Suoyu Bay does not fall to "ordinary teams," with an average attendance of 61,121 per game, ranking first in Asia.

Special correspondent/Ding Xu In the 19th round of the Chinese Super League, Dalian Yingbo Haifa defeated Shandong Taishan 3-1 at home, further strengthening their top-three standing. This season, Yingbo's home games have been the most remarkable in the league, as they have vanquished several strong opponents while continuously breaking attendance records at Suoyu Bay.

So far, Yingbo has played 10 home matches, with 7 wins and 3 losses, giving them a home win rate of 70%. Their home record ranks second in the entire league, trailing only the league leaders Rongcheng, who have 7 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in 9 home games. Yingbo's seven home victories are highly impressive in terms of quality.

In the 3rd round, after starting the season with two consecutive losses, Yingbo played their first home match of the season against defending champions Shanghai Haigang. Relying on a quick strike from Achim Peng early in the second half, Yingbo won 1-0, securing their first win of the season and keeping a clean sheet. In the 5th round, Yingbo defeated Zhejiang Greentown 3-0 at home, with Liao Jintao, Achim Peng, and Mao Weijie all scoring. This was Yingbo's first CSL victory by a margin of two or more goals. Coincidentally, both Haigang and Zhejiang suffered their first away losses of the season at Suoyu Bay.

In the 6th round, Yingbo came from behind to defeat Henan Caotao Fang 2-1 at home, with Malaj and Lü Zhuoyi orchestrating a dramatic comeback in the 85th and 92nd minutes, handing the opponent their third consecutive loss. This match against Henan was a key part of Yingbo's five-game winning streak from rounds 3 to 7. In the 9th round, Yingbo secured a 1-0 home victory over second-placed Chongqing Tongliang Long, thanks to Luo Jing's quick goal 24 seconds into the second half, handing the opponent their first loss of the season.

Midway through the season, Yingbo faced two periods of difficulty but managed to "rescue themselves" at Suoyu Bay. In the 14th round, after four consecutive winless games, Yingbo scored two goals in the final 14 minutes through the "Ma-Ma duo" (Malaj and Mamadou), defeating league leaders Chengdu Rongcheng 2-0 at home. In the 17th round, after two consecutive losses, Yingbo twice fell behind against Wuhan Three Towns, but Stanciu and Luo Jing equalized twice, and Malaj completed a 3-2 comeback victory in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, handing the opponent a 10-game winless streak.

In the 19th round, during Yingbo's 3-1 home win over Taishan, Achim Peng and Malaj scored within the first 22 minutes, giving Yingbo a two-goal lead. Stanciu sealed the victory, and Dalian fans once again enjoyed the joy of a home win at Suoyu Bay.

According to Yingbo's bonus distribution plan, the team receives a bonus of around one million RMB for ordinary home wins, and up to three million RMB for wins against top-five teams. This season, Yingbo has only lost to Shenhua at home against top-five teams, while defeating Haigang, Rongcheng, and Taishan, and even completing a "home-and-away double kill" over Taishan.

The team's strong home performance has been greatly supported by Dalian fans, who serve as the "12th man."

Since their time in the China League One, Yingbo has maintained high attendance figures. In 2024, Yingbo's 15 league home matches attracted a total of 632,805 spectators, averaging 42,187 per game, with a home win rate of 73.3%. In the 2025 CSL season, Yingbo's home points account for 72% of their total points, with a cumulative home attendance of 874,020, averaging 58,268 per game. This average ranks first in Asia and among the top 20 in global top-tier leagues.

As of July 19, among the TOP 10 highest-attended matches in Chinese professional football in 2026, Yingbo's home games occupy seven spots. In the 16th round, Yingbo's match against Shenhua drew 62,373 fans to Suoyu Bay, setting a new attendance record for Yingbo's home games.

In Yingbo's first 10 home matches this season, the cumulative attendance reached 611,209, averaging 61,121 per game. With the new European league season yet to begin, Yingbo's average attendance temporarily ranks second globally, behind only Flamengo's average of 61,556.

Both on and off the field, Dalian fans have shown unprecedented support for Yingbo, fully reflecting the fervor of a "football city" for the sport. In addition to the electric home atmosphere, Dalian fans are highly enthusiastic about purchasing Yingbo merchandise. The city has deeply integrated sports, culture, tourism, and commerce, creating a vibrant scene around Suoyu Bay on every Yingbo home matchday. Yingbo club investor Wang Kui and general manager Chen Dong have repeatedly emphasized: "Dalian has the best fans in the world, the best 12th man."

Yingbo head coach Li Guoxu said: "When playing at home, our players are in better form, and that's related to the fans' support. The fans boost our confidence, and half the credit for our wins goes to the fans. At Suoyu Bay, as long as we have a full squad, we are not afraid of any opponent in the CSL."

National team player Mao Weijie stated: "Whether we are on a good run or in a slump, Dalian fans support us unconditionally. That's the heritage of Dalian football." Core foreign player Stanciu remarked: "Playing at Suoyu Bay is a pleasure for me. I will give my all to deliver exciting matches for the fans." Luo Jing said: "I just joined Yingbo this year, but I really enjoy the home atmosphere at Suoyu Bay. It's what every player dreams of, and we will continue to fight for all Dalian fans."