With over 46,000 fans packed inside the gleaming new Beijing Workers' Stadium, the Chinese Super League returned with some swagger over the weekend.

Now it's hoped the domestic game can build on the buzz generated by the opening day's action and consign its recent troubles to the past.

Beijing Guo'an's 1-1 draw with Meizhou Hakka kicked off the 2023 CSL season in style on Saturday, with the salubrious surroundings of the rebuilt stadium earning rave reviews. On the same day, three other matches were played in front of sell-out crowds around the country, with the healthy attendances proving the appetite for domestic professional soccer remains strong in China.

Being able to watch their teams at their home stadiums has been a rarity for fans over the past three years due to the pandemic. The eagerness of supporters to return to the stands was reflected in ticket sales.

According to reports, Guo'an has already exceeded its original 20,000 season-ticket allocation, with tickets for Saturday's opening match selling out within a few minutes of their release.

Thepaper.cn reported that Shanghai Port's 2-0 victory at Wuhan Three Town, and Dalian Professional's 2-1 home win over Nantong Zhiyun on the opening day were watched by over 35,000 and 22,000 spectators respectively.

The average attendance for the first round of 2023 CSL matches was 23,944 — higher than the average number for the entire 2019 season just before the pandemic. In total, over 190,000 spectators visited CSL stadiums over the weekend.

Fans' excitement was also evident online. The CSL's opening day generated a number of trending topics on Chinese social media. The hashtags "Chinese Super League opening ceremony" and "Fans rush to buy CSL tickets" were viewed 19 million and 18 million times respectively on Saturday.

He Sheng, an internet celebrity for his hardcore fan credentials, summed up the mood perfectly when he posted a picture of himself among the Workers' Stadium crowd accompanied by the message: "It has been too long for us to see this again.

"The match, actually, wasn't that thrilling," he added. "But that wonderful old soccer atmosphere is coming back. The brand-new Workers' Stadium is simply amazing."

Electric atmosphere

Indeed, a home victory would have made for a perfect day for fans of the capital club. Guo'an, though, just failed to deliver a result to match the occasion.

Guo'an head coach Stanley Menzo claimed in the post-match news conference that the host was unlucky not to emerge victorious. The Dutchman added that whoever visits Guo'an's impressive home will be motivated to beat his squad.

Menzo even thanked the workers who built the arena, which was constructed on the site of the demolished Workers' Stadium. He said the best way to repay those workers — and the fans — is with victories.

The 59-year-old said he had goosebumps when Zhang Xizhe ran toward the cheering fans in the stands after scoring from the penalty spot, and he urged his team to keep repeating those magical moments this season.

The feel-good factor of opening weekend comes as a timely boost for Chinese soccer. Clubs have been beset by a litany of financial problems in recent years which were compounded by the challenges presented by the pandemic.

The domestic game is also reeling from a series of corruption investigations over the last year, allegedly involving a number of Chinese Football Association and CSL officials.

But while there was an undeniable feeling of hope and starting afresh over the weekend, the CSL still has a long way to go to return to the levels of prestige it once enjoyed.

With the end of Chinese soccer's big-spending era just before the pandemic arrived, the league can no longer rely upon expensive foreign players to boost its profile.

There was a noticeable lack of goals during the 2023 season's first round of games, which some observers equate with a drop-off in attacking quality. This term kicked off with 17 goals; in 2019, the season began with 24 goals thanks to the flamboyant contributions of expensive imports such as Hulk and Paulinho.

Saturday's scenes, though, were more about the revival of a soccer culture that is rooted in pride of place. "The sense of belonging and participation among loyal soccer fans in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin and Wuhan will never change," read a commentary by youth.cn.

"With the wonderful passion showed by fans thus far, the rebuilding of Chinese soccer has more hope for the future. The brand-new Worker's Stadium in Beijing is comparable to the top stadiums in Europe, providing fans with a World Cup-level experience.

"There is every reason to believe that such an atmosphere will encourage more people to head to their local soccer stadiums. And ultimately the sport can become more of a lifestyle choice in China."

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