It was opened on 23 September 1983, the date was chosen to celebrate the 69th birthday of Bolkiah's father and predecessor Omar Ali  Saifuddien III.  

 

On the evening of the opening day, a friendly football match was played between the Brunei National Football Team  and an invited  English Football League  team, Sheffield United.  Despite the jet lag and the humid weather, Sheffield United won 1–0. The next day another match was held between United and a Brunei invited team which ended in a 1-1 draw.

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