As lockdown restrictions in China to slow the coronavirus pandemic are lifted, one Chinese soccer club aims to get back into the swing of things with aplomb.
Guangzhou Evergrande that work has began on an eye-catching, 100,000-seater stadium, which would be the largest football stadium in the world.
Designed in a lotus flower shape, the is scheduled to cost US$1.7 billion and to be completed by the end of 2022.
Work began last Thursday, with the goal to become "a world-class new landmark comparable to the Sydney Opera House and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and an important symbol of Chinese football going to the world," to president of real estate conglomerate Evergrande, Xia Haijun.
Guangzhou Evergrande played at the 60,000-seat Tianhe Stadium since 2011.
The 100,000 capacity would surpass the 99,354 of Barcelona's Camp Nou, currently the largest soccer-only stadium in the world.
The design of the stadium is the work from the Shanghai-based American designer Hasan Syed, following an initial concept from the Evergrande Group chairman Xu Jiayin.
The lotus flower design originates from Guangzhou's status as the Flower City.
The stadium include 16 VVIP private rooms, 152 VIP private rooms, a FIFA area, an athletes area, a media area, and a press room.
According to , Xia told reporters that Evergrande plans to construct between three and five more stadiums with capacities of 80,000 to 100,000 around China to address the lack of facilities that could host a World Cup someday.
Guangzhou Evergrande is one of the most successful teams in China and Asia.
The club has won the Chinese Super League eight times, as well as two Asian Champions Leagues -- the only Chinese club to win it twice.
The 2020 CSL season had been scheduled to start on February 22 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
