New Stadium in Dubai to be named ‘The Sevens’

With just over four months to go until the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, a highlight of Dubai’s sporting and social calendar, Emirates has confirmed that the event’s new venue is to be named ‘The Sevens’.

The Sevens, which is currently being built  is located on the outskirts of Dubai, it will also be the venue for the Rugby World Cup Sevens from 5th – 7th March 2009.

The Sevens stadium will be about more than just rugby, as a venue it will also cater for the popular sports played in the region, including cricket, football, basketball and netball.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said, “Work is progressing well at the new sporting facility and we are very excited to announce that this state of the art venue will be known as ‘The Sevens’. Both Dubai and Emirates are synonymous with the game of rugby sevens and have been instrumental in the development of the game; so it was felt the venue should reflect this close association. 

“It is our aim that The Sevens will encourage greater participation in rugby and other sports by Arab nationals and that the venue will help foster the development of teams, both here in the UAE and the wider region.”

From the rugby angle, The Sevens will feature a small permanent grandstand with just 4,000 seats and temporary stands will be erected around this permanent structure to cater for up to 40,000 people.

Hospitality areas, broadcast and medical facilities and changing rooms also feature in the design as well as a 30-metre wide rugby promenade, featuring cafes and food outlets.

The second pitch will be in a bowl and enclosed on three sides by a grass embankment enabling a crowd of 15,000 to enjoy the sporting action or possibly even concerts, while a nearby sports complex and clubhouse will include provision for tennis, squash, basketball and badminton as well as a gymnasium and swimming pool.

The remaining four rugby pitches will be located close to a two-storey 80-metre long clubhouse.

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