メダン模範スタジアムのアジア標準2024年完成の改修

Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution (center, dressed in batik) while reviewing the condition of the Medan Teladan Stadium. (ANTARA/HO)

The Medan City Government plans to completely renovate Medan's Exemplary Stadium into an Asian standard stadium and is targeted for completion in 2024.

"Based on the detailed engineering design (DED) delivered in a meeting some time ago, the Teladan Stadium will be renovated into a closed stadium with a capacity of around 20,000 single sets of seats. So there will be no more seats from cement as there is today," said the Head of Medan Youth and Sports, Pulungan Harahap, reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

He said Mayor Bobby Nasution's move to renovate the pride of the Medan city residents stadium was a form of his commitment and support for the progress of sports, especially football.

Physical work is just a matter of time by using a budget from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) with a multi-year system. It is targeted that the renovation of the stadium, which was built in 1952, will be completed in 2024.

Pulungan said, the Teladan Stadium after the renovation will no longer be just according to the standards for holding Liga 1 which is the highest football caste in the country. "The Exemplary Stadium will be Asian standard. Thus, if Indonesia hosts the SEA Games or Asian Games, the Teladan Stadium will be usable," he said.

From the existing buildings, only the existence of the tower will be maintained. Apart from being the hallmark of the Teladan Stadium, the condition of the tower building after being researched by PUPR is also still strong. "So the tower that has been the hallmark of the Teladan Stadium is maintained," he said.

Pulungan revealed, Teladan Stadium will also be equipped with a basement for parking lots, but not as big as the basement in Merdeka Square. This means that only a number of cars can be accommodated in the standings.

"That's a suggestion from the Ministry of PUPR as well, the management of this standings is apparently expensive. For example, a blower must live every day even though there are no vehicles parked. If it's not alive, the air is stuffy. Not to mention with electricity for lighting in the standings, it must also be alive," he explained.

Furthermore, at the front of the stadium, to be precise near the tower, it will also be equipped with a sports museum. In the museum, people will be able to see photos of outstanding athletes who have made Medan and North Sumatra proud in the national to international arena.

The renovations were also carried out covering the park in front of the stadium and later merged into one area. "In fact, entering the VIP area of the Teladan Stadium later through the park," he said.

When the physical work is carried out, according to Pulungan, the PUPR will immediately carry out. It is possible that the Teladan Stadium will be the venue for the closing of the 2024 PON when North Sumatra and Aceh are co-hosts.

"The opening of PON in Aceh, while the closure is in North Sumatra. We know that there is no good stadium in North Sumatra other than the Exemplary Stadium. Moreover, usually the closing ceremony is also filled with a football final match. Therefore, the Teladan Stadium will be the closing place for the 2024 PON," he said.