The B154-million project began in May 2010, and was completed in May this year. The stadium now has a futsal court, a basketball court and facilities for other team and individual sports.
The opening ceremony was performed by Democrat Party List MP AnchaleeVanich-Thepabutr, Phuket MP Rewat Areerob, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansuppana, the head of the Phuket Sports Association, Chantavit Tanthipanwadee and others.
The stadium was originally built in 1982 for the 16th Thailand National Games, staged in Phuket. In 2010, under the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, plans for its expansion were approved as part of that government’s policy to improve the quality of life for Thai people.
Mrs Anchalee said at the colourful opening that the stadium “will support Phuket people’s health and make the Phuket community stronger in resisting drug abuse”.
In between the inevitable speeches, youngsters from various schools around Phuket got to be the first to use the new facilities in a series of futsal matches.