The South Korean city of Daegu is moving forward with plans to build a 20,000-seat multipurpose domed stadium in Duryu Park, designed to host major concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities throughout the year.
The proposed venue would have a maximum capacity of 28,000 spectators, depending on the seating configuration, with an estimated construction cost of KRW 500 billion (approximately US$375 million).
According to Daegu City Hall, the project aims to address the city’s shortage of large-scale indoor entertainment and sports facilities while supporting the growth of the regional sports, tourism and entertainment industries.
Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho announced that the city intends to participate in a government funding programme supporting the development of new domed venues across South Korea.
The municipality plans to combine government funding with private investment to minimise the financial burden on the city.
Addressing the need for modern facilities
Daegu currently lacks a large indoor venue capable of hosting major concerts and sporting events regardless of weather conditions.
The city’s existing Daegu Gymnasium, which opened in 1971, has a seating capacity of just 3,800 and is increasingly struggling to meet modern requirements.
Its limited capacity and ageing infrastructure restrict opportunities for professional basketball, international indoor sports competitions and major entertainment events.
The proposed domed stadium would address these limitations while allowing Daegu to attract events that currently require larger venues elsewhere in South Korea.
In addition to professional basketball and international competitions in sports such as badminton and table tennis, the new venue would accommodate esports tournaments and concerts by major domestic and international artists.
Duryu Park selected as preferred location
Following an assessment of potential sites across the city, Daegu has selected the Universiade Tennis Center and adjacent land within Duryu Park as its preferred location.
The evaluation considered public transport connections, land acquisition costs, project feasibility and the potential to integrate the development with existing infrastructure.
The Duryu Park site benefits from established subway and bus connections and is already owned by the municipality, eliminating the need for additional land acquisition.
Its proximity to E-World and other leisure attractions could also support the development of a broader sports, entertainment and leisure destination.
The municipality intends to incorporate the stadium into its wider plans for Duryu Park, including the proposed National Urban Park designation.
Capacity and commercial development
Daegu has identified 20,000 seats as the most suitable capacity for the new venue, based on expert assessments of market demand, construction costs and long-term utilisation.
Flexible seating arrangements would allow capacity to increase to approximately 28,000 for certain events.
A larger 50,000-seat option was considered but rejected because of its estimated construction cost of more than KRW 1.2 trillion and concerns over long-term operational viability.
The proposed capacity also reflects developments elsewhere in South Korea, including the planned 30,000-seat Jamsil Dome and the 18,000-seat Chang-dong Arena in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Beyond the main event space, Daegu intends to encourage private investment in complementary commercial facilities.
Potential developments include hotels, shopping centres and convention facilities, creating additional revenue opportunities and supporting year-round activity around the venue.
To attract investors, the municipality is considering changes to planning regulations, including adjustments to building coverage and floor area ratios.
These measures would provide greater flexibility for commercial development within the stadium complex.
Construction could begin in 2031
Daegu is preparing to submit its proposal under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s funding programme, which is expected to provide financial support for one large-scale and one medium-scale domed venue.
If the city’s application is successful and the necessary feasibility studies and regulatory approvals proceed as planned, detailed design work could be completed by 2029.
Construction is currently projected to begin in 2031.
The municipality aims to finance the project primarily through government contributions and private investment, limiting the use of municipal funds.
Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said the development would help modernise Daegu’s sports and entertainment infrastructure while creating new opportunities for tourism, employment and economic activity.
He also emphasised the importance of securing national funding and private-sector participation to move the project forward.
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