A Simple Guide to Enjoy Football at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium

Hello!

Greetings from Jakarta!

So, are you a traveler who’d like to have a football experience in the capital of Indonesia? Well, you come to the right place!

As a football enthusiast who was born and raised in Jakarta, I’d like to share some information on how to enjoy football here in my hometown, especially at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Main Stadium. My experience of watching dozens of football match in that stadium since the 90s is what motivates me to publish this blogpost.
 

At this point, we are still able to say that football is the most popular sport in Indonesia. The people here loves to watch it, play it (both actually and virtually), and talk about it. They admire international football (or sometimes we call it “football on screen”) as well as their own local football. Despite the fact that achievement is lacking from the Indonesia National Team and Indonesian clubs at international level, people of Indonesia still loves their football. For most of them, international football is only for their amusement, while local football is all about pride.
 

As the center of government and business activities of Indonesia, the city of Jakarta is filled with people who loves football as well. No matter how the world weighs on their shoulders, Jakartans are proud of their local clubs. Jakarta area has a couple of football clubs, namely: Persija, Persitara, Villa 2000, and Persikad. Not to mention clubs in Greater Jakarta areas, like Persita, Persikota, Persipasi and Persikabo. On every matchdays of the local competitions (the Indonesia Super League, Premier Division, and Division One), hundreds and even thousands of fans fill up the stadiums of the respective clubs.
 

Speaking of stadiums, Jakarta also has a couple of them. They are scattered in 5 municipalities (kotamadya) of Jakarta, but only some of them are eligible to host a national-level match. Those are Kamal Muara Stadium (North Jakarta), Lebak Bulus Stadium (South Jakarta), Ciracas Stadium (East Jakarta) and PTIK Stadium (South Jakarta). Lastly, there’s one international level stadium in Central Jakarta, the GBK Main Stadium.
 

Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium
source: www.indonesia.travel

GBK is a sports complex opened in 1962 by Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. ‘Gelora’ in GBK is an acronym of ‘gelanggang olah raga’ (Eng.: Sports Complex). The complex has many sports and leisure facilities such as Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball field, basketball hall, football fields, and others. The main multi-purpose stadium is located at the heart of the complex.
 

The stadium underwent a renovation process starting 2005. After the renovation was finished in 2007, the seating capacity of the stadium was reduced from 120,800 to 88,000. The stadium has hosted several international football competitions such as the 2007 Asian Cup of Nations, 2002 and 2010 South East Asian Cup as well as 4 South East Asian Games (1979, 1987, 1997 and 2011). Occasionally (especially in a major tournament), the Indonesia National Team use the stadium for their home game. But the current and loyal tenant of the stadium is the biggest club in Jakarta: Persija.
 

That’s enough for an opener, and here are some tips for those who want to enjoy football at the GBK Main Stadium.

 

How to Get There?

The GBK Sports complex official address is Jalan Pintu Satu Senayan, Central Jakarta, 10270. Look for it using ‘Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno’ as keyword in your GPS. It is located near the House of Representatives and People’s Consultative Assembly’s building (MPR-DPR building).

a. Using Public Transportation

From the Airport
if you want to go straight to the stadium from the airport, whether if you come from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (SHIA) or Halim Perdanakusumah Airport, taking a taxi would be the most efficient way. With the fare ranging from IDR 100,000 – 200,000 (depends on the taxi’s type and group, and excluding toll charges), just ask the driver to take you to GBK or ‘Stadion Senayan’. If the traffic’s fine, you’ll be there in less than an hour.

But be careful for unofficial taxis. Do not take any offer from anyone who offers you a car ride or taxi. Ask for information regarding taxi queuing lines to the staff the information center.

You can also use DAMRI shuttle bus service from SHIA using the Blok M line with IDR 30,000 (April 2014). You can purchase the ticket at DAMRI booths in each SHIA terminals. Take the bus and hop off at Senayan (ask the bus driver or his assistant to drop you off there). From the bus stop, it’s a 10-minute walk to the stadium. The shuttle bus will cost less money, but it will cost you more time as the bus service almost always off schedule.

Public Buses
If you’re in the city already, the easiest public transportation mode to get to GBK is using the TransJakarta Bus Service, Jakarta’s trademark bus line who has its own lane on the street, with only IDR 3,500 (April 2014). Make your way to Corridor 1 (Blok M – Kota) of the TransJakarta service line, and hop off at GBK shelter. From there, it’s about 5-minute walk to the stadium complex. Here’s the TransJakarta Service Network.

