Located in Chengyang district, Qingdao, the Youth Football Stadium, the first professional-grade football field in Shandong province that can hold 50,000 people, is finally unveiled. Qingdao, a city of football, ultimately has a professional football field that can meet the criterion for class A games formulated by the FIFA.

In the Youth Football Stadium, there is no runway, the first rows of the east and west stands are merely 7.5m from lawns while the first rows of the south and north stands around 10m from laws. Big screens on the two sides of the stands are erected at an inclination of about 30°and each screen is as big as 202.75 square meters. The stands have two floors. Design criteria such as C value of seats, inclination of stands, vision and range of visibility all meet the requirements for Class A games stipulated by the FIFA. Seeing from the highest fourth floor of the stands in the stadium, audiences can see blue and white chairs that look like spoon-drifts.

The lawns in the Youth Football Stadium is of excellent quality and adopts the anchoring grass system that can meet EU standards and rival lawns in world-renowned football stadiums such as Old Trafford, Bernabeu and Camp Nou. Well fitted and commissioned lighting and sound systems comply with the standards of the FIFA.

The Youth Football Stadium has highlighted science and technology, intelligence, environmental protection, conservation and adoption of advanced scientific and technological means. The exterior curtain wall, composed of 5,712 aluminum plates, has been constructed with the most advanced BIM technology. Six loop cables are designed with the highest international standards; 36 radial cables are made with aerospace process. ETFE membrane that composes the ceiling, also a product of space technology, is able to resist high wind never seen in a century in the meteorological history of Qingdao. Moreover, the intelligent park is provided with an IOC platform system. In the central control room, in addition to monitoring the inside and outside of the stadium without any dead angle, technicians can detect humidity, temperature and emission concentration of carbon monoxide everywhere and adjust timely draught fans, air-conditioning systems and other equipment to realize environmental protection.

At present, Qingdao has the intention of bidding for U-23 AFC Asian Cup and 2024 Paris Olympic Qualifier and the warmup match for China national men’s football team. The professional-grade Youth Football Stadium is shortlisted for the playing field.  (Xu Nuo)

1.An aerial view of the Youth Football Stadium.  By Wang Lei

2. The Youth Football Stadium in the curtain of night. By Wang Lei

3. The interior of the Youth Football Stadium.  By Wang Lei