Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium
Tianjin, China
The Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium stands out for its form as much as its function. The hybrid surface is reinforced with synthetic fibres and sits on an undersoil heating system divided into three zones, which keeps the grass in condition when the weather turns.
It was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, which brought a temporary stand that pushed capacity past the permanent 54,696. The 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup arrived soon after, and the United States beat England in that quarter-final while Germany saw off Norway in the semi-final. The men's tournament followed with Brazil defeating Norway in the quarter-final. The highest crowd, 57,102, watched Japan play the United States on 7 July 2008. Since then the stadium has hosted the athletics at the 13th National Games of China and a string of concerts, though Mariah Carey remains the only international artist to have performed there.
Tianjin Teda moved into the ground after the TEDA Soccer Stadium fell out of use, and the local clubs have rotated through the years. The venue does not have a dedicated official website; information is accessed through general municipal portals or third-party platforms. It is managed by the IRENA Group and the Tianjin Government, and it sits on No. 1 Lingbin Road in the Nankai District.