THE Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City is getting a facelift as it gears up to host the 2016 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup Group Stage (Group E) on February 23 and May 10.
Panaad Stadium will host the home matches of Bacolod City-based Ceres-La Salle FC, which will take on Selangor FA of Malaysia on February 23 and Bangladesh’s Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd. on May 10.
To meet the requirements set by the AFC, Panaad started improving its facility by installing fiber glass seats on the main grandstand for VIPs and the media tribune as well as refurbishing the press box and VIP rooms, where a VIP lounge and air-conditioning units were installed.
Additional work is the improvement of its press conference room as well as the construction of the media working room where internet connections will be installed.
Host-Negros Occidental Football Association (Nofa) is also working on the improvement of the stadium’s floodlights and other illumination sites.
More structures will be put in place to ensure safety of players, officials, and spectators as the event draws near.
Nofa president Ricky Yanson Jr., who also heads the Philippine Football Federation’s Grassroots Committee, said the staging of the tournament will give opportunity for local football enthusiasts to witness high-quality games at home and promote the game among the grassroots.