The latest crazy challenge comes from Saudi Arabia: the facility is called NEOM Stadium and could even host the 2034 World Cup
Playing a match atop a skyscraper?
This is not only what they’re thinking in Saudi Arabia, but, in fact, they’re planning and already building as part of the visionary linear city of The Line. It will be called NEOM and it will be the first "sky stadium" in the world capable of hosting not just a sporting event—many will remember the tennis match between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer in Dubai, but that was an exhibition—but to do so officially and with tens of thousands of fans at more than 300 meters above sea level. As mentioned, an architectural (and also strategic) project that, until a few years ago, was only possible in futuristic films. But in Saudi Arabia, the future is today.
NEOM Stadium, the stadium at the top of the skyscraper
In short, the sports facility suspended approximately 330 meters above ground, within the NEOM mega-project and its linear city, The Line, is a reality.
The futuristic stadium is designed to accommodate approximately 46,000 spectators and will represent the flagship of Saudi Arabia’s bid for the FIFA World Cup 2034.
Construction is scheduled to start in 2027 and be completed by 2032, more than enough time to host some World Cup matches.
The location is strategic: within The Line, the famous linear city without conventional cars, powered 100% by renewable energy and conceived as a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s urban transformation.
From a technical standpoint, the NEOM Stadium will combine futuristic architecture and environmental sustainability: the roof will be part of the city’s structure, transportation will be electric and automated, and the entire structure will be powered by photovoltaic and wind power.
The idea is to go beyond any conventional stadium concept: it’s an immersive experience, with smart technologies, venues for concerts and e-sports, and a sports hub integrated into the city’s "Health & Well-Being" zone.
How much is the suspended facility expected to cost?
NEOM Stadium can be considered part of a much larger financial picture: the NEOM project itself—which includes The Line and numerous other ambitious projects—was initially estimated at around $500 billion, but internal audits suggest it could reach up to $8.8 trillion and take decades to complete (2080 is a plausible date).
As for the stadium alone, there is currently no separate official figure: some sources report figures in the range of "about $1 billion" for the facility, but these are not independently confirmed.
The cost of the stadium must therefore be viewed within the broader context: the Saudi regime, through its sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is investing heavily in sports infrastructure as part of its Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification and tourism promotion.
From this perspective, the stadium is not just a sporting investment but a strategic one: wanting to show the world a "first"—the suspended stadium—has branding and soft power implications. After all, construction is only one aspect; maintenance, renewable energy, transportation, fan logistics, and future operations generate recurring costs and significant engineering requirements.
Furthermore, the cost of the urban context—the linear city, the automated transit system, and renewable power—distributes the budget across multiple fronts. Experts point out that materials, skilled labor, and technical innovation for a suspended structure command a premium over a traditional stadium. It is therefore more correct to consider the stadium as part of a costly and complex "machine," and that its "real price" will also depend on the actual construction of the surrounding area.
Critical issues, visions, and other Saudi ambitions
Despite its fascination, the project presents numerous unknowns and criticisms. The Line city—a concentric, car-free structure, initially over 170 km long—has already been scaled down: instead of millions of residents by 2030, the first phase could accommodate only a few hundred thousand.
At the same time, the construction of the NEOM Stadium and the entire area raises questions of technical, safety, evacuation, and real sustainability: suspending an entire stadium 350 meters above the ground is no ordinary undertaking and requires extremely high standards and no concrete history behind it. It is a first from every perspective.
Further doubts are emerging on the geopolitical and social levels: spectacular projects are seen as tools of "sportswashing"—that is, attempts to improve the kingdom’s international image through sporting events—and the conditions of migrant workers have been the subject of several reports in the past. Will all this change with the new project?
environmental sustainability, although pursued as a goal (solar energy, wind power, zero-car cities), is also being put to the test: the impact of construction, materials, travel, and maintenance can be significant, and not all aspects are currently transparent. While the NEOM Stadium embodies the Saudi idea of urban and sporting greatness, it also reflects its contradictions: extreme vision, boundless ambition, tight timelines, and complex scenarios. Will it truly be the model of the future, or will it become a symbol of unfulfilled "mega-promises"? Only time will tell.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Uno stadio mai visto prima. Sarà sopra un grattacielo a 330 metri di altezza
