Saudi Arabia unveils plans for massive stadium for World Cup bid
Saudi Arabia has revealed plans for a new 92,000-seat stadium in Riyadh, a move that strengthens its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup which it submitted on July 29 in Paris.
The Saudi sports ministry announced the approved design a day earlier on July 28, with the project slated for completion in late 2029 and comes as part of a large push by the Kingdom to develop a sports infrastructure to host global sporting events as it attempts to move away from its oil-based economy to a mixed services based one.
Third parties earlier advised FIFA that the Kingdom would have to complete several reforms to be able to host the event. Qatar, which earlier hosted the World Cup also faced several hurdles to host the event and was marred with human rights issues on stadium construction, something a potential Saudi bid is attempting to avoid.
The state-of-the-art facility, to be named after King Salman, is designed to host major international events and will serve as the primary venue for the Saudi national team. It forms part of a larger sports complex that will include an indoor sports hall and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
According to the state news agency SPA, the stadium's design was selected from proposals submitted by six international firms, ensuring compliance with FIFA standards and sustainability requirements.
This announcement comes on the heels of Saudi Arabia's March launch of its 2034 World Cup hosting campaign.
With no other countries expressing interest before FIFA's deadline last year, the kingdom's bid is widely expected to succeed.
The companies worked on providing the best proposals to meet FIFA's requirements and the standards of sustainability and architectural excellence, it stated, Zawya reported earlier.
"The main stadium's architectural design includes green walls and ceilings spanning over 96,500 sq m, drawing inspiration from local urban structures and aligning with environmental sustainability and green building standards," said a spokesman for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
"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," he added.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman finalized Saudi Arabia's candidacy file to host the 2034 World Cup.
“After meticulous work to ensure all details and requirements were thoroughly addressed, the completed file is now prepared for submission to FIFA in Paris,” official channels wrote.
“Today, the official unveiling of the Saudi bid's details is anticipated. This step marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's ambitious efforts to secure the prestigious tournament, reflecting the nation's commitment to hosting global events and enhancing its international profile” Khaled Al Ojyan wrote.
Earlier in July, Riyadh-based New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) unveiled on July 16th the design of the New Murabba Stadium (Saudi Arabia) to accommodate over 45,000 spectators. This development is different from that.
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Key Points
🔸️ The total area of King Salman Stadium and its sports facilities exceeds 660,000 square meters.
🔸️ The main stadium has a seating capacity of 92,000.
🔸️ A royal box that can accommodate 150 seats.
🔸️ 120 suites.
🔸️ 300 VIP seats.
🔸️ 2,000 seats for dignitaries.
🔸️ A variety of facilities for practicing different sports activities.
🔸️ Several commercial centres and recreational areas are available to all age groups throughout the day, making it an attractive destination for visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom.
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