How to Get Beijing Guoan Tickets, According to Expat Superfan

Spring in Beijing doesn’t just mean the green returning to the city’s trees and plants, but a whole sea of green – and yellow – concentrated in and around Gongti, these colors coinciding with soccer season for the city’s premier football club, Beijing Guoan.

The team recently celebrated their first home victory of the year this past Sunday, 4-1 against Qingdao West Coast FC, with all of Beijing going wild over the win. If you want to get in on some upcoming Guoan action, there are 12 more chances to do so (see schedule below, in Chinese), the next match being on May 5. Now that you know when to see Guoan play, the next question is: how do you see Guoan play?

To answer this question we spoke with Beijing expat and Guoan superfan Brandon Chemers to find out where he snags his tickets, the best seats in Gongti, and the best places to go in the surrounding area to really feel the Green and Yellow spirit.

How long have you been going to Guoan matches, and is it more than living in Beijing that drew you into becoming a fan?
I’ve been going for a little over 20 years. I’ve always had the habit of going to see local sporting events when traveling and when I started coming to Beijing I went to see Guoan. That said, my first time watching the CSL was in Shanghai, but I quickly realized I’d never be supporting a Shanghai team. Supporting the team was a way to get to know the city and more locals, but the unique location of the stadium (with Sanlitun, and in those days The Den) definitely added to the attraction.

What tickets do you usually opt for when soccer season starts in China?
I buy a season ticket as it’s great value for money and I know I’ll be at most of the games. I always choose the north stand. Even though it’s located behind the goal and doesn’t offer the best views, it’s where the hardcore fans are and, having been a member of the supporter’s group the Royal Army for many years, to me it’s the best atmosphere in the stadium.

What are the best times to buy tickets in the lead-up to matches?
The day they go on sale! That tends to be five to seven days before the match, though this year it has been even shorter in some cases. Follow the Beijing Guoan official account for the announcements (search 北京国安足球俱乐部 on WeChat). Unfortunately, it is only in Chinese, but the tickets can be purchased through the website and mini program Damai, which accepts passports.

How do you normally go about buying tickets, and what advice would you have for first time buyers?
Now that Gongti is football specific, there’s not really a bad seat in the house. If you can’t read Chinese, I’d have a Chinese friend handy to help with the process.

Are there any other methods people can use to snag tickets or are they available on the day of the match?
There used to be tons of “sponsor tickets” available through touts at the north gate, but starting this year there are no more paper tickets. Everything is done through the Damai app and once you buy your ticket, you’ll need to bring the Chinese ID or passport you listed when going to the stadium as that will serve as your “ticket.”

In regards to the match day experience inside and outside Workers’ Stadium, where should one go to get a feel for the Guoan love?
As mentioned above, my preference is in the north stand, where the most dedicated fans are, the atmosphere is impressive. Though for some it may be too loud or crazy and maybe better to be somewhere around midfield where you can enjoy the match more easily and watch the fans.

But the stadium being in such a crowded area, it’s also best to fully soak up the match atmosphere by stopping in at a restaurant pre-match for a meal and maybe a pre-match beer. My favorite is Great Leap, where you’ll see plenty of fellow fans.

Inside the stadium, it’s a different experience from the old days, with lots of concessions and places to pick up Guoan merch. A favorite among friends and especially my son is the iGelato on the 3rd floor of the north stand.

Another tip, at least at the north gate, there is only one manual ticketing entrance for passport holders and it’s on the far left hand side when you’re looking at the stadium.

Let’s say someone wants to watch Guoan play in another city, would they purchase tickets via the same method?
Through the Beijing Sports Fans Association WeChat account (北京球迷协会). Tickets are usually made available five to seven days in advance, though allotments can be small and for some matches, especially ones close (like Cangzhou, Tianjin, and Shandong) tickets will sell out in less than five minutes. Away games are an experience in themselves, but it makes for a very long day as you usually need to enter the stadium two to three hours before the match and will be held back at least an hour after the match.

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Images: Sports FM 102.5, courtesy of Brandon Chemers