"I've been waiting for this moment for 1,231 days. 1,231 days!" yelled a rotund, shaven-headed man donning the famous lime green kit that is synonymous with Beijing Guoan, as he pushed his way through a rowdy crowd. "We are finally back on our home soil!"

He had come to caper and to carouse, but what the Guoan faithful truly desired from the eagerly-awaited evening was a return to communal bonding and a sense of normalcy.

Not since 2019 had the capital juggernaut hosted a Chinese Super League (CSL) match to full capacity, and in the end, when it happened at their glitzy new arena, which was unveiled for the first time, it was worth the wait.

Over 50,000 fans packed into the renovated Workers' Stadium to watch local favorites Guoan take on Meizhou Hakka in the CSL season opener. They were duly treated to a stunning visual effect and the stands were bouncing hours before kick-off as the opening ceremony got into full swing.

It seems surreal that for almost three years, football had been played behind closed doors in bio-secure hubs or with limited attendance, depriving the most popular sport in China of its lifeblood.

Though seamless coverage of the games in Ultra High Definition offered some distraction from all the hassle involved in coronavirus restrictions, it was no substitute for actually sitting in the stadium and feeling the escapism and vivacity that only reveling in the crowd can bring.

So imagine the exhilaration when the confirmation came in February that the CSL will revert to the home-and-away format for the 2023 season. The fervent jostle for tickets inevitably ensued, and the ones for the Guoan match sold out in just a few minutes.

"It was such a scramble to get my hands on the ticket, but the rush of finally snagging it has left me on cloud nine for days!" a willowy lady with the surname Yang told CGTN.

"I've been too excited to get a good night's rest... Watching Guoan play has been a passion of mine since childhood, and I've been a loyal supporter of the team for more than a decade now. Their games always leave me on the edge of my seat!"

This was certainly some homecoming for the Beijing powerhouse and their fans. Gone is the old Workers' Stadium, which was built in 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and had been through extensive renovation work for the last two years. In its place is a stadium that mirrored the club's lofty ambitions to be one of the leading lights in the world.

The arena is the Chinese capital's first football-specific venue, with a state-of-the-art LED lighting system and two giant screens hanging at the north and south ends of the stands. It also boasts an innovative cooling system that helps players and spectators beat the heat that comes with the peak of Beijing summer.

"This new Workers' Stadium is, without a doubt, the most advanced and captivating one I've ever come across," beamed Xu Yuan, a die-hard football aficionado. "The proximity of the stands to the pitch is truly remarkable, providing an incredibly unique and thrilling experience that makes you feel like you're right in the thick of the action."

For all those who have a soft spot for live sports, this was a rousing return to an iconic ground that featured two entertaining sides duking it out before an ear-shattering crowd whose deafening roar set the decibel record throughout.

Guoan initially looked overwhelmed by the occasion, producing an off-color performance shot through with uneasiness in the first half. Meizhou proved ruthless opponents, successfully restraining Guoan's glittering cast and threatening to spoil their perfect housewarming party.

For the hosts, the warning signs were there long before the honor of marking this venue's first goal went to Ye Chugui, whose fierce shot from the right side of the box flew past Guoan keeper Zou Dehai on 19 minutes and stunned the stadium into a brief moment of silence. Tasting defeat in the inaugural match at the new stadium was not a part of Guoan's script.

Stanley Menzo's side were visibly frustrated but Mezhou lacked the incisive touch to turn their intricate interplay and slick movement into further tangible rewards. Confidence rose in the home ranks after the interval and the guttural shouts that greeted a brilliant piece of skill by winger Samuel Adegbenro captured vividly the emotion of the fans' return after three years' away.

Oozing more drive and personality, Guoan pressed on to the front foot and laid siege to the Meizhou goal, desperate to find the equalizer they craved. They eventually got it on 54 minutes when playmaker Zhang Xizhe coolly converted from the spot after a VAR review had found Rade Dugalic guilty of tripping Arijan Ademi in the box.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, Guoan threw the kitchen sink in a bid to grab three points, but it was Meizhou who finished in the ascendancy. With only minutes to play, the visitors' standout performer, Yin Hongbo, scenting blood, tore at several Guoan defenders in a stirring solo run and skated inside before unleashing a low shot that stung Zou's palms.

When the dust settled, Guoan had to accept the reality of dropping two points after sharing the spoils with Meizhou. While this was not the perfect start for the home side, it still feels like the light switch has been turned back on.

"To be honest, I'm not too worried about the result," observed a veteran supporter surnamed Xu after the final whistle.

"What mattered most was the thrill of being back in the stadium, watching the game live, switching off from work and enjoying a banter, a chant or even a quarrel... With so much happening in Chinese football lately, it's clear that we need a fresh start, a chance to move forward."

The zest was echoed by an emotional Menzo. "A packed stadium and a press conference brimming with reporters -- this is what football is all about," beamed the Guoan coach. "It brings us great joy to share this momentous occasion with everyone. Playing in a stadium of this caliber is a privilege that anyone would be proud to have. I'm grateful to everyone who made this all possible."

Now, with normality soothingly reasserting itself, the party could really start.