Indonesian Government allocates new funds for stadium improvements

The Indonesian Government has allocated IDR 2.87 trillion (US$175 million) towards improvements at 21 football stadia across the nation.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed that the funding, to be backed by further funds from the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), to improve venues in Aceh, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Banten, West Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java and South Sulawesi.

The biggest funding package is for the under-construction North Sumatra Main Stadium in Medan, which will receive around a fifth of the total budget. The 25,000-capacity venue, in the larger North Sumatra Sports Centre is one of those that will host next month’s quadrennial National Sports Week.

The 45,000-capacity Harapan Bangsa Stadium, another major stadium for National Sports Week, will receive around IDR 481 billion (US$30 million) while the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency will receive a similar amout for its rebuilding project following the 2022 disaster that saw 135 killed in a crowd stampede.

Further funding will be used for equipment and operations of the PSSI Training Center in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN), the implementation of training camps and tournaments for the Indonesian women's and men's national teams both domestically and internationally, events and competitions.

Indonesia is being assisted in its bid to improve stadium standards through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with FIFA in 2023. The agreement was signed during the FIFA U-17 World Cup when Indonesia hosted its first FIFA tournament in late 2023.

In May, an expert FIFA delegation visited and evaluated eight stadiums across Indonesia as part of the MOU. FIFA is collaborating with PSSI to improve stadium infrastructure, safety and security standards across Indonesia.

The funding follows Indonesian President Joko Widodo having last week calling for a revitalisation of stadiums in the country.

Commenting on President Widodo’s calls, Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo advised "in the future, (the) President … asks for a better utilisation of the stadium by the clubs.

“So usually the stadiums are managed by the local government. In the future, it will be developed to be managed by the private sector, namely the club occupies the stadium.”

Image: Concept for the new North Sumatra Main Stadium. Credit: North Sumatra Invest.