Where/how to buy tix for Thai Open, anybody knows?

Unless they change from previous years, you don't need tickets. The entire tournament is free! The Thailand Open is sponsored by the Siam Cement Group and under the patronage of the Princess of Thailand. Just show up and walk in. During the early rounds in the daytime there's not too many people who come, so it's very easy to get a great seat. The evening matches have more people but a good seat is still not a problem.
The semis and the the finals can get pretty full, but if you show up just a little early you can get a very good seat. I went everyday last year and during the early rounds you can move around to the three courts and always get a good seat. For the finals I showed up about an hour before the matches started and had a front row seat.

thanks!

free?? wow. but good and bad. like you said, free means no premium seats! i don't think i will be able to go early, probably fly in on friday and try to catch sat & sun matches, but also can't go an hour before and stay all the way through. hmm. oh wells. we'll see!

do you know what stadium and where?

You'll probably still get some pretty good seats, the stadium is not that big. The Open is played at Nimibutr Stadium or some call it National Indoor Stadium. It's located in Central Bangkok at the National Stadium Complex, there's outdoor stadiums there as well.
It's in the Pathumwan district of Bangkok and there is a Skytrain or BTS station right in front of the stadium. If you take the Skytrain when you get off the train at the National Stadium station you'll be looking right at the stadium. It's located right next to the MBK or Mahboonkrong shopping mall, if you take a taxi the driver will know MBK. The Skytrain is the best way to avoid the traffic though, you could miss half the matches stuck in traffic here in Bangkok.

The semis and the the finals can get pretty full, but if you show up just a little early you can get a very good seat. I went everyday last year and during the early rounds you can move around to the three courts and always get a good seat. For the finals I showed up about an hour before the matches started and had a front row seat.

gjoo888, do u know how to get hold of those VIP passes? :)

I attended the finals at the stadium two years ago and it was packed. The official hotel was Pathumwan Princess but it was changed to the Novotel Siam Square last year. If you're staying there, you could bump into the players eg during breakfast

thanks gjoo888! yes i know where MBK is as have been to bkk several times but oddly, i've never noticed a stadium there before...

thanks gjoo888! yes i know where MBK is as have been to bkk several times but oddly, i've never noticed a stadium there before...
It's pretty easy to miss if you get off the Skytrain and take the MBK exit from the Skytrain. If you're looking for the stadium though, it's very easy to find, just take the National Stadium exit from the Skytrain and it's a very short walk from the bottom the Skytrain stairs. It's on Rama I Rd., look on the top of this map, right next to the Pathumwan Princess Hotel and Mah Boonkrong (MBK) is the National Stadium Complex and the indoor stadium is the 1st building right next to MBK although the map doesn't show the building.

http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/bangkok_map/bangkok_map_siam.html

gjoo888, do u know how to get hold of those VIP passes? :)

I attended the finals at the stadium two years ago and it was packed. The official hotel was Pathumwan Princess but it was changed to the Novotel Siam Square last year. If you're staying there, you could bump into the players eg during breakfast

Sealman: I'm sorry I don't know how to get the VIP passes. I'll see what I can find out and if I find out anything I'll let you know.
The VIP seating or whatever it is, aren't necessarily the best seats depending on where you like to sit during the matches, but they are much less crowded. They're the seats behind Court #3, the finals are all played on the middle or Court #2.

Anyone knows the official hotel this year ?:confused:

Anyone knows the official hotel this year ?:confused:


11] Official Hotel
NOVOTEL BANGKOK ON SIAM SQUARE.
- Superior Room 4000 Baht per room/night in a single or twin-bed room.
- Executive King 5,200 Baht per room/night in a single or twin-bed room
- Roll away bed 1,943 Baht.- per person/night


*The rates are inclusive of local taxes , breakfast and wireless
internet (Remember to bring your laptop computer).

To ensure the availability of rooms, all bookings must reach BAT.
no later than June, 25th. , 2009. The tournament Stadium is
within a short walking distance from the Novotel Siam.
All accounts should be settled with the hotel directly.

11] Official Hotel
NOVOTEL BANGKOK ON SIAM SQUARE.
- Superior Room 4000 Baht per room/night in a single or twin-bed room.
- Executive King 5,200 Baht per room/night in a single or twin-bed room
- Roll away bed 1,943 Baht.- per person/night


*The rates are inclusive of local taxes , breakfast and wireless
internet (Remember to bring your laptop computer).

To ensure the availability of rooms, all bookings must reach BAT.
no later than June, 25th. , 2009. The tournament Stadium is
within a short walking distance from the Novotel Siam.
All accounts should be settled with the hotel directly.


Thank you very much for the information.:)

so who's going??
i'd be in BKK thurs-mon. but am with non-badminton loving friend who refuses to go so i'd prob just catch semis & finals.

Any cheap hotels (or any possible accommodation) close to the stadium? :p

Any cheap hotels (or any possible accommodation) close to the stadium? :p

I find the room rates of hotels in that area rather expensive. One cheap but old hotel I can think of is Asia Hotel, which is two stops away from the stadium if you take the skytrain (LRT).
http://www.asiahotel.co.th/asia_bangkok.htm

I prefer staying at those new boutique hotels like this hotel which is located in the CBD area and its a short ride to the stadium if you take the skytrain (4 stops to exact). The room rate is USD55 approx per night/room
http://www.lefenix-sukhumvit.com/

Any cheap hotels (or any possible accommodation) close to the stadium? :p

if you want realy cheap accomodation and close to stadium, you can stay at Cozy Bangkok Place guesthouse. Only 400 baht per night for single room ;)
see http://www.cozybangkok.com/ for details.

Is the draw out ?:confused: Or at least the entry list?

Is the draw out ?:confused: Or at least the entry list?

here the entry list

here the entry list

Thanks a lot !:)

gjoo888, do u know how to get hold of those VIP passes? :)

I attended the finals at the stadium two years ago and it was packed. The official hotel was Pathumwan Princess but it was changed to the Novotel Siam Square last year. If you're staying there, you could bump into the players eg during breakfast

Sealman:
I asked about the VIP seats and was told that you had to be on a "list" to get the seats. You can't get them otherwise.

Sealman:
I asked about the VIP seats and was told that you had to be on a "list" to get the seats. You can't get them otherwise.

Thanks for your help. I tried to check with my contact at SCG but they had no idea at all. Will you be there tonite? See you at the stadium :)

I watched MS matches yesterday evening (Day 1). The stadium was quite empty. Most of the matches featured young thai and korean players. I believe they will do well in future.