King Abdullah Sports City

King Abdullah Sports City (Arabic: مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية), also nicknamed The Shining Jewel, in Arabic (al-Jawhara Al-Moshe'ah) (Arabic: الجوهرة المشعة) or simply The Jewel, in Arabic (al-Jawhara) (Arabic: الجوهرة), is a new multi-use stadium and sports city located 60 kilometers north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The City was named after Abdullah, King of Saudi Arabia when the stadium opened.^[5]

The main stadium (King Abdullah International Stadium) is used for football, reaching a full capacity of 62,241 spectators. It is the biggest stadium in Jeddah, and the second biggest in Saudi Arabia, coming after Riyadh's King Fahd Stadium. Additionally, it is the 10th biggest stadium in the Arab world. Accompanying the innovative stadium are smaller sports venues surrounding the main stadium. It also hosts athletics and indoor sporting events in indoor arenas.

The bid for the construction was won by Saudi Aramco and the contractor for this project was a joint between Al Muhaidib Contracting Company & BESIX Construct.^[6]

Background and construction

The idea of a new large stadium in the city of Jeddah was put and considered in the late 90s, and was always anticipated by Saudi soccer fans. In 2012, the new stadium's construction began. Before the stadium was launched officially in 2014, Jeddah's main stadium was Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, accommodating a capacity of 24,000 and hosting numerous great matches and events in Saudi football history throughout decades. The new stadium is considered to be one of the most major items coming out of Saudi football recently, and has been widely acclaimed and praised for its elegance.

Opening ceremony

Over 62,241 fans pack the stadium for the opening ceremony on May 1, 2014 (Al-Ahli SC vs. Al-Shabab

The city opened officially on May 1, 2014 hosting the final of the 2014 King's Cup tournament between Jeddah's Al-Ahli SC and Riyadh's Al-Shabab. In a hometown upset, Al-Shabab won 3-0, and were crowned their 3rd King's Cup championship. The match was attended by then-King Abdullah, along with then-Crown Prince Salman and then-Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin.

Over 62,241 diverse fans filled the stadium. The tickets for the match were free, which resulted into many citizens resorting to black market, some even buying and selling tickets for as much as 2,500 Saudi Riyals. It was also reported that many fans were able to enter without any tickets. Saudi football enthusiasts have voiced their displeasure regarding this, and many believed that the event was unorganized.

After the match, a traditional Saudi Arabian festival was held on the pitch. During the ceremony, 10-year-old boy Faisal Al-Ghamdi presented a crystal ball to the King. He then received a gift from the King, a luxurious pen. In an interview following the ceremony, Al-Ghamdi told Okaz newspaper that "It was the most valuable gift I have received all my life." Al-Ghamdi said he was honored to be selected for this task and to greet the King. "It was one of my dreams to stand before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. And with this, I’ve achieved it," he said. Al-Ghamdi was selected among 170 children for his part in the ceremony. The King of Saudi Arabia later gave a speech acknowledging his people, congratulating them, and saying that they "deserve so much more". The ceremony lasted an hour and a half and ended with fireworks. It was considered to be one of the greatest sports-related events in the history of Saudi Arabia.

Facilities

Outside the main stadium, the city has three separate football fields and four small indoor arenas also used for football. It also has six tennis courts, and a large indoor arena for sports and other purposes. The city also has a main mosque, and six separate smaller mosques. The city is also equipped with a comprehensive media center, in which spacious rooms are used to broadcast press conferences for players, coaches, and football personalities.

Tickets and seating capacity

The main stadium can fit up to more than 62,241 in attendance. Seats and stands are numbered and divided in a professional way. The lower section of the stadium (L) contains 38 blocks accommodating 631 seats per block with a total of 24,000 seats. The middle section (M) contains 48 blocks accommodating 500 seats per block with a total of 24,000 seats. The upper and smallest section (U) has 48 blocks accommodating 291 seats per block with a total of 14,000 seats. The stadium also holds hundreds of private seats and car parking spots reserved to those of special needs.

Ticket prices for events and matches vary between 30-45 Saudi Riyals for normal seats, and 300-1,500 Saudi Riyals for VIP seats. Ticketing system has evolved and is becoming well organised. In September 2014, an online ticketing website named MAKANI (Arabic: مكاني 'my place') was launched. It allowed citizens to book, pay, and formally print their tickets for matches and other events. It has received wide praise for being efficient and easy to use.

Records

59,026 fans attend the first local derby in the stadium between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad on December 19, 2014.

As of May 14, 2015:

• The first match held at the stadium was between Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab in the 2014 King's Cup final on May 1, 2014.
• The first game win and championship win in the stadium was for Al-Shabab on May 1, 2014.
• The biggest attendance was 62,241 fans in the opening ceremony between Al-Ahli and Al-Shabab on May 1, 2014.
• The biggest attendance in the Saudi League was 60,134 fans in a match between Jeddah's Al-Ittihad and Riyadh's Al-Hilal on December 1, 2014. The match ended 0-0.
• The biggest attending fans are Al-Ittihad's, who have a record-breaking 42,371 average (12 matches) in the 2014/2015 Saudi League alone. Al-Ahli fans come in second with an average of 34,089 per match (13 matches)
• The first local derby was between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad on December 19, 2014 in the Saudi League. The match ended 1-1, with over 59,026 fans in attendance.
• The most wins in the stadium are for Al-Ahli, with 14 overall wins.
• The most losses in the stadium are for Al-Ittihad, with 4 overall losses.
• The most draws in the stadium are for Al-Ahli, with 6 overall draws.
• The first goal scored at the stadium was for Al-Shabab's Fernando Menegazzo, from a penalty kick on May 1, 2014.
• The first hat-trick scored in the stadium was for Omar Al Soma, in a match against Hajer on August 16, 2014.
• The first red card was endured by Al-Ahli's defender Aqil Balgeeth on May 1, 2014.
• The biggest scoring were Al-Ahli 6-1 Hajer on August 16, 2014, and Al-Ittihad 4-3 Al-Taawon on April 27, 2015.

List of matches

As of May 31, 2015:

1.^ Naft Tehran won 2-2 on away goals rule, as they defeated Al-Ahli 1-0 in Iran.

References

External links

• King Abdullah Sports City Official website

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