Doha: More than 5,000 football fans from the Tunisian and Arab communities attended the Khalifa International Stadium Fan Zone last night to support the Tunisian national team in their first 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia match against the English national team.
Organised by Aspire Zone Foundation, the lively atmosphere once again demonstrated that the Fan Zone is the ideal setting to enjoy the tournament, with widespread enthusiasm and cheering from spectators throughout the match.
A number of dignitaries also attended the Fan Zone, including the Ambassador of Tunisia Salah Al Salahi, Ambassador of Morocco Nabil Zniber, Ambassador of Algeria Abdelaziz Sebaa, Ambassador of Sudan Fath Al Rahman Ali Mohamed and Ambassador of Benin Mohamed Bare. A number of diplomats and prominent media personalities were also present.
Commenting on the occasion, Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri, Director of PR and Communications at Aspire Zone Foundation, said: “It’s wonderful to see so many people show up to support the Tunisian national team at Khalifa International Stadium. We’ve carefully planned the set up and managed the capacity to take account of crowds of this size and we’re very happy with the turn out. It was a fantastic atmosphere with such great levels of support from all those fans who came to enjoy a thrilling evening of football.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Tunisia said: “It really was a great atmosphere in the Fan Zone at Khalifa International Stadium. There were large numbers of football fans from across the community, particularly Tunisian supporters and the lively atmosphere meant it felt like we were actually watching the game from the stands in Russia. We’re confident in the abilities of our coach and the national team, and we look forward to strong performances in the coming games.”
The hard-fought game ended in a 2-1 victory for England who secured three points after a winning goal from team Captain Harry Kane in the final minutes of the match.
Sustainable cooling technology
Khalifa International Stadium’s unique design encompasses innovative and energy-efficient cooling and lighting technology, which has set a new benchmark in the field of stadium and building design. Such technology is a key part of providing an enjoyable and comfortable experience for fans, and helps explain the venue’s appeal in attracting first-class sporting and entertainment events to Qatar.
Thanks to Khalifa International Stadium’s world-class technology, the stadium has been cooled to temperatures of between 22˚C and 29˚C, keeping football fans comfortable during Doha’s summer months.
Fans can watch the games at Khalifa International Stadium on giant screens that are equipped with state-of-the-art LED lighting technologies which consume 40% less energy and are more sustainable than traditional lighting methods. There are only six stadiums in the world that use such LED technology and Khalifa International Stadium is the first in the region to offer it. Other stadiums that use it include Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge Stadium and Eindhoven’s Philips Arena Stadium.
5,000 seats allocated for spectators
One of the Fan Zone’s key features is the capacity to host thousands of football fans daily. Due to the growing number of fans attending, Aspire Zone Foundation has extended the number of spectator seats from 3,000 to 5,000 seats for football fans, organised in a variety of options. Fans looking to watch the games in a more private setting can choose from 16 VIP skyboxes costing QR1,000 each, or 24 Majlis with authentic designs inspired by Qatari culture, costing QR400 each. Elsewhere, fans can enjoy the matches from Khalifa International Stadium’s spectator stands free of charge.
Spacious carparks for fans
Aspire Zone Foundation has also allocated more than 2,000 carparking spaces in front of Khalifa International Stadium’s Gate 02, enabling fans to park within a close distance to the entrance Gate. Thanks to the spacious parking area in front of Khalifa International Stadium, fans can enter and leave the Fan Zone with maximum ease.
This year’s Fan Zone is sponsored by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (Main Partner) and Ooredoo (Main Sponsor), as well as Al Attiya Motors and Trading Co., CISCO, Witr Jewellery, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and Pepsi.
The Fan Zone is the ideal location for the country’s football fans to celebrate the most anticipated sporting event in the world, to follow World Cup games and keep up-to-date with the all the action. Games will be screened there every day throughout the tournament.
