Two weeks remain until the kick-off of the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series at the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens and the event's organisers are putting the finishing touches to the new home of rugby in the Middle East - ‘The Sevens’.
The new purpose-built venue, which will also host the Rugby World Cup Sevens on 5-7 March next year, is close to completion and will welcome 130,000 visitors over three days on 27-29 November 2008 for the famous Dubai Sevens.
“Things are looking great and we are relishing the prospect of showing off this spectacular new venue when the action kicks off,” said Gary Chapman, President of Group Services and Dnata, part of the Emirates Group.
“The Sevens will be able to hold around 50,000 people including spectators, players and officials for what promises to be a phenomenal sporting weekend.
Maintaining the magic
“One of our overriding priorities when constructing 'the Sevens' was to preserve the special character that has made the Dubai Sevens such a success over the years. And a lot of that was based on the fact that people could easily move around the venue to watch matches on the other pitches and meet up with their friends.
“We are very pleased that we have been able to retain that element and are certain that it, along with the increased numbers and size, will contribute to the most exciting Sevens we have seen in Dubai,” added Chapman.
The main pitch at The Sevens features a permanent grandstand of 4,000 seats, augmented by temporary stands that lift the number of tickets to 42,500 enabling over 10,000 more fans than previous years.
The second pitch, which is in a bowl and enclosed on three sides by grass embankments, can accommodate 15,000 spectators, while four further sports pitches are located close to the two-storey 80-metre long clubhouse which will eventually become home to the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union.
The complex also features broadcast and medical facilities, hospitality areas, a 30-metre wide promenade featuring food outlets and cafes and parking for some 15,000 vehicles, although over 170 buses will provide free transport from the venue back into five convenient locations around Dubai: Festival City, Media City (Family drop off point), Barasti, Al Marooj Rotana’s Double Decker and the Irish Village.
The Sevens in Facts and figures
- 6 - the number of sports pitches at The Sevens
- 15,000 - car parking spaces available
- 3,698,914.86m² - the complete area of the site
- 6,972,100 - hours worked to construct the venue
- 1,900,000m³ - the amount of sand used
- 423 days - the overall timeline for construction
- 5046m³; 135,000; 220 MTT - the amount of concrete, bricks and cement used
- 64,000m² - the total square metreage of grass
