Gelora 10 November Stadium

Overview

About the stadium

Gelora 10 November Stadium stands in the Tambaksari district of Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, and for decades it was the beating heart of local football. For generations it gathered the supporters of Persebaya Surabaya, one of the country's oldest and most passionate clubs, whose fans are famed as the Bonek.

An arena named for heroes

The ground holds roughly 20,000 spectators, and its open terraces evoke an earlier era of Indonesian football. Its name commemorates 10 November 1945 — the start of the Battle of Surabaya, which later became Indonesia's Heroes' Day (Hari Pahlawan). The grounds are also known for the mature Pterocarpus indicus trees that grow within the complex. Although Persebaya eventually moved to the more modern Gelora Bung Tomo, "Tambaksari" remains a hallowed site for many supporters, bound up with the birth of both the club's and the city's identity.

History

Journey through time

The stadium's roots reach deep into Surabaya's colonial past. The Tambaksari field was laid out between 1907 and 1923, making it one of the oldest sporting grounds in Indonesia.

From Tambaksari to Heroes' Day

After a rebuild in 1951–1954, the venue was renamed Tambaksari Stadium. It took its present name, Gelora 10 November, following a further renovation in 1969, chosen to honour the Battle of Surabaya of 10 November 1945 — the bloody clash in which the city's people resisted British-Dutch forces and which became a symbol of Indonesia's struggle for independence. Persebaya Surabaya played its home matches here from 1952 to 2010, and the club NIAC Mitra also used the ground from 1979 to 1990. The most recent updates came in 2018. Thus a colonial-era field grew into a shrine whose very name recalls heroism.

Atmosphere

Matchday

The atmosphere of this stadium is inseparable from its supporters. Persebaya's fans, known as the Bonek (from bondho nekat, "daring without money"), are among the loudest and most devoted fan communities in Southeast Asia.

A tide of green and thundering drums

When Persebaya played at home, the terraces turned into a sea of green — the club's colours. Chants, drums and flags created a deafening backdrop that intimidated visitors and drove the home side forward. The name 10 November lent the matches a special charge: to play in a stadium named for Heroes' Day was to carry the legacy of a city known as Kota Pahlawan — the City of Heroes. Even today, with major fixtures moved elsewhere, Tambaksari remains for the Bonek a symbol of devotion, defiance and unbreakable love for the club.

Practical info

Visiting the stadium

The stadium sits in the Tambaksari district near central Surabaya, making it easy to reach by city transport or on foot from neighbouring areas.

Getting there

By train: The nearest stations are Surabaya Gubeng and Surabaya Kota (Semut), both a short taxi or motorbike ride away.
By air: Juanda International Airport (SUB) lies south of the city; a taxi or a Grab/Gojek ride is the easiest connection from there.
Local transport: The Suroboyo Bus network and abundant ojek motorbike taxis serve the city.
Tip: On matchdays expect crowds and limited parking; arrive early and soak up the atmosphere of the historic Tambaksari neighbourhood.