Perak Stadium
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The Perak Stadium is a stadium located in Kampung Simee in Ipoh. It is part of a large complex called the DBI Sports Complex, which houses the majority of sporting facilities used by players representing the state of Perak such as the Velodrome (cycling), Indera Mulia Stadium (indoor stadium) and the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium (hockey).
[edit] Profile
The stadium was built in 1997 [1]. It was further renovated in 1999 at a cost of RM 1,949,000 by the Perak state government. It was put under the administration of the Ipoh City Council, which oversees the general upkeep of the stadium until this day.
The official capacity of the stadium is 42,500 and it boasts a press box and a VIP-area which is normally used by the Sultan of Perak. The stadium features a standard football pitch and an IAAF-certified synthetic running track. The stadium also has monochromatic video matrix scoreboard.
The stadium has two types of seating; grandstand seating and normal seating. Only those seating in the grandstand are sheltered from the elements of nature.
The stadium has a notoriously problematic flood light system. There are four flood light towers surrounding the stadium and about 50% fail to light up when it is needed. Poor pitch conditions are also a norm at this stadium and coaches are known to have publicly voiced their discontent over this issue.
[edit] Usage
Today, the stadium is not regularly used for events other than football. Events such as military band competitions and school sports days are held at the Perak Stadium sporadically.
The Perak football team, which plays its football in the Malaysian Super League, considers Perak Stadium to be its homeground and their matches are the only times when the stadium experiences capacity crowds.
It is a preferred venue for football final matches when the teams involved do not originate near the Klang Valley area, e.g. 1997 Final (Selangor vs. Pulau Pinang) and 2003 (Negeri Sembilan vs. Perlis) Some parties have criticized the Football Association of Malaysia for failing to move the finals of 2006 Malaysian FA Cup (Pahang vs. Perlis) to this stadium where attendance levels were likely to be higher than the one eventually experienced at Bukit Jalil
