Populous has unveiled plans for a major stadium in Saudi Arabia to be constructed on top of a 650-foot-tall cliff. The Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium seeks to “draw visitors from across the globe and revolutionize the traditional stadium experience with its immersive design and unique technological features,” according to the team.

Located in Qiddiya City, 40 minutes from the capital Riyadh, the venue is designed to host the country’s largest sports, entertainment, and cultural events and is expected to attract 7.6 million annual visits. The stadium will be the world’s first venue with a combined retractable roof, pitch, and LED wall, offering what the team calls “unparalleled versatility” in “allowing the space to transform into different ‘event modes’ in a matter of hours.”

When activated, the LED wall will display live event broadcasts, high-definition films, and laser shows. When not in use, the wall gives way to views of the city from the venue’s cliffside location. Meanwhile, the stadium’s so-called “HoloBox” will allow “virtual interactions with celebrities and stars.”

“In designing this flagship venue, we were inspired both by the clifftop location and the innovation and ‘Play Life’ ethos of Qiddiya,” said Populous Senior Principal and Project Lead, Rhys Courtney. “The stadium exterior is formed by a collection of modular cubes that act as an extension of the Tuwaiq cliff, framed by portals that glimpse into the future of the city. The stadium spans the height of the cliff to connect the upper plateau and the Gaming & Esports district, to the lower plateau and theme parks below.”

The venue will hold a capacity of 45,000 seats and will serve as the home stadium for Saudi Pro League soccer clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr. In addition to hosting events such as the Saudi King Cup and Asian Cup, the stadium is also being considered for the 2034 Asian Games and Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Video credit: Populous

“The cubes and portals spill down the cliff to create a massive digital canvas that interacts with users at different scales, from street-level vistas to the three-sided seating bowl experience, to citywide views – transcending the stadium typology,” Courtney adds. “The central stadium is encircled by towers creating a 365-day mixed-use sports and entertainment precinct forming hierarchies of space and activation. A covered, mixed-reality street runs between the stadium and surrounding towers to circulate fans and the public towards the phenomenal cliff-edge views over Qiddiya.”

News of the scheme comes weeks after Populous unveiled a separate new esports arena in Qiddiya. Elsewhere, Janet Echelman recently completed a rippling structure in the Saudi capital informed by earthquake and tsunami data.