Technology
Saudi Arabia proposes World Cup stadium straight out of a cyberpunk dystopia
You’ll instantly notice the polygonal shapes making up the roof of the stadium, with the fractured pieces creating a mirror above those seated within the beehive-like setup. The Neom Stadium will be able to hold 46,000 people and “run entirely on renewable energy, generated primarily from wind and solar sources.” Construction is expected to be completed in 2032.
It looks like the stadium’s aesthetic will fit right in with The Line, the 106-mile-long linear city surrounded by reflective walls with a vertical housing system, a high-speed rail, and “100% renewable energy.” Saudi Arabia has been criticized for reportedly using lethal force to clear villages in the path of The Line, as well as concern over the amount of resources that it will need for construction.
Aside from the Neom stadium, Saudi Arabia is planning to build the three-tiered Prince Mohammed bin Salman stadium (pictured above) on the side of a cliff surrounded by colored glass and LED screens. Of course, these are still just renders for now, and the real things could end up looking entirely different.