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History of Rajadamnern
Fomer Prime Minister Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram gave
orders a national boxing stadium to be built on
Rajadamnern Avenue in 1941. The order came two years
after the government issued an expropriation Act to land
owners to surrender their properties along Rajadamnern
Avenue so that the government could build its of fice
buildings in accordance with the city plan.
The office of the Crown Property was assigned to carry
out the project. The initial idea was to build the
stadium at Misakawan Garden area, on the corner between
Pitsanoloke Road and Rajadamnern Nok Avenue. Later, the
formerly-selected site was switched to the present one
because the land was too small for the size of the
stadium. The stadium, now still standing on the same
site, is situated on Rajadamnern Nok avenue, at the
corner of Panieng Road, opposite Chullachomklao Military
Academy.
Imprese Italiane All' Estero-Oriente won the
construction contract to build the stadium in 1941. When
the foundation stone was laid on March I, the 258,900
baht project then started. The project, not yet
completed, was forced to stop during World War II due to
the lack of construction supplies.
Later in 1944, Mr Pramote Puengsoonthorn, then appointed
deputy director of the of fice of the Crown Property,
brought the boxing stadium project into consideration
again. He submitted the plan to the director, Col Suwan
Phenchan who also agreed and ordered that the
construction of the nearly-finished stadium be
completed.
When WWII ended, the construction resumed in August
1945. It took only four months to complete and the
national boxing stadium was ready for its first match in
December 23. Mr Pramote Puengsoonthorn became the first
stadium manager and remained in the post until his
retirement from the his last position as director of the
office of the Crown Property in 1947.
Replacing Mr Pramote was Mr Pralart Issarangkura who was
then deputy director of the of fice of the Crown
Property. He teld the position as stadium manager for
two years and was succeeded by Mr Chalerm Cheosakul.
Seeing the inconvenience of holding boxing matches in an
open air stadium, Mr Chalerm therefore asked to roof the
whole place. M.L. Taweewongse Thawalyasak, then director
of the of fice of Crown Property, agreed and assigned
the Christiani & Nielsen (Thailand) Co Ltd to build the
roof as well as some additional seats. The well-equipped
standard stadium was completed in 1951.
During the seven years of operation under the of fice of
the Crown Property, Rajadamnern boxing stadium ran in a
loss. The of fice planned to give up its operation and
offered to rent it to any private organisation (unaer
the condition that the organisation must be owned by
Thai).
Mr Chalerm who was still stadium manager, thought that
it would not be suitable to let outsiders run the
stadium. He, therefore, asked permission from the office
of the Crown Property to run the stadium and founded the
"Rajadamnern Co Ltd" in May 24, 1953.
The Rajadamnern Co Ltd has since organised boxing
matches at Rajadamnern boxing stadium, expanded its
infra structure and gradually developed it so that it
has now become one of the world-renowned boxing stadium
and an institution of Muaythai in Thailand.
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