Etihad Arena Explained

Etihad Arena
Location:Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Coordinates:24.4603°N 54.604°W
Opened:January 2021
Operator:Ethara
Capacity:18,000
Architect:HOK

Etihad Arena (initially known as Yas Bay Arena while under construction) is an indoor arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, located on the Yas Bay Waterfront district of Yas Island. Designed by HOK, the capacity of the venue is 18,000 and it is operated by Etihad.[1] [2]

History

In 2018, its design received the 2018 MENA Green Building Award for "Sustainable Building Design of the Year".[3]

In January 2020, naming rights for the new arena were sold to Etihad Airways.[4]

Originally expected to open in March 2020, its opening was delayed due to event cancellations tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates.[5]

It opened in January 2021, with its first event being . The arena held its second UFC event days later, hosting . The UFC had held mixed martial arts events on Yas Island behind closed doors in a bubble arrangement known as "Fight Island"; this marked the UFC's first event in the series to have spectators at a limited capacity.[6] [7] The promotion held its first PPV event that same month, hosting UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2.

The UFC returned to Etihad Arena for UFC 267: Błachowicz vs. Teixeira in October 2021.[8] The UFC returned to the arena in 2022 again for their annual October PPV UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev.[9] In October of 2023 UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 was held as their annual event.

In 2024 two UFC events will be held. in August and UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway in October.

For hosting the 2021 World Swimming Championships in December 2021, a temporary pool was added to the arena.[3]

On 21 May 2022, the arena hosted an exhibition boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Don Moore. On November 5, 2022, a WBA light heavyweight title fight was held between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Ramírez.

In October 2022, the arena held two NBA preseason games between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 marked the league’s first games held in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf.[10]

On 26 January 2023, the arena held Imagine Dragon's Mercury World Tour.[11] It was the band's first concert in the city of Abu Dhabi.

In October 2023, the NBA returned to the arena for two preseason games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves.[12]

Guns N' Roses performed on June 1, 2023, many old songs were played for the first time in a long time (Anything Goes, Pretty Tied Up and Bad Obsession, Down on the Farm)

Notable events

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ETIHAD AND MIRAL SIGN AGREEMENT NAMING ETIHAD ARENA, THE NEW ENTERTAINMENT VENUE ON YAS ISLAND. 9 January 2020. Miral Asset Management.
  2. Web site: HOK Unveils Design for Yas Arena in Abu Dhabi. 12 June 2017.
  3. https://www.fina.org/news/2417278/etihad-arena-the-best-venue-ever-well-probably "Etihad Arena – the best venue ever? Well, probably"
  4. Web site: 2020-01-09. Etihad takes naming rights to new Abu Dhabi arena. 2021-03-13. The Stadium Business. en-GB.
  5. Web site: 2020-03-16. Etihad Arena opening date pushed back by coronavirus. 2021-03-13. The Stadium Business. en-GB.
  6. Web site: Staff. 2021-01-07. Fans are back: UFC will have 'limited' attendance at three-card 'Fight Island' stint at Etihad Arena. 2021-01-07. MMA Junkie.
  7. Web site: Newswire. 2021-01-10. Etihad Arena lists official COVID-19 safety measures for fans at January UFC Fight Island shows. 2021-01-11. MMA Fighting.
  8. Web site: Gabriel Gonzalez. 2021-07-24. UFC 267 targeted as double-header, non-PPV event. 2021-07-24. cagesidepress.com.
  9. Web site: 2021-10-22. UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev. 2022-10-22. MMAjunkie.com.
  10. Web site: 2022-05-10. Bucks, Hawks to play 2 preseason games in Abu Dhabi. 2022-05-10. National Basketball Association.
  11. Web site: Imagine Dragons . 27 January 2023 . Imagine Dragons Music.
  12. Web site: 2023-05-02. Wolves, Mavs to play 2 preseason games in Abu Dhabi. 2023-05-03. National Basketball Association.
  13. News: Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier make weight for UFC 257 . 22 January 2021 . ESPN . Okamoto . Brett.
  14. https://www.fina.org/competitions/2/15th-fina-world-swimming-championships-25m-2021 "15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2021: Overview"
  15. Web site: IIFA Awards: 'Shershaah' leads with top honours, Vicky Kaushal dedicates award to Irrfan . . 5 June 2022.