The iconic Olympic stadium, the Bird’s Nest, has yet to secure a post-Olympic use. Stephen Wade, from the Associated Press reports:
The iconic National Stadium drew acclaim for its daring design, an engineering marvel that borders on sculpture. Now it draws about 10,000 tourists a day — mostly Chinese — who pay 50 yuan (about $7) to walk on the stadium floor, then climb through the expensive seats to a souvenir shop hawking pricey mementos recalling Zhang Yimou’s dazzling opening ceremony or the three world records set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
A symbol of China’s rising power and confidence, the stadium may never recoup the $450 million the government spent to build it, particularly as China’s economic slump worsens.
It has yet to draw big-ticket events, has no permanent tenant, and only one date has been announced for this year. Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” directed by Zhang, is set for Aug. 8 — the one-year anniversary of the Olympics’ opening ceremony.
This is a long-term worry for the company that manages the stadium.
