History and description

The stadium was renamed Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in 1984 in commemoration of the country's founding father, Sukarno. The Stadium Utama Gelora Bung Karno, often abbreviated to SUGBK or simply GBK, was built between 1958 and 1962 for the 1962 Asian Games. The stadium was renamed Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in 1984 in commemoration of the country's founder Sukarno. The stadium was named after Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, and can initially hold about 110,000 spectators. Its construction was financed by loans from the former Soviet Union. Between 1969 and 2001, during the regime of president Soeharto, the stadium was called Stadion Utama Senayan to remove references to his ousted predecessor.

In 1985, up to 150,000 spectators were said to have attended the Championship final match between PSMS and Persib at an athletics track, far surpassing the official capacity.

The stadium was equipped with new and improved amenities such as 360-degree LED screens, additional seating, and a press box. In 2007, the capacity of the stadium was reduced to 88,000 following a refurbishment for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. During the Championships, SUGBK hosted five first round group matches, a quarter-final, and the final between Iraq and Saudi Arabia (1-0). The stadium was equipped with new and improved amenities such as 360-degree LED screens, additional seating, and a press box.

In 2016, Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno underwent extensive refurbishment in preparation for the 2018 Asian Games that will be held in Indonesia. Works included the replacement of benches by single seats, and an upgrade of facilities. This reduced capacity to 76,000 seats. The stadium reopened in January 2018.

How to get to Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno

Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno is located in the heart of Jakarta, the Central Business District. Jakarta's CBD extends along Sudirman Avenue, running from central to southern Jakarta, while Jakarta's old town is further north. If you are staying in the CBD, the stadium is easiest reached by walking (if you are staying close enough), or by taxi.

The stadium can be reached by the TransJakarta fixed lane rapid bus system that runs along Sudirman Avenue. Buses run north to Merdeka Square and Kota Station and south to Blok M Shopping Mall. Get off at stop Gelora Bung Karno.

In the next few years, a new metro system will open that will connect the stadium with the north and south of the city along a similar route as the TransJakarta buses.

Address: Jl. Pintu Satu Senayan, Jakarta 10270

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Eat, drink, and sleep near Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno

The stadium, known as Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, is located in a park in the middle of Jakarta's CBD. There are numerous places to eat and drink around the stadium- mostly south and east of it. Additionally, there are various shopping malls close to the stadium, such as Pacific Place and Senayan City Mall, which have multiple bars and restaurants inside them. There are many hotels close to the stadium, but since it is located in a business district most of them are in the higher price end. Some of the hotels directly bordering the park are the Sultan Hotel Jakarta, Century Park Hotel, and Fairmont Jakarta, and, if you have more money to spare, the Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place is just across the road.

For a list of hotels near Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno, see the overview above. For other hotels in Jakarta, see the list below.

Useful websites

The official website of Persija Jakarta, Jakarta-tourism.go.id, provides tourism information for the city of Jakarta in Indonesia.