The Moroccan government has awarded a consortium led by Populous to facilitate the construction of the world’s largest football stadium. Teaming up with architects Oualalou+Choi, the consortium has been awarded the contract to design the Grand Stade de Casablanca stadium in Morocco. Anticipated to hold a capacity of 115,000 people at one time, it will be the world’s largest football stadium once completed. The contract was awarded following an international architectural design competition.
The competition included proposals by firms such as Herzog & De Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects and even Foster + Partners. It also saw proposals from Cruz y Ortiz, GMP Architects and HPP Architects. The construction of the stadium is anticipated to be in preparation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030. This is after Morocco was named as joint host of the prestigious tournament alongside Spain and Portugal. The scope of the stadium’s design is expected to align with the FIFA compliance standards to host international tournaments.
The Significance of the World’s Largest Football Stadium
Dubbed the beautiful game, football is among the most watched sports in the world, with a massive number of fans. The construction of the world’s largest football stadium highlights just how loved the game is. The stadium provides a grand opportunity to accommodate a large number of fans at a single time. Its construction is highly anticipated as it will also serve as home to two local clubs in Morocco. This means that the Grand Stade de Casablanca will facilitate in promoting football in the country. The Moroccan government will also be able to provide job and employment opportunities to those who will be working in the stadium. The country will also be able to gain revenue from the stadium from the tickets and merchandise sold. Once completed, the world’s largest football stadium will be a hallmark in Africa and the entire globe.
The Scope of Construction on the Grand Stade de Casablanca
Preparation for groundworks is underway on a 100-hectare site in the town of El Mansouria. It is in the province of Benslimane, 38km north of Casablanca. The winning design draws inspiration from the traditional social gathering of Morocco known as a ‘moussem. The design is a stadium structure set under a grand, tented roof that emerges as a dramatic intervention in the forested landscape. No images of the designs have been released yet. Engineering firms involved in the project’s design include Maffeis Engineering, ME Engineering, and Rider Levett Bucknall. It also includes Momentum and SEPSI who complete the design team. Populous showed gratitude to the Moroccan government for awarding them the architectural role through their managing director. “We are very proud to have been selected for this prestigious project, with our partners Oualalou + Choi,” said Christopher Lee, managing director at Populous for the EMEA region.
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The State of Affairs Regarding the Grand Stade de Casablanca in Morocco
The Moroccan government is pleased to facilitate the construction of the world’s largest football stadium. Once completed, the stadium will be an outstanding hallmark and a poignant representation of the beautiful game. Tarik Oualalou, lead architect in the project and founding partner of Oualalou+Choi was keen to note that the stadium aims to promote Moroccan culture. “The Grand Stade de Casablanca is deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, with its traditions and contemporary expressions,” he said. “It is rooted in ancient and primordial figures: the Moussem, the tent, and the garden, as well as the topography and landscapes of Morocco. It’s a generous space, open to the world and respectful to the nature it protects. The Grand Stade de Casablanca is the embodiment of the great tradition of Moroccan hospitality,” he concluded.
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