Saudi Arabia

Smart Stadiums: A Step to Saudi Arabia’s Sports Leadership

Published

8 hours ago

23rd December 2024

Huda

Saudi Arabia intends to develop smart stadiums and hold a special competition to establish itself as a regional centre for technology and invest in the youth population.

Saudi Arabia intends to conduct a one-of-a-kind competition to establish a regional technology hub by constructing smart stadiums.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s quest to host the 2034 World Cup turned out to be a huge success, highlighting the nation’s rich history and standing as a worldwide sports championship icon.

A Visionary Move

Saudi Arabia has promised to host a “unique and unprecedented” competition. The Kingdom’s objective is to become a regional technology hub and invest in the youth demographic, which has a strong aptitude to accept new technology despite its high cost. Building smart stadiums is one proposal that might help achieve this goal.

According to the Kingdom’s plans, 15 stadiums—11 of which will be new—would be distributed. Neither the projected cost nor the specifics of whether these stadiums would be outfitted with modern technology have been disclosed.

Nonetheless, there are indications that the Kingdom is considering this matter carefully, considering that the majority of these stadiums won’t be ready before 2029. The Kingdom has made “progress in integrating advanced technologies into its future development plans,” according to Hisham Ghaleb, partner in the Smart Destinations Department at PwC Middle East.

He notes that this focus “includes stadiums, where advanced digital and technical solutions aim to improve operations and enhance the fan experience.”

Journalist Abdulrahman Mushabab affirmed this trend in press releases, stating that “it is difficult to build traditional stadiums after 10 years” given the anticipated technological advancements over the next ten years. He also pointed out that the stadium issue was “one of the most prominent items in the Kingdom’s file to host the World Cup events.”

Mushabab cited Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium as one example of such a stadium, stating that it will include “innovative and very high internal screens” that enable spectators to view the games more clearly and with greater interaction.

Cutting-Edge Technology Integration

The stadium will have an adjustable, moveable roof to accommodate rainy conditions and shield the venue from the elements. According to Mushabab, the stadium will also include a moveable wall that allows spectators to see the Qiddiya project and a moveable floor that enables a range of cultural and athletic events to take place on the second level.

Notably, the Saudi Public Investment Fund owns the Qiddiya Investment Company, which is responsible for the project’s development.

In addition, the stadium will have sustainable air conditioning facilities. The stadium’s cooling lake, which uses rainwater collected from the stadium and its surroundings to cool the air conditioning system, will reduce energy consumption.

With features like HoloBox, which offers augmented reality-based interactive experiences with celebrities and stars, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium is a perfect example of how stadium design may embrace the newest technologies. During games, fans will have instant access to real-time data and information.

Regarding the use of technology, the stadium won’t be an exception because the Kingdom plans to construct other stadiums, like the new Al-Murabba Stadium, Neom Stadium, and King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, all of which will have contemporary features like cooling systems for the stadium floor and the seats of fans.

A Digital Transformation Journey

According to a “PwC Middle East” report, “digital transformation of stadiums” is a crucial factor in the push towards smart stadiums because it can improve the overall level of entertainment, increase the fan experience, and boost the effectiveness of regulatory operations.

The rising desire to enhance the spectator experience and operational operations is likely to propel the smart stadium industry’s growth, which will reach $191.7 billion by 2037 at an annual rate of 20.6%.

The paper did, however, caution that incorporating technology like drones, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things into stadium architecture might result in a dramatic rise in expenses.

Building a stadium can cost anywhere from $50 million for facilities that can hold 20,000 people to $1.2 billion for stadiums that can hold 80,000 people, according to Hisham Ghaleb, who also explained that the cost of building a stadium varies depending on many factors, including size, location, materials used, and the degree of integrated technology.

Interestingly, most of the 13 stadiums in Saudi Arabia that will host World Cup matches have an average capacity of roughly 47,000 spectators. King Salman Stadium, which will host the first and last games, is notable because it can hold 92,760 spectators, in addition to King Fahd International Stadium, which can hold the semi-final match and has a capacity of 70,200.

Drawing in more people

In this regard, Hisham Ghaleb thinks smart stadiums provide “great advantages in terms of return on investment,” stating that these venues can draw more spectators because of the unique and interactive experiences they offer, increasing operational efficiency.

Abdulrahman Mushabab, for his part, noted that fans’ preferences have evolved to make them more drawn to technologically sophisticated stadiums. He added that smart stadiums in Saudi Arabia might help boost attendance, which would have a positive impact on both direct and indirect revenue streams, including ticket sales, club stores, souvenir sales, and food and beverage sales.

On top of that, these stadiums will host more than just the World Cup; they will also host other sporting events in the Kingdom, including the Asian Football Cup 2027, the Saudi Cup 2025, and the Asian Winter Games 2029, in addition to entertainment and cultural events. This increases their efficiency and lowers the likelihood that they will remain underutilised facilities.