- July 30, 2024
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Case Studies, Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Ministry of Sport have announced the designs and plans for the King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities as one of the world’s largest sports arenas.
The stadium will serve as the Saudi national team’s main headquarters and host major sporting events and activities.
Situated in northern Riyadh along King Salman Road next to King Abdulaziz Park, the stadium is near vital city sites such as King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh Metro station, and major roadways, ensuring easy access from all parts of the city.
The stadium’s construction reflects the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The stadium also aims to aid sports and athletes, and develop the sector. It is part of the endeavours to empower those athletes and enhance their performance, significantly bolstering the Kingdom’s status as a leading sports hub.
The design of King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities has been approved, with completion scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2029. Six unnamed global firms were in the running for the job, as announced by the country’s Ministry of Sport and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) on 29 July. The stadium has been proposed for the 2034 Saudi World Cup bid and potentially the tournament’s final.
The chosen design – by global architecture firm, Populous – draws inspiration from the mountainous landscape, integrating with King Abdulaziz Park through a valley that intersects the surrounding stadium garden and green spaces. The companies involved in the global design competition worked on providing the best proposals to meet FIFA’s requirements and the standards of sustainability and architectural excellence.
The main stadium’s architectural design includes green walls and ceilings spanning over 96,500 square metres, drawing inspiration from local urban structures and aligning with environmental sustainability and green building standards. This design will establish a distinctive global sports architectural icon capable of hosting major local and international entertainment events, enhancing Riyadh’s quality of life and elevating the city’s global ranking as one of the “best cities to live in the world.”
Covering over 660,000 square metres, King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities comprise a range of amenities for various sports activities, including commercial centres and recreational areas accessible to all age groups throughout the day. This makes the stadium a compelling destination for visitors from within and outside the Kingdom.
Architecture & Design, Hospitality, Fit-Out & Interiors, are just some of the key focuses for the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition taking place in Dublin, Ireland, October 8-10th, for which Populous is a sponsor, with Declan Sharkey, Global Director, one of some 50+ industry expert speakers.
The main stadium will have a seating capacity of 92,000 and feature:
- A 150-seat royal suite, 120 hospitality suites, 300 VIP seats, and 2,200 dignitary seats.
- Sustainable cooling systems for the audience seats and stadium floor.
- Extended indoor screens for spectators, indoor gardens.
- A walking track with a scenic view of King Abdulaziz Park atop the stadium offering visitors an exceptional experience.
The general plan for King Salman stadium includes multiple surrounding sports facilities spanning over 360,000 square metres, including two training fields, as well as fan zones, a closed sports hall, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an athletics track, and outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball, and padel tennis. These facilities cater to all age groups and are interconnected by a 9-kilometre-long sports track surrounding King Abdulaziz Park.
The King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities will enhance sports activities, fostering a generation of athletic individuals following a healthy lifestyle, competing regionally and globally, and excelling in various sports fields. It will also help provide the infrastructure necessary to keep pace with sporting developments and achieve Saudi Vision 2030’s sports objectives. By hosting major global entertainment events and providing diverse investment opportunities, the stadium’s sporting and commercial facilities will contribute to boosting investments and the local economy.
Source & imagery, courtesy: Spa.gov.sa
Sports Venue Business has launched a raft of new offerings under the SVB LIVE banner, including Networking Events & a Webinar Series, culminating in the annual SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition, being held at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, on October 9th and 10th, with an Opening Night Icebreaker on October 8th, 2024.
Check out the latest sports and entertainment venue development news in the exclusive, subscription-only, SVB Global Report here.
