Designs have been released for the new Yas Arena, the 18,000 capacity indoor venue that will be capable of hosting sport, entertainment and other events year-round on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
The new venue will be built as part of Miral’s $3.27bn entertainment, leisure master development project planned for Yas Island.
Miral will invest just over $1bn (AED4bn) on phase one of the 14 million square feet development to transform the southern end of Yas Island’s into a “global destination for family entertainment and leisure”.
The development comprises three distinct areas: Yas Bay, a public waterfront and entertainment district; the Media Zone, the new campus of twofour54; and the Residences at Yas Bay, an urban island community.
Yas Bay, the development’s centrepiece and a waterfront destination, will feature two hotels, a recreational pier and Yas Arena, an 18,000 capacity venue on Yas Island to be operated by Flash Entertainment.
HOK, part of the WSP-led team responsible for delivering the design of Yas Arena (with support from Pascall+Watson), has released more designs for the new venue, which will be the first multipurpose built arena in the city designed to accommodate a wide variety of sport and entertainment events.
HOK, in its media release, said the facility’s “dynamic form and illuminated lantern facade” is intended to both complement and animate the expanding waterfront promenade at Yas Bay.
In addition to the architectural design of Yas Arena, HOK also designed the adjacent arena retail and dining destination along the boardwalk, forming a mixed-use anchor on the east end of Yas Bay.
“Our goal is to create an exceptional entertainment experience for fans and spectators,” said John Rhodes, a director of HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practice. “Yas Arena will be the centrepiece of the development and serve as a destination on Yas Island.”
The arena is designed to expand from an intimate 500-seat theatre to an 18,000-capacity venue, to cater for all events such as tennis.
The release of images also includes the venue’s interior, which HOK said was designed “to create an intimate, highly flexible and efficient venue with excellent acoustics that can be used year-round for a variety of sport and entertainment events”.
“Our team knew the building needed to be smart, adaptable and technologically-advanced in order to efficiently transform for the wide variety of events the client wished to host,” added Rhodes.
“This transformability will make Yas Arena one of the most sophisticated arenas in the world.”
The arena is designed to expand from an intimate 500-seat theatre to an 18,000-capacity venue, maximising revenue and supporting a wide variety of events, including community gatherings and conventions.
The arena is designed to expand from an intimate 500-seat theatre to an 18,000-capacity venue, to cater for all events such as basketball.
Premium spaces include a VIP lounge that can be transformed into a grand ballroom for events, hospitality boxes and unique terrace bars for receptions and parties.
Additional amenities include an outdoor concourse that HOK said will create a festival-like atmosphere to generate year-round activity. The outdoor concourse will provide connectivity to the surrounding district on Yas Bay.
“The development of the UAE’s first 18,000 capacity-arena will place Yas Island among the leaders for performance and events venues.” said Jonathan Brown, development director of Miral Asset Management.
“We’re proud to set a new benchmark in the industry as we provide visitors with even bigger and better events to enjoy – all of which will perfectly showcase Yas Island’s excellence and vivacity.”
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