Rajadamnern Stadium

Rajadamnern Stadium (Thai: สนามมวยราชดำเนิน; RTGS: sanam muai ratchadamnoen), also spelled Ratchadamnoen, is a sporting arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Along with Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Rajadamnern is one of the two main stadiums for modern muay Thai. The stadium has its own ranking system and championship titles up to middleweight (160 lbs).[1]

Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium
(Sanam Muay Rajadamnern)
Location1, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok, Thailand
Coordinates13°45′40″N 100°30′32″E
OwnerThe Rajadamnern Co. Ltd
Capacity8,000
Construction
Broke ground1 March 1941
Built1941-1945
Opened23 December 1945
Construction cost258,900 baht
Main contractorsImprese Italiane All' Estero-Oriente
Tenants
Choocharoen Boxing Promotion
Website
rajadamnern.com

History
Rajadamnern stadium in 2009

In 1941, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram gave orders to build a national boxing stadium on Rajadamnern Avenue. Impresse Italiane All' Estero-Oriente won the construction rights, and the 258,900 baht project foundation stone was laid on 1 March 1941.[2]

Due to the lack of construction supplies during the World War II, the project was halted until August 1945. When construction resumed, it took only four months to complete it. The first boxing match was held on 23 December 1945. Tickets were priced at between 70 and 300 baht. Pramote Puengsoonthorn became the first stadium manager and remained in the post until his retirement in 1947.

The original stadium was open-air, resembling a Roman amphitheatre in design. Six years later, in 1951 a concrete roof was added, making it weather-proof.[3] After seven years of government ownership, the stadium was losing money, and on 24 May 1953, Chalerm Cheosakul, the stadium manager at the time, asked permission from the Crown Property Bureau to run the stadium and founded the "Rajadamnern Co, Ltd." Rajadamnern Co., Ltd. operates it to this day, and it has become one of the chief muay Thai boxing stadiums in Thailand.[2]

Chuwattana Muay Thai & Boxing camp is the official promoter for Rajadamnern Stadium, licensed by the Thailand Boxing Commission.

Gambling

Gambling is legal and takes place at the second level. The betting is done by hand-signals, as on a stock exchange trading floor. Often such signs are misunderstood by one side and fights may erupt outside the ring between gamblers. The security service at Rajadamnern Stadium is managed by armed military police. Foreigners usually occupy the expensive ringside seats, while gamblers and aficionados prefer the second or third ring of seats upstairs.

List of former champions

References
  1. "Stadiums in Thailand". Muay Thai Online. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  2. "Rajadamnern Stadium". Muay Thai 2000. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. "History of Rajadamnern Stadium". wmtc.nu. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
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