King Fahd Sports City
{{Short description|Multi-purpose sports venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia}}
{{For|the stadium in Ta'if|King Fahd Sports City (Taif)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = King Fahd Sports City Stadium
| former_names = King Fahd International Stadium (1982–2023)
| nickname = The Tent Stadium
| image = King Fahd Int. Stadium- Opening Arabian Gulf Cup 2014.jpg
| caption =
| location = Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| surface = Hybrid grass
| publictransit = File:Riyadh Metro Logo.svg King Fahd Sports City Station
| broke_ground = 2 December 1982
| opened = {{start date and age|1987}}
| renovated = 2023–2026, 2028–2034
| closed = 2 December 2023
| owner = Ministry of Sport
| operator = Ministry of Sport
| pitch_size =
| construction_cost =
| architect = Ian Fraser, John Roberts, Michael K.C. Cheah and Partners
| tenants = Al-Hilal (1987–2018, 2020–2023)
Al-Shabab (1987–2023)
Al-Nassr (1987–2020)
Saudi Arabia national football team (Selected matches)
{{Unbulleted list|item1_style=background-color:#ccc;|Major sporting events hosted|2027 AFC Asian Cup (planned)
2034 FIFA World Cup (planned)}}
| seating_capacity = 58,398{{cite book |title=AFC Asian Cup 2027 Bid Book: Saudi Arabia |date=28 December 2020 |publisher=The Ministry of Sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation |url=https://assets.the-afc.com/migration/e/x/ext-ac-2027-bid-book-saudi-arabia--pdf |access-date=24 July 2023}} (to be expanded to 70,200)
| dimensions = Field of play: 105m × 68m
Pitch area: 125m × 85m
}}
King Fahd Sports City Stadium ({{Langx|ar|مدينة الملك فهد الرياضية}}), also nicknamed "The Tent" ({{lang|ar|ملعب الخيمة}} {{transliteration|ar|DIN|Mala'ab al-Khaymah}}) or "Pearl of Stadiums" ({{lang|ar|درة الملاعب}} {{transliteration|ar|DIN|Durrat al-Mala'eb}}), is a Multi-purpose stadium and the main Stadium of the sports city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the stadium is currently closed for reconstruction that will expand it to approximately 70,200 seats by 2026.{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.meed.com/saudi-arabia-prepares-to-tender-sports-stadiums}}
Overview
File:استاد الملك فهد الدولي King Fahd International Stadium (66723825).jpeg
The stadium was built in 1987, with Majed Abdullah scoring the first goal there.{{cite web|title=King Fahd International Stadium|url=http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/ksa/king_fahd_international_stadium|publisher=StadiumDB|access-date=2 October 2014}} It hosted matches of the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, including the final.
In September 2017, as part of Saudi Vision 2030, there was a celebration of the 87th anniversary of the foundation of Saudi Arabia with concerts and performances. For the first time, women were allowed into the stadium.{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/world/women-allowed-into-stadium-as-saudi-arabia-promotes-national-pride-part-of-reform-push-2044950.html |title=Women allowed into stadium as Saudi Arabia promotes national pride, part of reform push |date=23 September 2017 }}
The stadium has been included in the FIFA series of video games since the 2013 edition, when the Saudi Pro League began featuring in the game, while a modified version with two tiers all around was featured in the Pro Evolution Soccer series during the PlayStation 2 era under the name "Nakhon Ratchasima", due to its resemblance (or lack thereof) to the 80th Birthday Stadium that hosted the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.
The cost of construction was about 1.912 billion Saudi riyals or $510 million. The stadium's roof covers an area of 47,000 square feet and held up by 24 columns arranged in a 247-metre diameter circle, creating an umbrella effect that shades spectators from the hot desert sun. A special pavilion for members of the royal family is also included.
Events
The stadium's first major musical event was holding a concert by BTS, which was their first concert in the Middle East, as part of their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself World Tour on 11 October 2019. This made the band the first international act to perform in the stadium. They played to an audience of 31,899 people.
The stadium hosted WWE's event Crown Jewel on 31 October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/128509/the-next-wwe-event-in-saudi-arabia-will-take-place.html?p=1|title=THE NEXT WWE EVENT IN SAUDI ARABIA WILL TAKE PLACE.... {{!}} PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com|access-date=15 October 2019}}
The stadium also hosted all the three matches of the 2022 Supercopa de España, which was won by Real Madrid.{{Cite web|date=16 January 2022|title=Athletic Club 0-2 Real Madrid - Goals and highlights - Supercopa 21/22|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/liga/2022/01/16/61e41ffe22601d5c5b8b458b.html|access-date=16 January 2022|website=Marca}} The semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid was the first official {{lang|es|Clásico}} to be held in a stadium outside of Spain.
On 28 October 2022, David Guetta performed during the opening ceremony of Saudi Games 2022.{{Cite web |title=Saudi Games 2022 Opening Ceremony {{!}} Saudi Games 2022 |url=https://tickets.saudigames.sa/en/events/opening-ceremony?twclid=2-3k6c8332a2u8bsx5xpa5ata71 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Saudi Games }}
On 15 January 2023, the 2023 Supercopa de España final was hosted in the stadium with Barcelona winning the cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20230115-barcelona-secure-3-1-victory-over-madrid-to-win-spanish-super-cup |title=Barcelona secure 3-1 victory over Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup |publisher=France 24 |date=15 January 2023 }} Three days later, the stadium hosted the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana between AC Milan and Inter Milan.{{cite web |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2234196/sport |title=Super Cup clash between Milan giants brings Italian football renaissance to Riyadh |publisher=Arab News |date=18 January 2023 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/middle_east/saudi_arabia/riyadh_king_fahd.shtml World Stadium Article]
- [http://www.worldfootball.net/spielorte/king-fahd-international-stadium-riyadh/ World Football Profile]
- [https://int.soccerway.com/teams/saudi-arabia/al-hilal-riyadh/venue/ Soccerway Profile]
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box |
title=King Fahd Cup
Final venue|
before=None|
after=Itself
(as FIFA Confederations Cup final venue)|
}}
{{Succession box |
title=Asian Club Championship
Final venue|
before=Suphachalasai Stadium
Bangkok|
after=Stadium Merdeka
Kuala Lumpur|
years=1995
}}
{{Succession box |
title=FIFA Confederations Cup
Final venue|
before=Itself
(as King Fahd Cup final venue)|
after=Estadio Azteca
Mexico City |
years=1997
}}
{{Succession box |
title=Asian Club Championship
Final venue|
before=Azadi Stadium
Tehran|
after=Suwon Sports Complex
Suwon|
years=2000
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Riyadh}}
{{Portal bar|Saudi Arabia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|24|47|18|N|46|50|21|E|type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:1987 establishments in Saudi Arabia
Category:Football venues in Saudi Arabia
Category:Buildings and structures in Riyadh
Category:Sports venues in Saudi Arabia
Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Saudi Arabia
Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Saudi Arabia