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Aramco Stadium: the venue to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup

The 47,000-seat stadium in Saudi Arabia to be completed by 2026

Populous

Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
By Eugenio Petrillo -

The sports world, soccer in particular, takes great pride in its history and traditions, passing them down faithfully from generation to generation. But while the past should never be forgotten, it also needs to be paired with a strategic vision of the near future and today’s more-or-less constant stream of innovations.

And the soccer world is continuously developing, changing, and researching new elements to expand into new dimensions. This is why both major and minor clubs have recently set projects in motion that include building new stadiums. These venues typically have strong visual impact, but, in particular, are designed to be comfortable and to optimize audience appreciation of the on-field spectacle.

Wembley Stadium a Londra - Populous Wikimedia Commons, License CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

 

Stadiums designed by Populous

When designing stadiums, Populous sets itself the task of creating places where people love to be together. Specializing in sports and entertainment, the studio has designed over 1300 stadiums around the world over the last 40 years. The firm’s renovation of Wembley Stadium, which is probably the most important football venue in the world, the scene of all the major competitions, as well as major events and concerts, has put London at the forefront in the sport. Other outstanding projects by the practice in the UK capital include Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (a.k.a. New White Hart Lane).

The Sphere a Las Vegas - Populous Wikimedia Commons, License CC Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Outside the United Kingdom, Populous designed Estádio Da Luz, the home ground of Benfica in Lisbon; Parc Olympique Lyonnais (a.k.a. Groupama Stadium) in Lyon; and Yankee Stadium, the Bronx home of the New York Yankees. In Italy, Populous is currently working on new stadium projects in Rome, Milan (for Inter), and Venice.

Other venues include Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and the iconic Sphere in Las Vegas.

 

>>> Discover Populous’s LDLC Arena project, a futuristic multi-use sports facility in Lyon

 

Aramco Stadium in Saudi Arabia

Aramco Stadium ad Al Khobar - Populous Rendering by and courtesy of Populous

One of Populous’s most recent projects is Aramco Stadium in Saudi Arabia. Located in the city of Al Khobar, the venue will provide seating for 47,000 fans (expandable to 55,000 for concerts and other events) and will comply with all the most stringent international standards so that it qualifies to host major international football competitions.

Aramco Stadium will host several matches of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, as will the Populous-designed Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in the city of Qiddiya, also in Saudi Arabia. It’s also likely that Aramco Stadium will host the 2034 World Cup.

Aramco Stadium ad Al Khobar - Populous Rendering by and courtesy of Populous

Commissioned by Saudi oil giant Aramco, the stadium occupies an 800,000 m2 site. Like any new stadium, therefore, the project doesn’t just involve the construction of the venue itself, but also a series of facilities to offer a unique sporting and entertainment experience. There will be community sports facilities, retail areas, public spaces, and entertainment zones.

Aramco Stadium ad Al Khobar - Populous Rendering by and courtesy of Populous

With its spiral design, Aramco Stadium draws its inspiration from the location of Al Khobar on the Persian Gulf. Its dynamic and captivating exterior features spiral motifs recalling rolling waves. Overlapping translucent sails make up the façade, allowing natural light to enter the stadium through strategically placed openings.

Aramco Stadium ad Al Khobar - Populous Rendering by and courtesy of Populous

With its compact configuration, the seating bowl has been designed to provide spectators with a perfect view of the on-field action from every seat. A special cooling system will improve comfort levels for both fans and players.

Interior design firm Jump Studios, a Populous company, designed the hospitality, VIP, and VVIP areas.Aramco Stadium ad Al Khobar - Populous Rendering by and courtesy of Populous

Along with the masterplan for the entire site, the stadium is intended to transform the area into a vibrant, year-round destination, with a focus on inclusivity and community engagement. Public spaces and entertainment zones, such as the innovative spaces for digital sports and e-gaming, will all contribute to this. There will also be a training center with two soccer fields to support athlete training, competition, and recovery.Aramco Stadium ad Al Khobar - Populous Rendering by and courtesy of Populous

Designed to meet the most stringent international standards for inclusive design, and therefore enable everyone to use and enjoy the venue on equal terms, the Aramco Stadium aims to achieve LEED Gold certification for sustainability.

 

>>> The longest and fastest Formula 1 circuit in the world to be built in Qiddiya City, 50 km from Riyadh

Please refer to the individual images in the gallery to look through the photo credits

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