Stadium Name: | Babil Stadium ملعب بابل الدولي |
Location: | Hillah, Iraq |
Coordinates: | 32.3945°N 44.4563°W |
Broke Ground: | 21 June 2012 |
Owner: | Ministry of Youth and Sports |
Surface: | Grass |
Architect: | Javier Garcia Alda[1] |
Main Contractors: | TriArena[2] |
Seating Capacity: | 32,200 |
Babil Stadium is a football stadium that is currently under construction in Babil, Iraq.[3] It will primarily serve as the new home stadium of Babylon SC and Al-Qasim SC. The stadium will cost 116.212 billion IQD, funded entirely by Iraqi government.[4] It is located in the neighborhood of Al Hillah, in Babil Governorate, home to what is left of the ancient city of Babylon. It will seat 32,200 spectators.[5] The stadium was originally scheduled to open in early 2014, but due to financial crises, construction has been put on hold multiple times.[6] As of February 2022, the stadium is yet to be completed.
The project consists of a sports complex of 225 hectares, containing a football stadium for 32,200 spectators, two training fields, a four star hotel and parking areas.[7] The main football stadium includes cafés, restaurants, changing rooms, VIP areas and spectator boxes. The venue designed by Javier Garcia Alda was initially to have single-tiered stands, but final layout will see it with two tiers.[8] It does not have an athletics track, allowing spectators to enjoy an optimal visual experience.[9] The design of the stadium is an contrast of the latest technologies and the traditional Arabic culture reflected through the combination of functional structures and ornamental patterns which create a new harmony. The design complies with FIFA requirements.[10]