SPICE Arena

SPICE Arena Indoor Stadium (21 November 2015)


B. Melayu

SPICE Arena is an indoor stadium in Bayan Baru, Penang. It was formerly known as PISA, or Penang International Sports Arena. The indoor stadium was originally completed in the year 2000 as the Main Arena (Arena Utama) of PISA, which includes the Aquatic Centre (Pusat Akuatik), and a multi-storey car park complex. When the area was redeveloped as SPICE, it was renamed the Arena Indoor Stadium.

The main arena measures 255 ft (78.4m) long by 131 ft (40.3m) wide. It is the largest indoor stadium in northern Malaysia. It can be fully air conditioned and has a capacity of 10,000 spectators. The arena is often the venue for exhibitions and sports tournaments. Annual dinners and banquets have also been held in there. The floor, with an area of 33,405 sqft (3103 sq meters) can hold 3000 seated guests or 140 exhibition booths. Another 46,289 sqft (4,300 sq meters) of lettable exhibition space is available at the concourse. The annual Penang MATTA Fair organised by the Malaysian Travel & Tour Agents is held at PISA as it is the only venue large enough to accommodate such a huge event.

After PISA was taken over by SP SETIA, the developer spent millions of ringgit to renovate and restore the indoor stadium. This includes repair works that were long overdue, including various leaks. Even today, some of the leaks are still being discovered due to lack of proper maintenance for so long.

I was taken on a tour of SPICE Arena by the Setia's PR & Communition Executive, Miss Aainaa Zulkiflie. I was shown the main arena, which has been repaired and now has new seating. I also visited places the events and meeting rooms which can be rented out. There is an inhouse police kiosk, and lettable space for tenants. In addition, we visited the VIP waiting room and the Press Conference Room. Although SPICE Arena has been around for years, as PISA, I am only visiting these places for the first time. I have to say that what I see at SPICE Arena is a better version of what this place ever was.

Setia SPICE Videos

Setia Spice Penang Narrated Walking Tour

2018 Penang Chief Minister's Chinese New Year Open House at SPICE Arena (16 February 2018)

SPICE Arena at night (17 December 2018)


SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


Newly installed seats at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


Press Conference Room at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


The office of Setia Spice at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


VIP waiting room at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


Polis Bantuan SP Setia at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


Rented out space for office tenants at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


Event space for rent at SPICE Arena (15 March 2017)


View of SPICE Arena at night (6 August 2016)

PISA (Penang International Sports Area) before the makeover

Photos of SPICE Arena when it was known as PISA.

Penang International Sports Arena, before the makeover. (26 August 2008)


The flagpoles at PISA (26 August 2008)


PISA was managed by events management company PenEvents Sdn Bhd. (tel: 04 645 1934, www.penevents.com.my)

Next to the Main Arena is the Aquatic Centre (tel: 04 646 2564) where watersports events are often held. It is also used as a community swimming pool when there are no events.

Updates on SPICE Arena

28 February, 2013
PISA is being upgraded and given a makeover, after which it will be known as SPICE.

Going to SPICE Arena

Take Rapid Penang bus 302, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309 or 401E which stops at the bus stop on Jalan Mahsuri in front of SETIA SPICE.

SPICE Arena is on the map of SPICE

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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