- Address: Bandung
- Country: Indonesia
- Capacity: 38,000
- Opened: March 2013
- Main use: Football
- Tenants: Persib (football)
Extra stadium info – Stadion Gelora Bandung Lautan Api
The construction of the stadium named Stadion Gelora Bandung Lautan Api started in 2009. It is located on the island of Java. The stadium, which is also used for athletics, opened as the largest sports venue by capacity in Bandung. It became one of the largest sports venues by capacity in Indonesia. The name of the stadium refers to the deliberate burning of much of the southern side of the city of Bandung in 1946.
Persib
In 2016, the venue named Stadion Gelora Bandung Lautan Api hosted its first-ever Indonesian top-flight football league game of Persib. 19,000 fans showed up for the game. Persib, also known as Maung Bandung or Pangeran Biru, became the first sports club from Indonesia with 10 million followers on its main social media page. The club has a fierce rivalry with Persija, the most popular sports club from Jakarta. Persib were crowned Indonesian football champions several times. In 1937, they were crowned Indonesian football champions for the first time in their history.
Michael Essien
In 2017, Persib signed the world-famous football star Michael Essien. He played professional football for SC Bastia from the French Republic, Olympique lyonnais from the French Republic, Chelsea from the United Kingdom, Real Madrid from Spain, AC Milan from the Italian Republic and Panathinaikos from the Hellenic Republic before he joined Persib. Michael Kojo Essien also played numerous matches for the national football team of Ghana. He played in several FIFA World Cup matches. In 2012, Essien was an unused substitute for Chelsea in the first-ever UEFA Champions League final won by Chelsea. The world-famous English football club from London defeated the German side FC Bayern München in a penalty shoot-out in front of 62,000 spectators.
