The Nantong Sports Convention and Exhibition Center, also known as Southern Bird's Nest, in Chongchuan district, Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily] 

The 10th round match of the Jiangsu Football City League, or Suchao, kicked off on the evening of Aug 31 at the Nantong Sports Convention and Exhibition Center, where team Nantong hosted team Suzhou. After 90 minutes of intense competition, Nantong emerged victorious with a score of 2-1, securing its ninth consecutive success in the league. 

Before the match, the stadium — China's first and the world's third-largest retractable-roof sports venue — showcased a stunning "roof spectacle" as 2,200 metric tons of steel wings unfolded, dazzling over 30,000 spectators. 

"How much electricity does it take to move the roof?" Responding to this common question from spectators, State Grid Nantong Power Supply Company released post-match test data: ‌443.23 kilowatt-hours (kWh)‌. 

Power demands extend far beyond roof operations. To ensure the smooth running of the event, State Grid Nantong optimized the main power distribution, converting dual power supply into dual-path operation. This ensures seamless backup power switching within 0.01 seconds if the primary supply fails, guaranteeing uninterrupted gameplay and spectator experience. 

The stadium's lighting system was also upgraded in July, with 152 1.5-kW light-emitting diode lights replacing some of the 2-kW metal halide lamps.  

Based on prior site inspections and simulations, the power supply company conducted several tests before the match to simulate real-world conditions. Additionally, during the game, a 500-kW and a 400-kW emergency generator were deployed on standby, capable of sustaining critical loads like lighting for approximately eight hours in emergencies.