Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium 'Ring of Fire' Lights Up Night Sky

Dubai Sports City’s cricket stadium stood bold and bright on the Dubai skyline as officials making final preparations for the grand opening tested the 365 floodlights that will create ideal playing conditions at the new venue.

Engineers are conducting the final testing of the stadium infrastructure ahead of the much anticipated opening.

The state-of-the-art lighting system has been uniquely installed into the rim of the roof of the stadium, creating what is being described as a ‘ring of fire’ which will light up the field of play. The design is such that it will prevent any distracting shadows of the players.

“The stadium really comes to life at night,” said Macky Dudhia, General Manager – Sports Business, Dubai Sports City. “To sit inside the arena with the lights on, passionate cricket fans in full voice, and cricket action on the lush field, this all conjures up a sense of excitement. It will create an imposing and electric atmosphere comparable to the biggest matches in the sport.”

The Dubai Sports City cricket stadium has been designed to provide a world class venue, ideally suited to act as a neutral venue for world cricket and has the facilities to host Test Matches, One-Day internationals, and Twenty:20 tournaments. The stadium is bowl shaped, providing excellent views from every seat in the ground and simultaneously bringing the spectators closer than ever to the action.

The player’s changing rooms will be among the most luxurious and spacious of any cricket ground in the world. With indoor and outdoor pitch-side seating, physiotherapy and massage rooms, a raised lounge with a view of the pitch, locker rooms and dining areas, the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will provide the world-class player with everything they need.

Within the media centre there are 82 indoor press seats with cable and wireless internet connection and excellent views of the stadium. The exceptionally well appointed VVIP and Gold boxes will hold more than 100 people, with 24 luxurious boxes on the lower level adjacent to VVIP and Gold Boxes and 17 high quality corporate boxes looking out on to the pitch from the top level of the venue.

Dubai Sports City’s cricket stadium will be the first of four stadiums to be completed, with a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose stadium for football, track and field, and rugby; a field Hockey Stadium capable of holding up to 5,000 spectators, and an indoor arena that will house 10,000 supporters for a wide range of sports including basketball, indoor hockey, volleyball, handball, netball and ice hockey.