Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok
Rajadamnern Stadium, also spelled Ratchadamnoen, is a prestigious sporting arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Along with Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, also in Bangkok, Rajadamnern is one of the two main stadiums for Muay Thai, not only in Thailand but globally. The stadium has its own ranking system and championship titles up to middleweight (160 lbs or 72.5 kg).
In 1941, the Prime Minister of Thailand at the time, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, ordered the construction of a national boxing stadium on Rajadamnern Avenue. Impresse Italiane All’ Estero-Oriente won the construction bid, and on the 1st March 1941, the 258,900 baht project was underway.
Due to a lack of supplies during the Second World War, construction was halted until August 1945. When the project resumed, it took only four months to complete. Its first Muay Thai event was held on the 23rd December 1945.
Pramote Puengsoonthorn became the stadium’s first manager and remained in charge until his retirement in 1947. The original stadium was open-air, very much resembling a Roman amphitheatre. Six years later, in 1951, a roof was installed, protecting the stadium from weather damage.
Initially, the stadium was losing money, and after seven years of state ownership, the Crown Property Bureau decided to give up its responsibilities and offered to rent it to any Thai-owned private organisation. The stadium manager at the time, Chalerm Cheosakul, did not want outsiders to run the stadium and therefore applied for the rights himself. His application was granted and on May 24, 1953, he founded Rajadamnern Co., Ltd. which still operates the stadium to this day.
The company has since expanded the stadium’s infrastructure and gradually developed it to become a world-renowned Muay Thai stadium and a key institution of Muay Thai in Thailand.
The national sport presents one of very few outlets where gambling is legally permitted in Thailand. Betting on fights is legal and takes place among punters on the second level of the stadium. The betting is done via hand-signals, similar to that famously seen on a stock exchange trading floor. At times, such signs are misunderstood by one party and fights have been known to erupt outside the ring between gamblers for this reason. Security services at Rajadamnern Stadium are managed by the military. Foreign spectators usually occupy the ringside seats, while gamblers and aficionados prefer the second or third ring of seats on the higher levels.
The culture of gambling in Muay Thai is a major aspect of the sport, playing an important role in the matchmaking, the atmosphere, and even the fights themselves.
There are two sets of ticket prices; one for Thais and one for foreigners. The difference in pricing is quite significant as foreign spectators are charged several times more than Thais – a practice seen across the country in stadiums, national parks and other attractions.
Champions of Rajadamnern Stadium, as well as those of Lumpinee Stadium, go down in the sport’s history books as the greatest fighters of their time. Fans of Muay Thai regard the title as the pinnacle of achievement in the sport, often giving champions legendary status.
Reference, Featured image from trip advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g293916-d3654337-Reviews-Rajadamnern_Thai_Boxing_Stadium-Bangkok.html
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