Indonesia was appointed as co-hosts along with the Philippines and Japan for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. However, Indonesia needed a suitable venue with a seating capacity of at least 8,000 to meet FIBA standards.[1][2] Existing venues include the Istora Senayan within the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex with up to 7,200 people[2] and The BritAma Arena which can sit only 5,000 people.[3] The government decided to construct a new indoor arena for the World Cup instead.
In a meeting between Indonesian Basketball Association (PERBASI) chairman Danny Kosasih and President Joko Widodo, the latter promised to build a new basketball venue for the World Cup while the former requested the new venue to have a capacity of around 15,000 to 20,000 seats.[2]
Construction for the then-unnamed venue began in December 2021.[4][5] The site of the new venue is on a land previously occupied by a helicopter pad at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex.[3] The Ministry of Youth and Sports announced in July 2022, that the indoor arena would be named "Indonesia Arena".[6]
The Indonesia Arena was officially inaugurated on 7 August 2023 by President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.[7]
Facilities
The Indonesia Arena is a multipurpose indoor arena which can be used for various indoor sports, such as basketball, badminton and volleyball, as well as non-sports activities such as concerts. It has a maximum seating capacity of 16,500 which can be reduced temporarily if needed.[6]
Sporting events
Basketball
The interior of the Indonesia Arena in August 2023
Indonesia Arena was one of the host venues for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, co-hosted by Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines from 25 August to 10 September 2023. The arena hosted games of groups G and H from the first round, as well as games of groups L and P from the second round.
Development Basketball League
The arena hosted the final matches for the DKI Jakarta series of the DBL 2023, which was held on 17 November. DBL is the largest basketball league for middle school and high school students in Indonesia. It was also the first sports event in the arena after the FIBA Basketball World Cup.[9] The final's total attendance of over 12,000 broke the record for the largest attendance in a national basketball event in Indonesia, breaking the previous record of around 8,000 set by the final of the now-defunct NBL in 2012.[10][11]
Volleyball
The first volleyball competition that took place in Indonesia Arena was an exhibition match between Red Sparks and Indonesia All Star women's volleyball teams, held on 20 April 2024, and named as Fun Volleyball 2024. Hosted and invited by the Ministry of Youth and Sports,[12] Red Sparks won over Indonesia All Star 3–2 (25–17, 25–15, 19–25, 18–25, 15–12).[13]Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi of Red Sparks was awarded as the MVP.[14] Prior to the match, a competition between teams of Indonesian celebrities was held as a prelude.[14]
Badminton
The arena is planned to held the BWF tournament Indonesia Open starting from 2025 edition, replacing the previous venue Istora Gelora Bung Karno, that have been the venue of the tournament since the first edition (1982).
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