Hwaseong Sports Town

Hwaseong Stadium sits in a patch of new development outside the old town of Hwaseong. It is one of two large bowls built for the 2014 Asian Games, the other being the indoor arena where the IBK Altos play volleyball. The complex is set in flat ground that feels far from the city centre. It is not a place people walk to; you drive there.

The design is distinct because of its curve. The main stand sweeps around the pitch, but the south side is open to the sky. There is no roof there. The inside is bright from the floodlights, but the outside is quiet. A smaller practice pitch sits nearby, separated by a perimeter road.

The surface is natural grass, cut tight for the running track that surrounds the field. Most of the time, they sit empty. The stadium is too big for the town, a fact that was noted when it opened in 2011. It was built for a tournament that happened only once.

The only reason the ground has a purpose now is the local football team, Hwaseong FC. The stadium has hosted international matches and concerts, but neither happens often.