thephasadin Stadium, home of BEC Tero Sasana.
The arena in Pathum Wan has many of the attributes of a classic football venue yet atmosphere, the most important, is lacking.
The Thephasadin was built in 1965 as a multi-purpose venue for the 5th Asian Games in 1966 and was mainly used for hockey at that event. The structures of the venue have changed little since then save for the installation of red seats and a lick of paint. The covered – just barely covered – main stand is nine rows deep and is notorious among fans for its meagre legroom.
Happily, in front of the first row of seats are two much deeper steps which provide a far more comfortable view of the action – officious stewards permitting. In the middle of the stand is an air conditioned glass VIP box home these days to one Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Opposite is a stand of near identical proportions but minus the roof. Half of the stand is home to the more raucous elements of Tero's support whilst the other half is given over to travelling fans. Behind this stand is an excellent pedestrianized area where fans can mingle before the game. This adds to the contradiction posed in the opening question.
This bustling social space along with the stadium's central location and excellent public transport access thanks to the BTS National Stadium station make the Thephasadin an attractive venue. Those positives are balanced, or in many fans' views outweighed, by the undeniable lack of atmosphere at the ground.
A 'perfect storm' of low crowds, an athletics track, no stands at either end and fans not noted for their passion contribute to the Thephasadin's genteel matchday ambiance. That may improve in 2013 as the Fire Dragons decamp to the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Minburi for a season whilst the Thephasadin is renovated and refurbished.
Let's hope the end result is a lair more befitting of the Fire Dragons.
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