Asian nations in race to build concert venues

LIVE concerts are all the rage these days, and Asia’s red-hot live entertainment scene is about to get hotter. As countries haul in billions in tourism revenue from concert goers, more cities across the region are splurging to amp up their appeal.

South Korean city Incheon opened its 15,000-seat Inspire Arena this month. In February, Bangkok offered up a new 6,000-capacity entertainment venue. Macau inaugurated its largest indoor arena with 16,000 seats last year. In 2022, Kuala Lumpur unveiled a 2,400-seat concert hall, and Jakarta opened an 82,000-seat stadium.

More venues, each boasting a huge capacity and stunning features, including a retractable roof and convertible pitch, are set to open their doors, mostly between this year and 2030. As it stands, 10 new entertainment facilities are in the pipeline in Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. 

1. Singapore: 15,000-seat entertainment arena

What: Marina Bay Sands (MBS) announced in April 2019 its S$4.5 billion expansion plan involving the development of a fourth tower, which will feature a 15,000-seat entertainment arena.

Where: Adjacent to MBS, on an empty plot flanked by Bayfront Avenue, Sheares Avenue and Sheares Link

When: Apr 8, 2028, at the latest

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2. Singapore: New indoor arena

What: Singapore announced in Parliament in March 2024 that it intends to develop a new indoor arena that will be “among the best-in-class globally”.

Where: Adjacent to the current Singapore Indoor Stadium site in Kallang

When: No timeline provided yet

3. Bangkok: 15,000-seat arena

What: Thai retailer The Mall Group and sports and live entertainment company AEG announced in 2018 their partnership to develop a 15,000-seat arena.

Where: Bang Na district

When: 2026

4. Bangkok: 5,000-seat hall 

What: The Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre will open a 5,000-seat hall, Thai news website The Nation reported in February 2024.

Where: Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Bang Na district

When: June 2024

5. Hong Kong: Kai Tak Sports Park

What: The Kai Tak Sports Park will boast a 50,000-seat stadium, 10,000-seat indoor sports centre and 5,000-seat public sports ground.

Where: On the site of the former Hong Kong International Airport in Kowloon

When: End-2024

6. Japan: 18,000-capacity arena in Suita

What: In 2021, it was reported that a consortium formed by Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development, AEG, and Kanden Realty & Development was selected to develop and open an 18,000-capacity arena, due to become Japan’s second-largest indoor arena.

Where: Within the Expo Commemoration Park in Suita, a city in Osaka prefecture

When: 2027

7. Japan: 17,000-capacity arena in Nagoya

What: IG Arena is set to host the Asian Games and Asian Para Games from September to October in 2026.

Where: Nagoya, capital of Aichi prefecture

When: June 2025

8. South Korea: 18,000-seat arena in Seoul

What: South Korean Internet giant Kakao and the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in April 2022 the construction of an 18,000-seat arena dedicated to K-pop events. The arena is said to feature a separate 7,000-capacity concert hall.

Where: Chang-dong, a neighbourhood in Dobong district in northern Seoul

When: October 2025

9. South Korea: 20,000-capacity arena in Goyang

What: Film production company CJ LiveCity, a subsidiary of conglomerate CJ Group, and AEG announced in June 2019 the construction of a 20,000-capacity arena with an outdoor space for 40,000 people dedicated to K-pop events.

Where: Goyang, a city in Gyeonggi province

When: 2024

10. Taiwan: Taichung Arena 

What: Two arenas are expected to be built – a main one that seats 15,500 people and a secondary 5,000-capacity one.

Where: Near the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Beitun district, Taichung

When: 2030