NEW!! Suranaree University Of Technology Stadium by Russ John: 2020

Suranaree University of Technology Stadium: Home of Nakhon Ratchasima Utd
by Russ John

You never know, your favorite premier league team may be drawn in a cup competition against Nakhon Ratchasima United (formerly Huai Thaleang FC) who are in Tier “x“, (sorry I am so confused about the reorganisation of lower tier football, I don’t know which league they will be playing in next season - Svein is probably the only person in the country that can give me an answer!!)

SUT Stadium (Suranaree University of technology Stadium) is the current home of NR United. The stadium is situated 7 km out of the centre of Korat as you travel out of Korat on highway 304.
Off the 304, a right turn takes you into the Twilight Zone that is the SUT campus. Set at the end of a veritable maze of deserted well maintained roads in the middle of the campus sits the stadium – good luck finding the place, but of course google maps is your friend.

The stadium is a neat and tidy, fairly modern, typical (I guess) university stadium with, I’m afraid, a running track surrounding the pitch. It is a welcoming place, there is plenty of parking and a table outside sells shirts and other souvenirs. Entry fee is 50 bt and you walk through a tunnel to emerge into the main stand - no seats, you sit on the tiered concrete, although there is seating in the stand opposite and behind one goal.

Delicious fresh orange juice was available inside but bring your own food and alcoholic beverage, none is available at the ground. The stadium holds 3500 and many families spread out the usual Thai woven mat and have a family picnic (do Thais have picnics??) whilst keeping a casual eye on the match.

The ground has everything that a typical TPL ground has, a band, one amusing sight was seeing the band huddled in a corner of shade at half time, ball boys and teams come out to the usual fanfare. The nearest I saw to an ultra was a grannie laying into a large corn on the cob during the half time break.

No criticism implied but watching football at this stadium is more akin to watching subbuteo than real football but it’s a fun, friendly place to spend a weekend afternoon at and well worth a visit.