Key facts
| Address | 1 National Stadium South Road, Beijing |
| Capacity | 80,000 seats |
| Build Date | 2007 |
| Record Attendance | 89,102 (Nigeria–Argentina, 23 August 2008) |
Description
Beijing National Stadium (the National Stadium, the Bird’s Nest, BNS) is a stadium located in Beijing, a capital of China. The design of the stadium was created for Olympics and Paralympics that took place in the summer of 2008. It is planned to be used again in the winter of 2022 for Olympics and Paralympics.
The construction of the stadium cost $428 million, and it took five years (from 2003 to 2008) to complete it. On its first anniversary, Beijing National Stadium hosted the opera Turandot and the Italian Super Cup final. The capacity for the Olympics was 91,000, and in usually days it is 80,000 people.
The Beijing Guoan F.C. was going to make the ground its home, but they backed out because their games gathered only about 10,000 people, so the capacity of 80,000 was too large for them.
In 2010, Beijing National Stadium hosted a match between Beijing Guoan and Birmingham City F.C., which was won by the latter with a score of 1–0.
In 2012, the stadium hosted Manchester City and Arsenal, which resulted in a victory of Manchester City with a score of 2–0. Time to time, the stadium is used by China national football team, and from 2009 to 2010, it was the permanent home of China national basketball team.
FAQ
Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, was officially opened on June 28, 2008. It was built specifically for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, serving as the main stadium for these events.
The stadium earned its nickname “Bird’s Nest” due to its unique architectural design. The outer structure consists of interwoven steel beams that form a lattice-like appearance, resembling a bird’s nest. This distinctive look was intentional, drawing inspiration from Chinese ceramics.
During the 2008 Olympics, Beijing National Stadium had a seating capacity of 91,000. However, the permanent capacity was reduced to approximately 80,000 after the Olympics, with removable seats being taken out.
Apart from the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the Bird’s Nest has hosted numerous significant events. These include the 2015 World Athletics Championships, various concerts by international artists, and it will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics, making it the first stadium to host both Summer and Winter Olympic ceremonies.
Yes, the Beijing National Stadium is still in use. While it doesn’t have a resident sports team, it continues to host major sporting events, concerts, and cultural performances. It has also become a major tourist attraction in Beijing, drawing millions of visitors annually who come to admire its unique architecture.
