Kingdom Arena – stadium description
What is Kingdom Arena?
Construction of the Kingdom Arena (originally known as Boulevard Hall) began in mid-2023. It was intended to be an entertainment center to allow for a variety of events and large concerts, as well as events related to the Riyadh Season winter festival. At the same time, the size of the arena was to allow for a full-size football pitch to be created inside and for the facility to be used as a stadium.
What kind of football games are to be held at Kingdom Arena?
Initially, it was assumed that the arena would host matches as part of the annual Riyadh Season Cup friendly tournament. At the end of September 2023, it was also announced that a lease agreement had been signed between the General Entertainment Authority and Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club. Under the agreement, the new arena has become the home venue of Al-Hilal, who plays their matches here.
Al-Hilal is the most successful football club in Saudi Arabia. In August 2023, the team became known worldwide after the transfer of Brazilian striker Neymar to the club. The team has so far not had its own facility and has played its matches at various stadiums in Riyadh: King Fahd International Stadium, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and King Saud University Stadium.
In the future, Al-Hilal, together with Al-Nassr, are expected to play in a new stadium in Qiddiya, so Kingdom Arena is considered an interim facility for the club.
Where did the name Kingdom Arena come from?
Al-Hilal is to pay 40 million rials for the first period of use of the arena. Thanks to a contribution of 25 million rials from Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, owner of the Kingdom Holding Company, the facility gained a title sponsor and is named Kingdom Arena. In its initial stages, the project was referred to as Boulevard Hall, as it was an extension of two commercial and entertainment development projects (Boulevard City and Boulevard World) that had previously been built in the area.
When was Kingdom Arena opened?
The first event to take place at Kingdom Arena was a professional boxing gala with Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou as the main event. The gala took place on October 28, 2023 and also marked the opening of the fourth edition of the Riyadh Season festival.
In the following months, the arena hosted more boxing galas, as well as other events organized as part of the Riyadh Season, such as a showcase tennis tournament. The Kingdom Arena has hosted quite a few combat sports events since its inception, and on May 18, 2024 there was a blockbuster boxing clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship, won by the Ukrainian athlete.
When were the first football matches held at Kingdom Arena?
The venue was not prepared for football matches until early 2024, and the first three clashes took place between January 29 and February 8, 2024, when the Riyadh Season Cup friendly tournament was played, featuring local teams Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, as well as Inter Miami from the USA.
The first match, held on January 29, 2024, was between Al-Hilal and Inter Miami (4–3). Al-Nassr's match against Inter Miami (February 1, 2024, 6–0) was supposed to feature a clash between Christiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, but ultimately the two world-famous footballers did not meet on the pitch due to Ronaldo's injury. In the third match, on February 8, 2024, Al-Hilal defeated Al-Nassr 2–0 and won the entire tournament.
The first league match at Kingdom Arena took place on February 18, 2024, when Al-Hilal defeated the Al-Raed team from Buraidah 3–1.
What are the characteristics of Kingdom Arena?
Kingdom Arena is a fully covered facility, with a full-size pitch inside and stands capable of holding 26,000 spectators. The building is 47 m high and its external dimensions are 220 × 150 m. The facility is located next to the so-called Boulevard City and Boulevard World, in the north-western part of Riyadh.
The structure of Kingdom Arena is based on steel elements. The central part of the arena (the section above the pitch) has a roof located at a higher height. From the outside, the building is clad in beige panels and dark glazing.
The main stand has 20 skyboxes and a glazed lounge for 350 people. The regular stands consist of metal elements. A large four-screen jumbotron is suspended from the roof in the center of the arena. Another two screens are located behind the ends of the pitch, with additional screens also mounted on the four corner columns.
The pitch at Kingdom Arena has a hybrid turf. Due to the lack of access to sunlight, the grass is kept in good condition by artificial lighting.
Kingdom Arena holds two Guinness World Records as the largest fully-covered (without the possibility of opening the roof) football stadium in terms of surface area (37,991 m²) and capacity of stands (26,000 spectators).
