Groundhopper's guide to..... Cheonan Stadium | OneFootball

Cheonan City FC was one of two clubs added to the second tier of Korean football last season following the decision to turn fully professional. Their ground is Cheonan Stadium, which was previously the temporary home of fellow K League 2 outfit Seoul E-Land. This stadium has also played a central role in two major underage FIFA World Cups. This is our short guide to their stadium.

Cheonan Stadium is a multi-use arena (yes, it has a running track) with a capacity of 26,000. As is customary in K League 2, not every section or block is open to the public. The bowl-shaped design is familiar and like other stadiums in the country of this size, there are 4 large floodlights, a small roof covering the main stand, and very basic services.

Cheonan Stadium opened, like many others, in 2001 but this was not one of the 10 venues used for the following year's World Cup. It did, however, host games at major underage tournaments. In 2007, seven matches were played here during the U-17 World Cup. Belgium, Germany, and Colombia were among the teams to lace up in Cheonan, and recognized football stars such as Eden Hazard, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez formed part of their squads, respectively.

Concrete exterior and leaf covered walls. Lovely.

Ten years later, eight matches were played here during the U-17 World Cup. Korea Republic, Japan, England, and France are some of the countries to line up in Cheonan that summer. The Korean national team has also played two friendlies here, against Mali and Peru. The stadium was slated to be used for Korea's unsuccessful Asia Cup bid in 2023.

Location:

Cheonan is the largest city by population in South Chungcheong Province, in west-central Korea. Despite being almost 90 km south of the capital, Cheonan has several subway stops on the Dark Blue Line 1 servicing Seoul. Cheonan shares a major KTX station with neighboring Asan, a city with a K League 2 club we visited last season.

The stadium is just north of Cheonan City Hall on the foothills of Bongsea-san. The city's main subway stop, Cheonan Station, and the intercity bus terminal are on the other side of Bongsae-san, as is the entrance to the Seoul-Busan highway. The stadium forms part of a larger complex of arenas, tracks, and astroturf pitches.

Transport Options:

- train: There are plenty of rail options if you want to visit the stadium, but all will likely need a transfer to a local bus or taxi. Cheonan-Asan KTX Station is a one-hour walk to the stadium, as is Cheonan Station, which services the Dark Blue Line 1 and several intercity trains.

- bus: Cheonan Intercity Bus Terminal is 5 km east of the stadium. From Cheonan-Aasan KTX Station, bus numbers 1, 5, 21, and 990 all reach the stadium in less than 25 minutes. From Cheonan Station, the 800 takes around 45 minutes.

- parking: There is some parking available at the stadium but these spots are shared by people using the other sporting facilities close by. Cheonan City Hall, next door, has some parking options, too.

- bike: Cheonan has a bike scheme but the stadium is centrally located. It is busy and potentially dangerous for cyclists.

- Online: Cheonan City FC tickets are sold on Interpark. These days, most clubs sell on the more user-friendly Ticketlink. There is a ₩2,000 discount for buying online but there is a ₩1,000 service charge. Apart from looking at the basic stadium layout, there isn't much need to use the app.

- Ticket booth: As mentioned, buying at the game means a ₩2,000 price hike. All uncovered seats at ₩10,000 (₩8,000 if bought online) and the only covered stand is ₩15,000 to avoid the rain or scorching summer sun.

Where to sit:

Three sides of this stadium are open to fans. They are listed by direction. The long stands are on the West and East sides, and away fans are behind the goal and the running track on the South end. The main stand here (i.e., where the tunnel and dugouts are) is the West Stand and all seats here cost ₩15,000.

The East Stand is made up of two similar-sized blocks and a third, smaller one, at the top of the stand. Tickets are ₩10,000. Again, these prices are for the ticket booth at match day.

The East Stand.

Away fans have a terrible view from the South Stand. There is no temporary seating here and, unlike Chungnam Asan, which designates some pitch side blocks for traveling fans, away supporters here are almost in a different city. The pleasure to watch your team in Cheonan is ₩10,000.

The away end for a big game.

There are food trucks dotted around the stadium but unlike in some grounds, there isn't a designated area where they all go. There were two at the north end beside the club shop when I went, and a further two at the south end.

Drink:

CU Marts are located inside and outside the stadium, selling beer, water, ramen, and boiled eggs. You can drink at your seat in Cheonan.

Merchandise:

The Cheonan City club store on the north end is the smallest I've seen, unless there's another one hidden somewhere else. They had a very small selection of stock. Cheonan's colors are nice but perhaps there just isn't an onsite demand for their products.

The club shop in all it's glory.

Post game:

Independence Hall of Korea is located just outside of Cheonan. It is the largest history museum and exhibition center in the country, focusing on the period of Japanese colonization and independence movements. The design of Cheonan City FC's crest is inspired by the enormous structure outside the Hall.