On March 30, 2023, Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic celebrated its seventh birthday, but who would have guessed that the day before, the team's name did not appear in the admission list released by the Football Association, foreshadowing that the door of the league in the new season was closed to it. As on the eve of the anniversary suffered dissolution of the bad news.
Shi Qiang, head of the preparatory team, said that this year's access conditions were extraordinarily stringent. Despite Shaanxi's many efforts, arbitration litigation is pending, causing its access to fail. If released, it would be unfair to other clubs and the league environment.
Although Shaanxi soccer is not prominent in the Chinese soccer map, it has spawned a nationally recognized avid fan. From the Bayi team in the old A-A era, to the glory created by Shaanxi Guoli, to the migratory journey of Shaanxi soccer, these teams that disappeared into history have left a deep mark.
Ke Wang, vice president of Chang'an Athletic, revealed that the club had set a record of 48,869 spectators attending a game, a figure that caused a sensation at the time. In comparison, the top six Chinese professional soccer leagues in 2018 all had the same number of spectators for a single game in the Chinese Super League.
However, the tortuous journey of stock reform ended in failure. The investment threshold in the era of gold dollar soccer continued to rise and the epidemic exacerbated the club's financial woes. Chang'an Athletic was in dire need of investor assistance, but the share change program was not completed on time for various reasons.
At the beginning of 2022, the team was struggling to achieve an unbeaten record of five wins and three draws, the best in the team's history. Despite pressure to pay back outstanding wages, the club raised funds through memberships, but ultimately failed to pass admission and bid farewell to the professional soccer scene.
On the occasion of Chang'an Athletic's exit, fans have expressed their love and support for the team. Despite the team's dissolution, the spirit of Shaanxi soccer will live on forever.
In its exit announcement, the club said it would refund the membership and package fees as soon as possible. Although it ultimately failed to retain the team, Chang'an Athletic's membership exploration provides valuable experience for Chinese professional soccer clubs.