TransJakarta Bus
source: republika.co.id

There’s also a TransJakarta integrated bus service, the Kopaja S.13 (Ragunan – Grogol). The bus service is using the same hop-on method as TransJakarta, but it costs IDR 5,500 (April 2014). This bus service runs across shelters in Corridor 1 and Corridor 8 of the TransJakarta Service Network. The GBK shelter is one of them.

Actually there are standard-service buses that pass by GBK with the fare ranging from IDR 2,000 to 6,000 (April 2014). Standard-service buses are not very recommended, as their schedule and cozyness is not as good as TransJakarta’s. But, here’s just in case:

From Blok M Terminal: PPD PAC.801 (Blok M – Kota), PPD P.1 (Blok M – Kota), PPD P.45, Mayasari PAC.34 and AJA.138 (Blok M – Tangerang/ Cimone), PPD PAC.21 (Blok M – BSD Serpong), PPD P.53 (Blok M – Depok), Mayasari R.300 (Blok M – Rawamangun), Mayasari R. 921 (Blok M – Kampung Melayu), PPD P.36, PPD P.68, Mayasari P.13, Mayasari PAC.06 and Mayasari PAC.08 (Blok M – Pulo Gadung), Steady Safe P.134 (Blok M – Klender), PPD PAC.80 (Blok M – Kampung Rambutan), Mayasari P.27 and Mayasari 05 (Blok M – Bekasi Barat), Mayasari 121 (Blok M – Cikarang)

Pass by Blok M Terminal: Kopaja P.19 (Tanah Abang – Ragunan), Kopaja S.615 (Lebak Bulus – Tanah Abang)

From Lebak Bulus Terminal: Koantas 102 (Lebak Bulus – Tanah Abang), Kopaja P.13 (Lebak Bulus – Tanah Abang), Mayasari PAC.41 (Lebak Bulus – Kali Deres), PPD PAC.16 (Lebak Bulus – Rawamangun), PPD P.20 and PAC.12 (Lebak Bulus – Pulo Gadung)

Pass by Lebak Bulus Terminal: Bianglala P.69 (Kota – Cuiputat),

From Grogol Terminal: PPD PAC.802 (Grogol – Pasar Baru), Mayasari P.18A (Grogol – Pondok Labu), PPD 213 (Grogol – Kampung Melayu), PPD PAC.10A (Grogol – Kampung Rambutan)

From Kali Deres Terminal: Mayasari PAC.69 (Kali Deres – Blok M), Mayasari PAC.41 (Kali Deres – Lebak Bulus), Mayasari PAC.50 (Kali Deres – Kampung Melayu).

Trains
Gambir, Jakarta Kota, Pulo Gadung, and Pasar Senen train stations are integrated with TransJakarta Service Network. Make your way to the nearest TransJakarta bus shelter if you stop at one of those train stations, and make your way to Corridor 1 as explained before.

If you come from Jakarta’s satellite cities such as Tangerang, Depok and Bogor, you can use the KRL CommuterLine train service. Fare ranging from IDR 6,000 – IDR 9,000 (depends on distance and including IDR 5,000 rental fee). Here's KRL CommuterLine's route.

Make your way to the Maja/ Parung Panjang/ Serpong – Tanah Abang (PP) route (highlighted in green), and hop off at Palmerah station. From there, it’s about 15-minute walk to the stadium complex, or you can use the motorcycle taxi (Ojek) from the station, with the reasonable fare of IDR 10,000 – IDR 15,000.

Distance from Palmerah Station to GBK Complex
click on image to enlarge

If you decide to use public transportation, please consider Jakarta’s rush hour to your travel time for the sake of your convenience and punctuality. At 07.00 – 09.00 and 16.00 – 19.30, the public transportation and road system will be on their peak workloads. Packed buses and trains and traffic congestions are most likely unavoidable.

Football match in Indonesia usually starts at 15.30 or after 19.00. So, I suggest you to be around the stadium before the rush hour starts.

b. Using Your Own Vehicle

Based on my experience, the most efficient vehicle to go to GBK during a matchday is motorcycle. Its ability to slip through cars during traffic and alleys to cut corners makes it reliable during rush hour. But it’s not comfortable enough, especially during adverse weather. Also, you can only take 1 person to accompany you.

