Dubai: With just over four months to go for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, the highlight of Dubai's sporting and social calendar, Emirates announced that the event's new venue is to be named "The Sevens".
Emirates airline, one of the world's leading sport sponsors, along with the support of the Government of Dubai, is currently in the process of building the new stadium Located on the outskirts of Dubai, it will also be the venue for the Rugby World Cup Sevens from March 5-7, 2009, set to be the biggest Sevens event in history.
The Sevens will more than just rugby, as a venue it will also cater to popular sports played in the region, including cricket, football, basketball and netball.
Grandstand
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates 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 permanent grandstand with 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 Sevens will feature a permanent grandstand with 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...
