Tonga Football Association Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Tonga Football Association Stadium
Location:Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Coordinates:-21.19°N -175.223°W
Broke Ground:17 August 2022
Opened:August 2024 (Anticipated)
Owner:Tonga Football Association
Surface:Grass
Construction Cost:USD 4 million
Main Contractors:Dexing Construction Ltd.
Tenants:Tonga national football team
Seating Capacity:500

The Tonga Football Association Stadium is a 500-seat association football stadium currently under construction in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga. Once completed, it will be the home of the Tonga national football team.[1] The stadium is the second-largest outdoor venue in the country, behind only the Teufaiva Sport Stadium.[2]

History

Plans for a new 700-seat association football stadium to be built on the site of the former Loto-Tonga Soka Centre were revealed in 2019.[3] The deadline for construction bids for the new facility closed in September of that year.[4] Construction had not begun by February 2021, but construction bids were called for again after the Tonga Football Association received funding for the project from FIFA.[5] The stadium would be designed to be resistant to natural disasters such as cyclones which occur annually in the nation, in line with FIFA's policies.[6]

The groundbreaking ceremony on the site was held on 17 August 2022.[7] By November, construction of the stadium had begun with local company Dexing Construction Ltd as the contractor. The target opening for the facility was moved to June 2023 because of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami. Final plans included an altered seating capacity of 500 at a cost of USD 4 million.[5] In July 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Tonga on his tour of Oceania. As part of the visit, he evaluated progress on the stadium which was then expected to open in 2024. He also announced other infrastructure projects in the kingdom, including the establishment of technical centres on the islands of Ha’apai and ʻEua.[8]

In February 2024, it was announced that the stadium was expected to be completed by the end of August the same year.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bjerkevoll . Ola . Tonga plan new stadium . Football in Oceania . 27 September 2023.
  2. Web site: Model Association Tonga Sets Sail For Greater Goals . Box Score News . 27 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Infrastructure Upgrade in the Future for Tonga . Oceania Football Confederation . 27 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Bjerkevoll . Ola . Tonga to build new stadium . Football In Oceania . 27 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Bjerkevoll . Ola . Tonga on course with new stadium . Football in Oceania . 27 September 2023.
  6. Web site: Tackling natural disaster, building football future – here’s Tonga’s plans . FIFA . 27 September 2023.
  7. Web site: Construction Launch of Tonga Football Association Stadium . Tonga Football Association . 27 September 2023.
  8. Web site: FIFA President Gianni Infantino Visits Tonga to Witness Progress and Discuss Football Development . The Tonga Independent . 27 September 2023.
  9. Web site: 2024 SHAPING UP TO BE A DEFINING YEAR FOR TONGA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION . Oceania Football Confederation . 19 March 2024.

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