Gajayana Stadium

Overview

About the stadium

Gajayana Stadium sits right in the heart of Malang, the second-largest city in East Java, and ranks among the oldest football grounds in all of Indonesia. Its central location makes it a natural focal point for the city's sporting and social life, within easy walking distance of the main streets and markets.

The heart of Malang football

With a capacity of roughly 25,000 spectators, the ground is long associated with Arema FC and formerly with Persema Malang. A Bermuda-grass pitch and, following renovation, an eight-lane running track make it a genuinely multipurpose venue. In 2008 the Malang Olympic Garden (MOG) shopping and sports complex rose directly beside the stadium, firmly embedding the arena in the modern urban fabric and weaving football into the everyday rhythm of the city.

History

Journey through time

The history of Gajayana Stadium reaches deep into the colonial era. It was built in 1924 and officially opened in 1926 to designs by the Dutch East Indies government, making it one of the oldest surviving stadiums in the country.

From colonial build to Arema stronghold

The stadium soon became a centre of city life and sport. Persema Malang has played here since 1953, while Arema adopted the ground as home from 1987 to 2004 and again from 2015. Capacity shifted over the decades: after works in 1990 it fell to 17,000, before rising to today's 25,000 in 2008, the same year the neighbouring MOG complex was completed. The most recent modernization in 2025 added an eight-lane running track and repainted stands, opening a new chapter in the ground's long life.

Atmosphere

Matchday

The atmosphere at Gajayana Stadium is shaped above all by Aremania — one of the most passionate and numerous supporter communities in Indonesia. Blue shirts, chants and relentless drumming turn even a city-centre venue into a cauldron whose noise spills out into the surrounding streets of Malang.

Aremania in full voice

On Arema FC matchdays the stadium becomes a sea of blue, with the devoted core arriving long before kickoff and staying until the final whistle. For many people in Malang, belonging to Aremania is a matter of pride and civic identity. Thanks to the central location, the pre-match buzz spills into nearby cafés, street-food stalls and the MOG complex, so a football day in Malang blends seamlessly with ordinary city life and creates a uniquely Javanese backdrop.

Practical info

Visiting the stadium

Visiting Gajayana Stadium is easy thanks to its central position. The ground sits in the very core of Malang, so you can comfortably walk to it from many parts of the centre and from nearby accommodation.

Getting there

Location: right in central Malang, East Java, beside the Malang Olympic Garden (MOG) shopping complex.
On foot: a short walk from the city centre and the main streets.
Public transport and taxis: use the local angkot (minibuses) or the Gojek and Grab apps for motorbike and car rides.
By train: Malang Kotabaru, the main station, is nearby, a short taxi ride away.
Tip: combine your visit with shopping or a bite at the adjacent MOG, and arrive early — the Aremania atmosphere starts well before kickoff.