Bahrain Sports City Stadium – design description

The multi-purpose stadium is to be part of Sports City complex to be built in Sakhir. It is a desert area in the southern part of Bahrain. The nearest permanently inhabited settlement is the village of Zallaq. In close proximity to the planned sports complex, there is the Formula 1 Circuit, which was put into use in 2004.

The stadium is to be built on a circular plan and will have two tiers of stands, separated by a strip of sky boxes and business lounges with a total capacity of 3,000 seats. 47,000 seats are planned for ordinary fans. The dressing rooms for players and other zones related to the organization of the match will be located under the main stand on the west side of the stadium.

The appearance of the facade of the facility is a reference to the present day with some admixture of traditional motifs such as "mashrabiya". This is decoration that refers to the barriers used in mosques and palaces.

The mesh elements of the façade are to start at the base of a roof and end at the level of the first floor in a wave-shaped, gold-coloured seam, which in places rises up to the concourse level of the VIP zones and reveals the entrances to the stadium. The façade may be illuminated by multi-coloured LED lamps, which would create spectacular effects, especially at night.

A plaza will be built around the stadium, which will serve as an assembly point for fans before the games. Additionally, on the ground floor, there will be entrances to other sports facilities within the complex, as well as to the planned hotel. The functionality of the venue is to be based on a wide range of possibilities for arranging the space under the stands. Initial plans include catering options, a museum and a prayer room.

In addition to the stadium, Sports City will include, among others a hall with 10,000 seats, smaller halls for team games and non-sport activities, as well as Olympic swimming pools. Moreover, there are also planned: a media centre, training pitches, an athletics track and a parking lot.