‘Palatial’ Kingdom Arena to be Al-Hilal home

Article posted by Coliseum, October 12^th, 2023

Image: Al Hilal

The Al-Hilal Club Company has inked an agreement with the General Entertainment Authority sealing the transformation of the ‘Boulevard Hall’ into the official stadium of the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, now named ‘Kingdom Arena’.

‘Saudi Gazette’ stated that the above landmark agreement, brokered between the Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, and Fahad Bin Nafel, Chairman of Al-Hilal Club Company, was announced in a livestream on Instagram. The terms of the agreement entail an annual commitment of SR40 million, accompanied by a six-month grace period.

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)-based the General Entertainment Authority, formerly the General Authority for Entertainment, is a Government Department in Saudi Arabia that regulates the entertainment industry of the country.

The under-construction Boulevard Hall is set to be an exceptional 200,000 sqm multipurpose building that can accommodate up to 26,000 spectators. The new stadium uses the most recent technology to provide an extraordinary experience for the sports enthusiasts.

The Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club, simply known as Al-Hilal, is a professional multisports club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their football team competes in the Saudi Professional League, the highest division of association football in the Saudi league system. The club’s name means crescent moon. They are the most decorated club in Asia winning 66 official trophies.

The King Fahd Stadium, also nicknamed ‘The Tent’ or ‘Pearl of Stadiums’, is a multipurpose stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Seating 58,398 spectators, it is currently used mostly for football matches as the home of the top notch club Al Hilal SFC and the Saudi national team, as well as athletics events.

Bin Nafel shared insights into the ongoing efforts to align the stadium with the standards of the Saudi Professional League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA.

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)-based the Saudi Pro League, known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest division of association football in the Saudi league system. The first season of competition was the 1976-1977 seasons.

Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)-based the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of association football, beach football and futsal in some countries/territories in Asia. It has 47 members.

The Fédération internationale de football association, abbreviated as FIFA, is the international governing body of association football, beach soccer and futsal. It was founded in 1904 to oversee international competition among the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, its membership now comprises 211 national associations.

‘Saudi Gazette’ further stated that the ‘Boulevard Hall’ has been unveiled as a standout sports destination and a key element of the upcoming Riyadh Season surprises, themed ‘Big Time’. Boasting a capacity of around 26,000 spectators and incorporating state-of-the-art technologies, the venue promises an extraordinary experience for the sports buffs.

The construction of the ‘Kingdom Arena’ is on track for completion by the beginning of 2024.

Strategically located in Riyadh, the stadium is enclosed from all directions, rendering it as an ideal venue for hosting events during the Riyadh Season and the local matches. Standing at a height of 46 meters and a length of 105 meters, with a width of 68 meters, the stadium is designed to accommodate 26,000 spectators. Additionally, it features 20 boxes for luxury hospitality and a cabin capable of hosting about 350 people.

In a previous announcement, Al-Sheikh introduced ‘Boulevard Hall’ as part of the upcoming Riyadh Season zones. Constructed within an impressive 60-day timeframe, the venue adheres to international artistic and technical standards, covering an expansive area of 200,000 square meters and accommodating more than 40,000 visitors at a time.

The inaugural event at the new stadium will be the ‘Riyadh Season Cup’, featuring the participation of Al-Hilal and its peer team the Al-Nassr FC, along with another international club in a three-team league system.

The Al-Nassr Football Club is a Saudi Arabian professional football club based in Riyadh which plays in the Saudi Pro League. Formed in 1955, the club plays its home games at the 25,000-capacity Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh. Their home colors are yellow and blue. The Al- Nassr is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, with 28 official trophies in its kitty.

The Riyadh Season is a State-sponsored annual entertainment and sports festival, part of the larger Saudi Seasons initiative held since 2019 from October to March during Winter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at www.coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 500+ member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue