Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 still fascinates the world, and now social media is filled with discussion of a so-called "Sky Stadium" - a football stadium suspended 350 meters off the ground inside the ultra-modern NEOM city.
According to digital media reports, the project, titled the NEOM Sky Stadium, will start construction in 2027 and be completed by 2032, ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Times of India reported. The new stadium will have a capacity of about 46,000 fans and will be powered solely by solar and wind energy. The idea is to have the facility incorporated in The Line, NEOM's linear smart city, in a mirror of Saudi Arabia's drive toward sustainability and architectural ingenuity. Construction Review magazine stated, "The stadium is suspended at an astonishing 350 meters (1,150 feet) above the desert floor within the futuristic NEOM city of The Line. "
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Viral images fuel online controversy
The project has gone viral on the internet, along with photographs of a stadium sitting atop a skyscraper. As per a Times of India report, experts, however, warn that the photographs seem to be AI-generated and not part of any officially sanctioned plan. Although 15 futuristic plans for the stadium were considered, the final design of the 2034 World Cup infrastructure remains unconfirmed.
Sanjiv Goenka commends the idea
Joining the hype, Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants IPL franchise and Mohun Bagan Super Giants ISL club, posted the idea on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "The idea of a stadium in the sky captures the essence of modern ambition. Sustainability, technology, and creativity are no longer separate pursuits. They are now converging to shape the world ahead.”
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Saudi Arabia's broader stadium vision
The Times of India reported along with the Sky Stadium idea, there are other significant developments already in progress - particularly the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh. Arab News reports that it "will become the largest stadium in the Kingdom, with a capacity of 92,760, when it is completed in 2029.”
The Times of India also reported that FIFA is said to have preliminarily approved the project for the Sky Stadium, recognising its capability to set new standards for ecologically friendly sports facilities. The proposed location, in the vicinity of NEOM's Health and Well-Being District and University, is intended to create a sport-oriented urban community.
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The smart city of NEOM itself would be completed by 2045, while the stadium part would be up and running by 2032, which is two years ahead of the World Cup when Saudi Arabia hosts it. Nevertheless, the plan is huge in its engineering and logistical challenges due to its height and location, The Times of India reported.
