KSU Stadium (Riyadh)
King Saud University Stadium (KSUS) (Arabic: استاد جامعة الملك سعود, romanized: ʿIstad Jāmiʿa al-Malik Saʿūd), known as Al-Awwal Park due to sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In September 2020, SMC obtained the management rights for operating the stadium. In October 2020, SMC signed a deal with Al Nassr FC for the Al-Awwal Park to become their home.[1]
Al-Awwal Park | |
 View from inside Al-Awwal Park | |
| Former names | King Saud University Stadium (2015–2020) Mrsool Park (2020–2023) |
|---|---|
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Owner | King Saud University |
| Operator | SMC |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2011 |
| Built | 2011–2014 |
| Opened | 7 May 2015 |
| Renovated | 2020 |
| Construction cost | 215m SAR |
| Builder | Hashem Contracting Company |
| Tenants | |
| Al Hilal (2018–2020) Al Nassr (2020–present) | |
| Website | |
| victoryarena.com | |
History
The construction work on the campus of King Saud University in Western Riyadh started in Spring 2011 and the opening took place in May 2015. The construction work was commissioned to Hashem Contracting Company, based on designs by Michael KC Cheah and his wife Steph, expanding their architectural portfolio of Saudi-based football stadia.
Hashem Contracting Company delivered the stadium following specifications (and FIFA rules for international games) within the budget of 215 million riyals ($57m). The stadium may seem soil-brown or gold depending on the sunlight due to its perforated and metallic outer skin. Mrsool Park went through a renovation at the end of 2020 and this will continue going forward to transform it into a young and family-friendly destination with fan zones and entertainment areas for everyone to enjoy.[2]
In 2020, the stadium went through a re-branding operation becoming Mrsool Park in November 2020, following the signing with the delivery company Mrsool.[1]
In 2021, the stadium hosted the Maradona Cup between Boca Juniors and FC Barcelona to honor Diego Maradona, who died the previous year.[3]
In April 2023, the stadium was renamed Al-Awwal Park after Saudi Awwal Bank signed a $15 million sponsorship deal for the next three years.[4]
Gallery
Al-Awwal Park players tunnel
Al-Awwal Park locker room
References
- "Saudi Arabia: KSU Stadium changes name and will undergo a serious facelift". stadiumdb.com. 15 December 2020.
- "History". Victory arena. Saudi Media Company (Operator). Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "Maradona Cup: The impressive stadium where Barcelona and Boca Juniors will meet". BolaVIP. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- Badughaish, Salem (5 April 2023). "Cristiano Ronaldo's club Al-Nassr renames the stadium". Football Business Journal. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
