QIDDIYA, Saudi Arabia (CelebrityAccess) — On Monday, the Board of Directors of the Saudi-backed Qiddiya Investment Company revealed plans for the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a major new sports and entertainment stadium.
To be built on top of a cliff in Qiddiya City near Riyadh, the 45,000-capacity multi-function stadium is intended to host some of Saudi Arabia’s biggest sports, entertainment, and cultural events.
“Our ambition is for Qiddiya City to become a global destination for entertainment, sports, and culture and this iconic new stadium will be at its very heart. The futuristic venue aims to reinvent the traditional stadium concept and embody the true spirit of Qiddiya’s Power of Play philosophy. It uses state-of-the-art technology and innovative, world-leading design to put the spectator at the center of the experience”.
“It will become a bucket-list destination for fans and enthusiasts across the world, hosting major events from across the world of sports and entertainment,” he added.
Designed by leading global architectural firm Populous will include a retractable roof and a full LED wall that will allow the stadium to transform into different ‘event modes” in a matter of hours.
Additionally, the stadium will leverage technology to provide fans with access to live data and information including the use of state-of-the-art holographic technology, enabling virtual interactions with events taking place at the stadium.
Despite the ferocious heat in the region in the summertime, the venue will host events year-round. To help with climate control, the stadium will feature a purpose built subterranean cooling lake that will capture rainwater from the stadium and surrounding area to pre-cool air for the environmental systems.
The stadium will serve as an anchor for an urban entertainment district that includes Qiddiya City’s Gaming & Esport District as well as other city nightlife and hospitality offerings, including 50,000 square meters of shopping, dining, and entertainment spaces as well as hotel options.
When it opens, the stadium will serve as home turf for Saudi Pro League football clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr and is one of the proposed venues for the Kingdom’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid. The stadium will also host sports events including the Saudi King Cup, the Asian Cup, and potentially the 2034 Asian Games.
