Bangkok’s Stadium One puts focus on sports retail

Downtown Bangkok’s first sports community mall, Stadium One, is planned to open in November.

Developed by Sportsociety Co, the retail project is at the Banthat Thong intersection opposite Tesco Lotus hypermarket and near National Stadium, Chulalongkorn University and several shopping centres.

Stadium One will cover about 27,000sqm, of which 20,000sqm will house 124 shops selling sports products and equipment. The five-storey building will also include a sports clinic, 5000sqm for indoor sporting activities, and 2000sqm for events.

Sportsociety’s four partners – Thanomkiat Summavuthichai, Natapak Rekijtisirikul, Sittichai Srisanguansakul and Pongwat Tiyapornchai – have budgeted THB200 million (US$6 million) to rent the project site from Chulalongkorn University for seven years.

Executive director Thanomkiat says the number of people concerned with their health has been continually rising. The market size for the sporting business is estimated to be worth THB160 billion, with growth of 8 to 10 per cent a year.

“Thailand’s sporting market is in an upside trend,” Thanomkiat says. “The market size for sporting goods is still lower than Singapore and Malaysia by several times. With this growth opportunity, sporting goods and fitness chains will be parading to the Thai market soon.”

Leading the way will be a Swedish fitness brand that will offer around-the-clock service in a 1000sqm space at Stadium One in November, says Sportsociety director Natapak.

He says about 60 per cent of space at Stadium One is already booked and about 90 per cent  is expected to be taken by opening time.