PATTAYA, THAILAND – Pattaya City marked the upcoming New Year period with a special football night on the main beach and an early preview of its major countdown festival.
Premier League under the night sky
Pattaya’s mayor Poramese Ngampichet watched the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the city beach alongside representatives of streaming provider MONOMAX, guests, tourists and local residents. The game was projected onto a huge, cinema-style screen set directly on the sand, creating a lively stadium atmosphere against the backdrop of the sea. For one evening, the waterfront was turned into an open-air football arena.
Liverpool legend joins beach crowd
Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman drew particular attention when he appeared as a special guest and watched the match together with fans on the beach. Young sports talents from Mon Thong Wittaya School and Pattaya City School 7 also took part in the event. Their presence added extra excitement for many football supporters and visitors.
Drone lights preview for 2026 countdown
In addition to the football screening, organizers presented a test show featuring drone lights. This demonstration served as a preview of a large-scale drone spectacle scheduled for 29 December 2025, just before the official start of the main celebrations at the three-day countdown event. The beach broadcast formed part of the wider “PATTAYA COUNTDOWN 2026 MONOMAX” program, organized by Pattaya City to create new experiences in sport and entertainment, boost tourism and stimulate the local economy during the year-end holiday season.
Three nights of free seaside festivities
The city administration invited residents and visitors to a New Year’s Eve party by the sea stretching over three evenings at Pattaya Beach. Concerts and performances by well-known artists, along with a broad entertainment program, were planned from 29 to 31 December 2025, starting each day at 4 p.m., with free entry for all attendees. According to the city, it aimed to deliver an
“unforgettable crossover celebration to ring in the New Year, where sport, music and light shows come together.”
said Pattaya City, organizer.
Public information and debate
Further information was provided by the city’s public relations office via the PRPATTAYA page. The report raised the broader question of whether open-air football by the sea and emotional spectacles were the right way to strengthen tourism and the city’s image, or whether there should be more focus on local culture instead of international sport. It asked readers whether such events were the perfect mix or merely a public-relations move.