However, always obey the regulations if you want to go to the stadium by motorcycle. Wear standard helmet and turn on the headlight even if it’s during the day.

If you decide to take your car, be advised of the rush hour.

Parking 
You can actually park your vehicle in the GBK complex. There’s a lot of parking spots for cars and motorcycles. But be advised, those parking spots are swarmed with unofficial parking officer. To enter GBK complex, there’s an entrance fee of IDR 3,000 for motorcycle and IDR 5,000 for car (April 2014). Those fees include parking fare, but if you park your vehicle in one of those parking spots, the “officer” there will ask you to pay more, up to an unreasonable fee (especially for cars).

I suggest you to park your vehicle in one of the buildings surrounding the GBK complex. You can go to either Plaza Senayan, f(X), TVRI office, or Department of Education and Culture (DepDikBud) to park your vehicle. It’s about 5 to 10 minute walk from those places to the stadium.

Parking outside the stadium complex avoids you from pre-match crowd. Also, it provides more security to your vehicle, although it costs you more.

After the match has ended, the post-match crowd is inevitable. For those who use public transportation, get ready to face packed vehicles. Just be patience and enjoy the ride home.

Match Tickets

Ticket price for matches at GBK main stadium is varied based on seating class. Each seating class has a varied price as well, depends on the occasion. When the match is a “much anticipated” like finals of a tournament or an exhibition match against foreign big names, the price shall be high. Otherwise, at a “less anticipated” matches, the price is on low. For the routine Persija match of the 2014 Indonesia Super League, the price is ranging from IDR 30,000 to IDR 200,000.
 

The cheapest one is the upper stands ticket, or usually categorized as ‘Category III’. Ticket for this class has price ranging from IDR 25,000 to IDR 75,000.
 

Next, there’s the ‘Category II’ class. It is on the lower stands behind the goals. Price for this class is ranging from IDR 40,000 to IDR 100,000.
 

Then there’s ‘Category I’ class. Sometimes it’s called ‘Kelas Satu’ (Eng.: First Class). Stands for this class are located behind of each corner flags. The price is ranging from IDR 60,000 to IDR 250,000.
 

Following the first three classes, is the East VIP class which is located on the East side of the lower stands, with price ranging from IDR 100,000 to IDR 350,000. After that, there’s West VIP on the West side of the lower stands, with price ranging from IDR 150,000 to IDR 1,000,000. Lastly, there’s the VVIP and the Royal Box, the deluxe classes. You have to prepare around IDR 200,000 to IDR 1,500,000.
 

GBK Seat Layout (from the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup)
source: thecrowdvoice.com

When the euphoria is through the roof, match tickets are really hard to find and to get, regardless the price. So, I suggest that you have secured your ticket before the matchday for your own convenience. Nowadays, the match officials collaborate with ticketing companies and launch online ticket sale or pre-sale ticket in ticket boxes. You can search the internet for information regarding tickets of a particular match held in GBK days before the matchday.
 

For pre-sale and online pre-sale, sometimes, you have to exchange the receipt with the ticket first, in a certain location on the matchday. It’s not quite practical, but it beats the time to wait in line or finding the fact that the tickets are already sold out.
 

But if you have no choice but to buy ticket on the matchday, you can go to one of the ticket booths around the GBK complex   

a. Ticket Booths

Ticket Booths in GBK complex
click on image to enlarge

There are 6 ticket booth spots in GBK complex. Not all of them are functioning on a regular basis, but during the nationwide football euphoria, all of them shall be opened, especially for high-rated matches involving the Indonesia National Team. Here they are:

1. Al-Bina booth, located on the South side of the complex, next to Al-Bina Mosque. Open regularly on matchdays. Has 4 counters. 
2. East Parking Area booth, located on the East side of the complex, in front of ISTORA building. Open regularly on matchdays. Has 8 counters.
3. Basketball Hall booth, located on the Northwest side of the complex, right next to the Basketball Hall. Open regularly on matchdays. On Persija’s matchdays, the booth is dedicated to sell tickets for Persija supporters (JakMania) only. Has 4 counters.
4. North Plaza booth, located on the North side of the complex, right at the gate of North Plaza. Not open regularly on matchdays. Has 8 counters, 4 on each left and right gates.
5. KONI Street Side booth, located on the Southwest outside of the complex, on the street side in front of KONI building complex’s entrance. Open quite regularly on matchdays. Has 4 counters.
6. West Plaza booth, located on the West side of the complex, on the right side of the West Plaza entrance. Not open regularly during matchdays. Has 8 counters.
   Additionally, during Persija’s matchdays, you can buy the VIP and VVIP tickets only at a table counter located in the West VIP and VVIP entrance. Look for a huge Archer’s statue on the West side of the stadium. The table is facing its rear.

