Top News

A colossal £1.2 billion stadium in China, intended to overshadow Wembley Stadium and Barcelona's Camp Nou, has been left deserted for two years. Back in 2020, Guangzhou FC had ambitious plans to propel China's football investment to new heights by funding one of the world's largest stadiums. The proposed 100,000-seat arena starkly highlighted Guangzhou FC's financial woes, as the club has since been expelled from Chinese professional football.

The so-called Flower Stadium was set to be named after Guangzhou's famous flower markets. Xia Haijun, president of property behemoth Evergrande, who owned China's most successful club, confidently declared at the time: "Evergrande Stadium will become a new world-class landmark comparable to the Sydney Opera House and Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and an important symbol of Chinese football to the world. We hope the stadium will host the opening ceremony of the 2023 Asian Cup."

A grand lotus flower structure, capable of changing colours, was envisioned to encircle the stadium bowl. However, this dream never came to fruition as scaffolding and cranes remain idle on the deserted site, with only the foundation and lower tier partially finished.

Designs unveiled in 2020 depicted dramatic three-tiered stands with red seating towering above the pitch. The design's pinnacle featured a wave-like motif, reminiscent of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

The plans also incorporated 168 VIP boxes and 16 VVIP boxes. The stadium was even slated to host matches at the 2022 Club World Cup.

Evergrande had also proposed building two additional stadiums, each with a capacity of 80,000, in other regions of China, although specific locations were never revealed. However, construction came to an abrupt halt in 2022 when Guangzhou faced severe financial difficulties.

In the years following the unveiling of the stadium designs in 2020, Guangzhou's owners plunged into serious financial trouble as their overwhelming debt reportedly reached £220bn. This threw both the club and their stadium into significant turmoil.

Evergrande, China's largest property developers, halted construction work in an attempt to reduce debts. Guangzhou, whose squad has included former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho and ex-Porto striker Jackson Martinez, sold off numerous key players, contributing to their relegation in 2022.

In January 2025, Guangzhou were expelled from professional football and banned from participating in competitions by the Chinese FA. This marked a shocking downfall for the eight-time Chinese champions and two-time AFC Champions League winners.

The plans for the Flower Stadium have been resurrected, albeit on a significantly smaller scale. The site was seized by the Chinese government and handed over to the state-owned Guangzhou City Construction Investment Group.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

A considerably downsized stadium with a capacity of 73,000 is currently under development, with new proposals for the venue expected to cost £253 million - a full billion less than the original plan. Construction work recommenced in 2024, with the stadium slated for completion in 2026.