The complex is located 5 kilometers southeast of Palembang city center, across the Musi river by the Ampera Bridge in Jakabaring, Seberang Ulu I area.
The sports complex was built to host 2004 Pekan Olahraga Nasional, an Indonesian national multi-sport event in which athletes from 34 Indonesian provinces participated.
At that time, the complex consisted of the main stadium and two indoor sports halls, Gelora Olahraga (GOR) Dempo and Gelora Olahraga Ranau.
Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium was also the host for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.
The complex now comprises: Other than the sports facilities there are also some facilities that being built to fit up the Sports Complex such as: The complex is connected by Palembang Light Rail Transit via Jakabaring Station to the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport and also served by Trans Musi Routes.