Locations of GBK Ticket Booths on the Map
click on image to enlarge

Be advised that during every matchdays, there are a lot of ticket scalpers swarming around the stadium (especially on the stadium’s ring road). DO NOT BUY TICKET FROM THEM. As you will have to pay a lot more than the official price and also the high-risk of you getting a counterfeited ticket. Besides, it is very bad for the industry.


At the Stadium
 

So, you got the ticket and you are at the stadium already, but you still have to wait for your friends so that you can enter the stadium together? In that situation, you need the right meeting point to avoid confusion. Be advised that once the stadium and the stadium’s ring road got very crowded, communication using cellphone is going to be quite difficult.
 
There are several places in the complex that you can easily spot as meeting point. The most common spot is the Archer’s statue at the West VIP & VVIP entrance.

Local Guy standing under the Archer's Statue at the West VVIP Entrance

But you might want to check your ticket first for the entrance that leads to your seat at the stands. You can adjust your meeting point that closer to said entrance.
 

Entrance to the Stands
Pay attention to the entrance’s layout. GBK Main Stadium has 36 ‘Pintu’ (Eng.lit.: Door) that round clockwise the stadium. These Pintus has 2 different numerals to distinguish upper and lower stands.
 

There are 24 Pintus for the upper stands that use Latin numbers, e.g.: PINTU 1, PINTU 17, PINTU 22. Written in the sign is 'PINTU TRIBUN ATAS' followed by the number.

Lower stands’ pintus are written in Roman numerals and there are 12 of them, e.g.: PINTU I, PINTU III, PINTU XI, etc. You can easily locate the signs as it is clearly put on top of each doors with large writing. Follow the number of Pintu written on your ticket to enter. Usually, the layout of the Pintus is printed on the ticket.

Security Checkpoint
Before you enter the stands, as always, there will be a security check. The officers who are responsible to do body check usually biased. Sometimes, they’ll thoroughly search your belongings and body for prohibited materials, but quite often that they just simply let you in upon gazing your appearance. Let’s say that some of the officers use stereotypical technique.
 
Do not bring prohibited materials by any means. No flares, sharp objects, explosives, drugs, etc. Oh, and no cigarettes too, but don’t be surprised if you find someone smoking inside the stadium. Also, no bottles are allowed to enter the stands, but again, don’t be surprised if you find bottled-water vendors on the stands.

Seating
The upper stands is not regularly opened. So far during the 2014 Indonesia Super League campaign, Persija officials have never opened the upper stands. It is opened only when the match is considered to be ‘much anticipated’ by many people. But of course, there shall be information whether the stands will be opened or not before the matchday.

If you have the ticket for upper stands, be prepared for series of stairways that you have to climb. In my experience, it can be quite exhausting.
 

In a match that involves Persija, the lower North through to North East stands are dedicated to Persija supporters by de facto. The Persija Ultras or Jakarta Casuals take over the North curve, while JakManias are regularly invade the North East stands.

The upper stands apply ‘first come first sit’ policy. So, if you have the upper stands ticket, you might want to be at there early in order to get the best view of the pitch.
 
For lower stands, once you entered, you’ll find that the seats have numbers on it. Do not bother to look for your dedicated seat, because there’s no such policy (yet) at GBK. It applies the same ‘first come first sit’ policy like the upper stands. The difference is, the upper stands has no class barriers, while the lower one has. Just take the empty seat you like!
 

F & B at the Stands
 

There are many food and beverages vendors walking around the stands. But, instead of empanadas and hot dogs, you’ll find local Indonesian snacks like tofu, peanut, rice cake, fish cake, crackers, etc. Sometimes, there’s also bread. For beverages, you’ll find sodas, ice teas, as well as bottled mineral water, the one that was being prohibited by the officers before entering the stands.
 

