Philippine Sports Stadium
{{distinguish|PhilSports Football and Athletics Stadium}}
{{short description|Football and track stadium in the Philippines}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Philippine Sports Stadium
| nickname = PSS
| logo_image =
| image = JfCiudadINC29PhilArenaStadiumfvf.JPG
| caption = The PSS football field in November 2014
| location = Ciudad de Victoria, Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines
| coordinates = {{Coord|14|47|41|N|120|57|2|E|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = August 17, 2011
| built =
| opened = July 21, 2014
| owner = Iglesia ni Cristo
| operator = Maligaya Development Corporation
| project_manager = Iglesia ni Cristo
New San Jose Builders
Generation Design Asia
| main_contractors = Phildipphil
| structural engineer = Phildipphil
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost =
| architect = Phildipphil
| tenants = Philippines national football team (2014–)
University of the Philippines track and field team
| capacity = 20,000 (seated)
| dimensions =
| acreage = {{convert|3|ha|acre}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPhilippineArena}}
}}
The Philippine Sports Stadium, also known as Iglesia ni Cristo Stadium, is a football and track stadium at Ciudad de Victoria, a {{convert|140|ha|adj=on}} tourism enterprise zone in the towns of Bocaue and Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.{{cite news|last1=Donna|first1=Cueto-Ibanez|title=Iglesia opens world’s largest indoor arena for centennial rites|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/108171/iglesia-opens-worlds-largest-indoor-arena-for-centennial-rites|access-date=July 20, 2014|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=July 20, 2014}} The stadium was built right next to the Philippine Arena, the world's largest indoor arena.{{cite news|title=Hanwha E&C Completes World’s Largest Indoor Arena Construction in the Philippines|url=http://koreabizwire.com/hanwha-ec-completes-worlds-largest-indoor-arena-construction-in-the-philippines/11706|access-date=July 24, 2014|publisher=The Korea Bizwire|date=June 10, 2014}} It is one of the largest football stadiums in the Philippines with a maximum seating capacity of 20,000.{{cite news|last1=Albelda|first1=Josh|title=IN PHOTOS: A glimpse inside the Philippine Sports Stadium|url=http://www.rappler.com/sports/features/rich-media/photos/89985-in-photos-glimps-philippine-sports-stadium|access-date=April 17, 2015|work=Rappler|date=April 15, 2015}} Its seating capacity is about twice the seating capacity of the Rizal Memorial Stadium which has a capacity of 12,873.{{cite news|title=Rizal Memorial or Philippine Stadium? Azkals manager asks fans preferred Suzuki Cup semis venue|url=http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/rizal-memorial-or-philippine-stadium-azkals-manager-asks-fans-preferred-suzuki-cup-semis-venue|access-date=March 9, 2015|publisher=InterAksyon.com|date=November 25, 2014}}{{cite news|title=Azkals game at INC stadium eyed|url=https://ph.news.yahoo.com/azkals-game-inc-stadium-eyed-171705200.html|access-date=November 27, 2014|agency=Manila Bulletin|work=Yahoo! News|date=July 31, 2014}}
PWP Landscape Architecture is responsible for the landscaping work on the area around the stadium dubbed as the Stadium Gardens.{{cite web | url=http://www.pwpla.com/6914/&details | title=New Era University Philippine Arena | publisher=PWP Landscape Architecture | access-date=July 8, 2013}}
In December 2016, it was reported that the track and field team of the University of the Philippines is a tenant of the stadium.{{cite news|title=World’s biggest arena welcomes 2017 with a bang|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/worlds-biggest-arena-welcomes-2017-bang/303152/|access-date=22 December 2016|newspaper=The Manila Times|date=22 December 2016}}
Sporting events
=Football=
==Club==
The first football match and major sporting event to be held at the Philippine Sports Stadium was between clubs Global and Yadanarbon on April 15, 2015. About 2,000 people attended the match. The Philippine-based Global defeated Yadanarbon of Myanmar, 4–1, in a group stage match at the 2015 AFC Cup.{{cite news|last1=Noveanto|first1=Eric|title=Philippine Sports Stadium to host first international fixture|url=http://footballchannel.asia/2015/04/11/post3053/|access-date=April 17, 2015|publisher=Football Channel Asia|date=April 11, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Murillo|first1=Michael Angelo|title=Global FC scores first AFC Cup win|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Sports&title=global-fc-scores-first-afc-cup-win&id=106248|access-date=April 17, 2015|publisher=Business Mirror|date=April 16, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Leyba|first1=Olmin|title=Global FC faces Myanmar|url=http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/04/15/1444042/global-fc-faces-myanmar|access-date=April 17, 2015|newspaper=The Philippine Star|date=April 15, 2015}} Mark Hartmann was the first football player to score a goal at the stadium, scoring at the 16th minute from a penalty kick. Yan Paing was the first foreigner and football player from a foreign-based club to score a goal at the stadium, scoring the lone goal for his team at the 19th minute.{{cite web|title=Match Summary Global F.C v. Yadanarbon|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=9087&stageid=353&tMode=H&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|website=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=April 17, 2015}}
==International==
The first full international game held in the stadium was between the Philippines and Bahrain which took place on June 11, 2015 as part of the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Philippines defeated Bahrain 2–1 with Misagh Bahadoran scoring his first international goal in the 50th minute which is also the first goal made for a national team side at the stadium. Javier Patiño was the other scorer for the Philippine side scoring 10 minutes later after Bahadoran's goal.
