Vietnam Builds World's Largest Stadium Despite Questions About Need
The massive 135,000-seat venue is being rushed to completion even though experts wonder if enough people will attend events there.
Vietnam's biggest company, Vingroup, is building what it claims will be the world's largest stadium in Hanoi. The massive venue will have 135,000 seats when it opens in 2027. Many experts question whether Vietnam really needs such a huge stadium. They worry there won't be enough fans to fill all those seats.
Thousands of workers are building the stadium around the clock. The construction site is about 25 kilometers south of downtown Hanoi. Vingroup wants to finish the project a full year ahead of schedule. The company hopes the early completion will help make the stadium successful.
The stadium will have more seats than any other venue in the world. It will also feature the biggest retractable roof ever built. Vingroup says these features will help attract major sporting events and concerts. The company believes big events will bring in enough money to make the stadium profitable.
However, sports business experts have serious doubts about the project. James Walton from Deloitte says football is very popular in Vietnam, but not popular enough to fill such a massive stadium. Vietnam's top football league only averages about 6,000 fans per game. That's nowhere near enough to fill 135,000 seats regularly.
While football is hugely popular in Vietnam, it is unlikely that a 135,000-seat stadium could be justified on domestic football demand alone.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How many seats will Vietnam's new stadium have?
2. When is the stadium scheduled to open?
3. How many fans does Vietnam's top football league average per game?