Feel free to buy one, but I personally suggest not to. Apart from the hygiene factor of the F & B sold at the stands, you also have to pay more than if you buy one outside.
 

The best way to have refreshment at the stands, according to my experience, is to bring them along. You can buy snacks and beverages at mini markets and put them in your bag. Although outside F & B are prohibited, but the officers at the gates are most likely being permissive for this particular matter. As long as you bring them in a reasonable quantity.
 

I believe most football supporters who come to the stadium do not plan to have an actual meal at the stands. So, light snacks should be sufficient.
 

For beverages, avoid bringing bottle-packed ones, including your own water bottle. You can buy pouch-packed or carton-box-packed ones at the mini market and bring them along to the stands.
 

For smokers, be advised that the officers at the gate will most likely ask you whether if you bring cigarettes or not during body check. Though it’s a non-smoking area, many people managed to smuggle cigarettes by hiding them somewhere and have some at the stands. I sometimes saw police officers smoking inside the stadium. True Story.
 

I am not against smokers, but it would be much appreciated if you don’t smoke in the stadium. There’s plenty of time for that later, right?


Restroom

I honestly don’t know the exact number of restrooms in the stadium. Though at the very least, you can always find one. Except for VVIP class’, the restrooms are combined for Men and Women.
 

Lower stands’ restrooms are located at every passageway between the entrance gate and the door that leads to the stands. Walk down the stairs of that passageway, the restroom is under the stairs on the right and/or left sides.
 

Upper stands’ restrooms are located around the first floor of the upper stands’ roundabout, right next to the doors that lead to the stands.
 

Always prepare IDR 1,000 or IDR 2,000 for the ‘rental fee’, which has no meaning whatsoever considering the cleanliness and sanitation of the restrooms. Restrooms in the lower stands are slightly better than the ones in the upper stands, but still, you won’t find 3-star hotel restroom quality there. Most of them are smelly and unclean, especially the ones in the upper stands. One time I found a restroom in the upper stands with no water running. Sometimes, for an unknown reason, some of the upper stands’ restroom are closed.
 

Restrooms in the VVIP section are way better than the rest of them, and you don’t have to pay the ‘rental fee’. Men and Women’s restrooms are separated there. It’s worth the ticket price.
 

I suggest that you do your “business” before entering the stadium. Other than the ones in the VVIP class, the restrooms in GBK are not a good place to do “Number. 2”


Merchandise

During the matchday, there’s plenty of merchandise being sold around the stadium complex. You can find most of them at North Plaza. You’ll find common knick-knacks like slayers, knock-off jerseys, t-shirts, airhorns, fancy hats, etc. Price range for those things are around IDR 20,000 – IDR 100,000 (April 2014). Be advised that you won’t find official merchandise there. If you’d like to buy official jersey, you can go to one of the big malls in Jakarta.

Merchandise Market at North Plaza
source: sport.detik.com

Grand Indonesia, Plaza Senayan, Senayan City, Pondok Indah Mall, and Mall Taman Anggrek are among the big malls of Jakarta. Plaza Senayan and Senayan City are in a walking distance from GBK, while the rest are easy to find as they are located inside the TransJakarta Network Service. Corridor 1 for Grand Indonesia, Corridor 8 for Pondok Indah Mall, and Corridor 9 for Mall Taman Anggrek
 

For Indonesia National Team’s jersey, you can find one at Nike official stores. It’ll cost you IDR 599,000 (April 2014), but there’s a possibility for you to have lowered price.
 

Persija use local brand called League. Senayan City and Pondok Indah Mall have League’s official store. Since the 2013 season, League sells 2 types of Persija jersey based on the fabric: Replica and Player Issue. Replica costs IDR 199,000 and Player Issue costs IDR 299,000 (April 2014).
 

Unfortunately, it’s quite difficult to find other local club’s jersey in Jakarta. You have to buy one by visiting the club’s hometown. 

****

Well, I guess that’s all I can share. Hope you find this blogpost useful, and I certainly hope you enjoy your stay in Jakarta.

Thanks for visiting!!

Related posts:
2014 Indonesia Super League - Persija Results and Fixtures 
Kelirumologi: Nama Stadion 

Map images are courtesy of here.com