Guidelines for Developing Ratchaburi Stadium into a Sustainable Multi-Purpose Sports Complex for Efficient Daily Use

Abstract

This research aimed to: (1) analyze the potential, problems, and limitations of the current utilization of Ratchaburi Stadium, including the needs of key stakeholders, namely football fans, the local community, club management, and relevant organizations; (2) establish spatial development guidelines and design multifunctional facilities to support sports, recreational, and community activities; and (3) propose a development model for transforming the stadium into a multi-purpose sports complex that can be efficiently and sustainably utilized on a daily basis.A mixed-methods research approach was employed, consisting of a review of relevant literature and previous studies, on-site surveys, questionnaire surveys of approximately 200 users of Ratchaburi Stadium representing different user groups, and interviews with club executives. The collected data were analyzed to examine the stadium's utilization potential, user behavior, and development needs.The findings indicate that Ratchaburi Stadium possesses strong potential in terms of its infrastructure and strategic location, making it suitable for development into a multifunctional activity center. However, its current utilization remains largely limited to football match days, resulting in the underutilization of its facilities. Appropriate development should therefore emphasize flexible space design capable of accommodating a wide range of activities, including health and fitness sports, community events, entertainment programs, and commercial activities. This should be accompanied by improvements in management systems, site accessibility, and supporting facilities. Furthermore, active participation from the local community and relevant stakeholders was identified as a key factor in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project.In conclusion, the study found that: (1) Ratchaburi Stadium has considerable potential to be transformed into a multi-purpose sports complex that operates effectively every day, supported by its existing infrastructure and advantageous location; (2) the development should prioritize flexible spatial design to accommodate diverse activities, including health and fitness sports, community programs, and commercial functions, while enhancing essential infrastructure such as parking facilities, restrooms, and site accessibility; and (3) such development would generate economic, social, and environmental benefits for the surrounding area, while establishing the stadium as a sustainable community hub serving multiple functions beyond football matches.