Planning and building new stadiums is something the Middle East has become very adept at. Legacy planning for those stadiums has a more chequered history.
Delivering projects on a tight timeframe for a major sporting event in four- or five-years’ time is a daunting task, and often the legacy aspect is overlooked. What happens to these highly specialised buildings once the fixtures are over?
The question is one of urban design. While some new stadiums are embedded within the urban zones of mega projects, others are not; and some are located right at the periphery of urban areas.
Some new stadiums seem destined for a successful after-life, but others look set to languish.
The “sports city” concept is nothing new but should be widened – elevating the stadium as a community facility and placing it at the centre of urban life. The venue should be the hub around which other mixed-use functions in the city quarter revolve.
This is true “integrated development”, where a range of complimentary uses are stacked: retail, entertainment, office, residential, hotels and serviced apartments – placed above a transport hub.
With the stadium at the centre, its legacy is assured.
