Bahrain: Plans are underway to build Bahrain’s biggest integrated sports stadium featuring a football pitch, an underground shopping complex and cineplex.
The Southern Municipal Council is working with a special ministerial committee tasked to prepare a comprehensive study on the project, which council chairman Ahmed Al Ansari described as
“visionary”.
The stadium, located in the Southern Governorate, will accommodate up to 50,000 people and will include a retractable roof, an international standard football pitch surrounded by tracks and an underground shopping complex.
It will also include a cineplex and hypermarket along with halls for basketball, handball, bowling, badminton and table tennis.
Officials involved in the planning stage are also debating having an Olympic-size swimming pool and sports training schools.
“The existing Bahrain National Stadium and Khalifa Sports City, despite major renovations, still do not match aspirations for Bahrain’s future direction towards having exquisite sporting facilities,” said Mr Al Ansari.
“The two sports halls in Umm Al Hassam and Juffair are very small and can’t accommodate a full house, which is the case most of the time, and spectators park in the middle of the road even if it means they get fined, which shows how passionate they are about the game.
“Other sports have no place and are divided amongst clubs, despite being
popular.”
Specialists in the field of sports construction and management will also be asked to consult on the new stadium.
“The new World Cup stadiums in Qatar are not just sports-oriented, they are basically family entertainment and shopping centres at the same time,” said Mr Al Ansari.
“Families want to enjoy their Saturdays out, it starts with shopping or entering play areas, then having a choice between watching a match or going to a movie in the cineplex.
“The stadium could also host WWE events, concerts, festivities and even theatrical performances.”
The project is based on directives by His Majesty King Hamad, who last week ordered officials to prepare a study following a meeting with Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
“With the new concept stadium we could also enter the race to host the Asian Cup,” added Mr Al Ansari.
“We will certainly be unique, whether in design or appearance of the stadium, and if others have innovative ideas then we’ll have better.
“Hard work always pays off and the stadium could be turned into a focal tourist point.
“A location has not been selected in the governorate, but most likely it will be in Sakhir.”
He said construction and management of the stadium should follow standards set by popular international facilities such as Camp Nou in Barcelona, Amsterdam Arena and Beijing National Stadium.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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