Tianjin Jinmen Tiger's CSL opener ignites consumption in Binhai

Fans fill TEDA Football Stadium for the CSL opener between Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Chongqing Tonglianglong. [Photo/WeChat account: tjbhxqfb]

The 2026 Chinese Super League season opener between Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Chongqing Tonglianglong kicked off at TEDA Football Stadium in Binhai New Area on March 7, igniting not only fan enthusiasm but also a consumer spending boom across the TEDA Fashion Plaza business district.

The match attracted large numbers of local supporters and nearly 1,000 away fans from Chongqing, resulting in an attendance of over 20,000. A peak spending window, spanning the two hours before the match and four hours after it, emerged around the stadium, with foot traffic in the commercial district surging by more than 200 percent compared with regular days.

The influx of away fans drove a surge in the local accommodation market, with hotel occupancy rates in the core area exceeding 95 percent.

The opening match offered a vivid example of Binhai New Area's integrated sports and commerce development model, adding momentum to the region's high-quality commercial development.