They sure go big… the Saudis. Kingdom Arena, also known as Boulevard Hall, was built in just 180 days. Initially, the venue was designed as an entertainment center, hosting concerts and various events. However, at the beginning of 2024, the arena was adapted to host football matches.

A football arena inside a hall

Kingdom Arena has now become a fully covered stadium with a full-size pitch and stands accommodating 28,000 spectators. The structure is based on steel elements, with the central part of the arena featuring a higher roof section. The exterior is clad in beige panels and dark glazing. The pitch has a hybrid grass surface, maintained with the help of artificial lighting.

Kingdom Arena holds two Guinness World Records: it is the largest fully enclosed (non-retractable roof) football stadium in terms of total area (37,991 m²) and spectator capacity. Thanks to your votes, this venue could soon claim first place in our Stadium of the Year competition.

Tyson fury for the opening? No problem

For over a year, the players of Al-Hilal have been using this unique stadium as their home ground. Their first match at this venue was on January 29, 2024, during the Riyadh Season Cup tournament, in which Al-Nassr and Inter Miami also participated. However, the anticipated CR7 vs. LM10 showdown did not take place due to an injury to the former.

You can see the appearance of the stadium in Riyadh and other stadiums nominated for the Stadium of the Year competition in the video below.

The first league match at Kingdom Arena was played on February 18, when Al-Hilal defeated Al-Raed 3–1. However, the first historic event held in the arena was a professional boxing gala featuring the highly anticipated bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou on October 28, 2023.

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