Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium

Construction of the stadium began with a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2009, and the venue was inaugurated in March 2013 at a cost of around Rp545 billion, with the design overseen by Penta Architecture.

The Sea of Fire

The stadium's evocative name honours the Bandung Lautan Api — the "Bandung Sea of Fire" — a defining episode of Indonesia's struggle for independence in March 1946, when residents deliberately burned much of southern Bandung rather than surrender it to returning colonial forces. Naming the arena after this act of defiance ties the venue directly to the city's identity and revolutionary pride.

• Groundbreaking: October 2009
• Opened: March 2013
• Architect: Penta Architecture

Persib Bandung, who began using the stadium in stages from 2016, are among the giants of Indonesian football, crowned national champions on multiple occasions — most famously winning the inaugural perserikatan-era titles and the 2014 Indonesia Super League. Their move to GBLA gave that pedigree a fitting modern stage.

Few clubs in Southeast Asia can match the fervour that fills GBLA on a Persib matchday. The supporters, known as the Bobotoh, transform the bowl into a wall of noise and colour, and the experience is widely regarded as one of the most intense in Indonesian football.

Maung Bandung in blue

Persib are nicknamed Maung Bandung — the "Bandung Tigers" — and their fans drape the stands in the club's signature blue, unfurling enormous banners, chanting in Sundanese and singing through the full ninety minutes.

• Supporters: the Bobotoh, famed for their passion and loyalty
• Colours: Persib blue, the unmistakable identity of Maung Bandung
• Atmosphere: relentless chanting, choreographed displays and a sea of flags

In a nation where football inspires extraordinary devotion, a Persib home fixture — especially against rivals from Jakarta — turns GBLA into a cauldron, a spectacle that captures the deep emotional bond between the club and the city of Bandung.

GBLA stands in the Gedebage area on the eastern side of Bandung, away from the dense old city centre, so planning your journey ahead of time pays off on a busy matchday.

Getting there and matchday tips

• Location: Gedebage subdistrict, eastern Bandung, West Java
• By road: reached via the Bandung ring road and nearby toll exits; expect heavy traffic before and after Persib fixtures
• By rail: Gedebage railway station lies close to the complex, a useful option when crowds swell
• Arrive early: gates and access roads fill quickly when the Bobotoh are out in force
• Wear blue: join the home crowd in Persib's colours for the full experience
• Nearby: the Summarecon Bandung development and the famous Gedebage market are in the surrounding district

Bandung itself, a cool highland city renowned for its colonial architecture, factory outlets and café culture, makes an enjoyable base before and after the game.