Turki Alalshikh, chair of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), revealed details of the fifth Riyadh Season at a press conference in Riyadh, as reported by Arab News. Riyadh Season 2024 starts on 12 October.
The programme of sporting events, exhibitions, theatrical performances, and live music will take place within an area of over 7.2 million square meters, according to Alalshikh, who said that “4,200 contracts have been signed with 2,100 local companies that account for 95 per cent of all businesses participating in the season.”
Sporting events and awards ceremonies
The Kingdom Arena zone has been expanded by more than 40 percent this year, resulting in a capacity of over 27,000 spectators. It will host four world championships, including the season-opening IV Crown Showdown on 12 October. It will also be the venue for a rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and the 2024 African Super Cup final.
Meanwhile, the new area The Venue will be home to seven events, including the Six King Slam, a tennis event in October featuring some of the world’s top players, the WWE Crown Jewel, and the Raw show, in addition to a Power Slap event, hosted in the Kingdom for the first time.
The Venue will also host the fifth Joy Awards, honouring the Arab world’s leading artists and their achievements, and the MENA Effie Awards ceremony, dedicated to honoring marketing effectiveness in the Kingdom. Fashion designer Elie Saab will launch the Fall 2025 collection inspired by Riyadh Season at The Venue.
Gaming, F&B and culture at Boulevard World and Boulevard City
Boulevard World will have five additional zones this year, bringing the total to 19. The new additions are Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Iran, Africa and the French ski resort Courchevel. Boulevard World will be home to 300 restaurants and cafes, and more than 1,400 shops.
Boulevard City will include 25 restaurants and cafes, 12 plays, and 12 concerts. Highlights include a stand-up comedy evening with Martin Lawrence from the Bad Boys movie franchise, a Detective Conan experience, and a Land of Dreams experience based on the popular Bluey IP. For gamers, events will focus on PUBG Mobile and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Composer Hans Zimmer will perform some of his most iconic film soundtracks live on stage.
Guests can also discover Olulu, a massive dinosaur exhibition, where they can see a 20-metre-high model.
Premier Padel P1 will return to Riyadh Season, and Boulevard City will host the Cristiano Ronaldo Padel Experience in a new Padel Rush zone. Ronnie O’Sullivan will open a snooker academy as the World Snooker Masters event takes place.
Another new venue, Boulevard Runway, has transformed three Boeing 777 plans into a retail, restaurant, interactive experience and gaming space.
Immersive experiences at Riyadh Season 2024
This year, the enlarged Wonder Garden will have more than 40 restaurants, 65 games and attractions, and more than 60 theatre and roaming shows.
During Riyadh Season, a Christian Dior exhibition and museum will open in the historic Al-Murabba quarter. There will also be a Dior cafe and a gift shop with 500 new and old gowns.
Elsewhere, the Groves neighbourhood will have new eateries, an outdoor lounge, and a theatre with a lake view. During the Riyadh season, the Groves will also include live music, theatrical productions, and art displays.
Sandboarding, camel riding, dune trekking, archery, and desert buggy excursions are just a few of the immersive experiences and activities the Dunes of Arabia area will offer.
Riyadh Zoo will be one of three areas that will offer free entry, alongside Swaidi Park, which will showcase the cultures of Yemen, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines and the Levant region, and Souq Al-Awwalin with its traditional markets, handicrafts, clothing and cultural performances.
Earlier this year, New Murabba, a new downtown destination in Riyadh, was announced. This will include a 45,000-capacity stadium to enhance Saudi Arabia‘s sports and entertainment experiences. New Murabba Development Company, owned by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), unveiled the stadium’s design, which is inspired by the Acacia tree.
The new venue will use cutting-edge technology to give sports fans an immersive and personalised experience. It will also host events such as gaming competitions and exhibitions.
Top image: The Bomb VR at Wonder Garden
The post Details revealed ahead of Riyadh Season 2024 appeared first on Blooloop.