Abdulwahab Al Malood scored a consolation goal for Bahrain in 3 minutes into extra time, becoming the first goalscorer for a foreign national team side. The match was attended by about 6,000 people.{{cite news|last1=Tupas|first1=Cedelf|title=Match Ratings: Philippines vs Bahrain|url=http://sports.inquirer.net/184098/philippines-vs-bahrain|access-date=14 June 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=12 June 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Songalia|first1=Ryan|title=Azkals stun Bahrain 2-1 in World Cup qualifier upset|url=http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/96110-azkals-bahrain-fifa-world-cup-qualifier|access-date=14 June 2015|work=Rappler|date=12 June 2015}}
=Rugby union=
The first rugby tournament held in the stadium was the 2015 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament, which hosted the teams of Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Singapore and the Philippines on May 6 and 9, 2015. The first rugby match was a match between Singapore and the Philippines held on May 6, with the hosts winning the match in extra time with the scoreline of 20–17. The Philippines later lost to Sri Lanka in the finals with the scoreline of 14–27.{{cite news|title=PH Stadium venue of Asian rugby tilt|url=http://sports.inquirer.net/177122/ph-stadium-venue-of-asian-rugby-tilt|access-date=14 June 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=1 April 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Navarro|first1=June|title=Asian Rugby: Volcanoes repulse Singaporeans in extra time|url=http://sports.inquirer.net/180968/asian-rugby-volcanoes-repulse-singaporeans-in-extra-time|access-date=14 June 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=7 May 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Jaelle Nevin|title=PH settles for 2nd in Asian Rugby|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/ph-settles-for-2nd-in-asian-rugby/182347/|access-date=14 June 2015|newspaper=The Manila Times|date=10 May 2015}}
Other events
The stadium has also been used for concerts and non-sporting events. Along with the Philippine Arena, the Philippine Sports Stadium was used as a venue for the Iglesia ni Cristo's centennial celebration event held on July 27, 2014 with the stadium filled with 20,000 people during the rites.{{cite news|title=INC centennial event sets world record: crowd at Bocaue said to have reached 2M|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/623797/inc-centennial-event-sets-world-record-crowd-at-bocaue-said-to-have-reached-2m|access-date=15 June 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=27 July 2014}} The stadium also held concerts of local artists as part of the 2015 New Year's Countdown event.{{cite news|last1=Conception|first1=Pocholo|title=Holiday treat: 2-night concerts at the Philippine Sports Stadium, all for P500|url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/180714/holiday-treat-2-night-concerts-at-the-philippine-sports-stadium-all-for-p500|access-date=15 June 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=21 December 2014}} K-pop group Seventeen was the first overall act to headline a concert at the Philippine Sports Stadium, with their two-night stop as part of their Follow Tour in January 2024, followed by NCT 127 with their one-night concert the week after, also part of their world tour.{{cite news|last1=Bernardo|first1=Jaehwa|title=Dream fulfilled as Seventeen delivers epic PH stadium show|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/15/24/dream-fulfilled-as-seventeen-delivers-epic-ph-stadium-show|access-date=15 January 2024|website=ABS-CBN News|date=15 January 2024}}{{cite news|last1=Bernardo|first1=Jaehwa|title=NCT 127's 'The Unity' concert in Bulacan: Seat map, ticket prices|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/29/23/nct-127s-the-unity-concert-in-bulacan-seat-map-ticket-prices|access-date=29 November 2023|website=ABS-CBN News|date=29 November 2023}} Seventeen returned to the stadium the following year for another two-night stop as part of their Right Here World Tour.{{Cite news |title=SEVENTEEN's 'RIGHT HERE' in Bulacan: Seat plan, ticket prices |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/korean-popular-music/seventeen-right-here-concert-bulacan-ticket-prices-seat-plan-january-2025/ |website=Rappler |date=October 30, 2024 |access-date=November 25, 2024}}
| class="wikitable"
|+Concerts held at the Philippine Sports Stadium !Date !Artist !Event !Attendance |
| colspan="4" |2024 |
|---|
| January 13
| rowspan="2" |Seventeen | rowspan="2" |Follow Tour | rowspan="2" |54,035 |
| January 14 |
| January 21
| |
| colspan="4" |2025 |
| January 18
| rowspan="2" |Seventeen | rowspan="2" |Right Here World Tour | |
| January 19
| |
| March 1
| |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Philippine Sports Stadium}}
{{Sports venues in the Greater Manila Area}}
{{Central Luzon attractions}}
{{Iglesia ni Cristo}}
Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in the Philippines
Category:Football venues in the Philippines
Category:Buildings and structures in Bulacan