Stadium Merdeka
| Stadium Merdeka ستاديوم مرديك | |
Independence Stadium in 2007 | |
| Location | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Public transit | KG17 Merdeka MRT station MR3 Maharajalela Monorail station |
| Owner | Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) |
| Operator | The Merdeka Heritage Trust |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| Surface | Grass pitch, track |
| Scoreboard | Manual scoreboard |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 25 September 1956 |
| Opened | 30 August 1957 |
| Closed | 2016 |
| Construction cost | 2.3 million ringgit |
| Architect | Stanley Edward Jewkes |
| Main contractors | K.C Boon and Cheah Co. Ltd. Lim Quee and Sons |
| Tenants | |
| Selangor F.C. (1957–1994) Malaysia national football team (1957–1998) | |
The Independence Stadium or Merdeka Stadium is a stadium based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is known as the site of the formal declaration of independence of the Federation of Malaya on 31 August 1957. The stadium is also the site of the proclamation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963.
Currently owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), the stadium has a lower and an upper terrace, with a total capacity of 25,000, as well as 14 tunnels entrance, a covered stand, 50 turnstiles and 4 floodlight tower. The stadium was designed by American architect Stanley Jewkes, under the instruction of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Upon its completion, the stadium holds the world record for the tallest prestressed floodlight towers and the biggest cantilever shell roofs. The stadium was also the largest stadium in the Southeast Asia at the time of completion.
The stadium was the principal venue in Kuala Lumpur for celebrations and sporting events until 1998 when the National Stadium was built for the 16th Commonwealth Games. Prior to that, the stadium was the home ground for the Malaysian national football team. The stadium witnessed the historic qualifying match of the 1980 Olympic Games, when the national football team last qualified the Olympic Games. However, due to the boycott led by the United States, the country did not participate in the final tournament. The stadium was also the venue for the Merdeka Tournament until 1995. Besides that, the stadium had hosted three out of the five Southeast Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur. The stadium also hosted the fight between the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and British boxer Joe Bugner in 1975, prior to the Thrilla in Manila. In 1975, the stadium also hosted the Hockey World Cup final between Pakistan and India.
The stadium is currently a national heritage building. In 2008, the Independence Stadium received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Excellence for Heritage Conservation owing to its cultural significance and embodiment of a unique independence declaration event.