Tuesday, July 09, 2024
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya |
Hoary old cliches like 'football needs fans' mean little in a league where some teams don't bother trying to attract people to their games and others play in different cities or time zones to their home base. And then there is the old 'renovasi' where even the newest grounds are shut down to have running repairs.
So, with the fixture list due to released any day now, we hope, where will the 18 Liga 1 sides call home for the 2024/25 season?*
Persib - the champions are blessed with a home city which boasts two decent stadiums, Si Jalak Harupat and Bandung Lautan Api Stadiums.
Madura United - usually they nominate two stadiums but it looks like just Bangkalan Stadium for this season
Borneo Samarinda - I guess Segiri Stadium is still being renovated as Borneo will continue to use Batakan Stadium in Balikpapan
Bali United - No such worries as two times champions Bali continue to use their well appointed Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium
Dewa United - No more Indomilk Arena, Dewa have moved to Si Jalak Harupat. And Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong
PSIS Semarang - With the recently renovated Jatidiri Stadium being renovated, PSIS will play their home games at Moch Soebroto Stadium in Magelang. There has also been talk they will use a field in Semarang for games which will attract a small crowd
Persis Solo - Manahan Stadium. That's it!
Persija Jakarta - Jakarta International Stadium. It will be interesting to see what kind of crowds they get over the course of the season
Persik Kediri - Brawijaya Stadium
Barito Putera - Based on the island of Kalimantan, BP this season are looking to use Sultan Agung Stadium in Bantul for their home games. Different Island. Different time zone.
PSM Makassar - A stadium was being built in Makassar but no idea what has happened to it. This season they will be at BJ Habibie Stadium, three hours north of Makassar in Pare Pare and Batakan Stadium in Balikpapan
Persebaya Surabaya - Bung Tomo Stadium. Simples.
PSS Sleman - Not sure why PSS won't be playing at every foreigners favourite Indonesian stadium - Maguwoharjo. Instead they will be shifting east to Manahan Stadium
Persita Tangerang - Not using Indomilk Arena and interestingly not allowed to use Benteng Reborn Stadium, Persita will take to the road, using Sultan Agung Stadium, Kapten I wayan Dipta Stadium and Pakansari Stadium
Arema - Keeping away from Malang, Arema will continue their struggles in Bali at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium
PSBS Biak - Newly promoted PSBS are hoping to move to Jayapura but initially they will play their home games in Bali. Later, Mandala Stadium and/or Lukas Enembe Stadium
Semen Padang - With their home being renovated, newly promoted Semen Padang will play their early home games in Jakarta at PTIK Stadium. Later, they will return to their Haji Agus Salim Stadium
Malut United - Based on the spice island of Ternate, Malut look like they will switch between Kie Raha Stadium in Ternate and Brawijaya Stadium in East Java
* - don't go booking your hols around this list - it may change!