When you spend $560 million on a stadium that houses a pair of Saudi Arabian Professional League teams, you know you have more money than sense, but hey, Ittihad and Al Ahli do manage to fill three quarters of the stunning 62,000 seater structure. It's a gorgeous, lavish stadium built in a perfect bowl shape with three towering tiers. The 2014 King's Cup saw the opening of the stadium, with its namesake royalty present for the festivities. The tickets were also free, though this meant 84,000 somehow managed to scramble their way into the stadium. 22,000 fans were forced to stand in between rows, in aisles, on the steps and basically anywhere there was room for a person to be. It was a farcical event, but an unquestionably beautiful stadium.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
