IRAQ - Stadium and Arena Development News

[hkskyline]

US firm to build soccer stadium in Iraq
21 August 2009

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) - A US-based sports architecture firm will build one of its newest structures in an unlikely spot -- Iraq.

Kansas City, Missouri-based 360 Architecture has won a contract to design a $500-million, 65,000-seat soccer stadium in Iraq's second largest city, Basra. City officials there are hoping to land the Gulf Cup of Nations -- a premier soccer tournament held in Arab nations every two years.

The city would like the stadium to be ready by 2013.

Firm principal George Heinlein says he's proud to share the company's 25 years of architecture experience with Iraq. He also says he's not nervous about the safety issues surrounding the project.

The entire development will be surrounded by a protective wall, with rings of security checkpoints inside.

While Basra hasn't experienced the same level of violence as other Iraqi cities, it has seen its share of trouble. Troops this week seized a rocket launcher in Basra armed with Iranian-made missiles aimed at an American military base. Three U.S. soldiers were killed last month in a rocket attack.

Heinlein said he was more concerned with a stadium that could be cleaned after a sandstorm while offering shade and ventilation on hot days.

"I wasn't nervous about safety," he said.

The facility, which would include a 10,000-seat practice stadium, dormitories and training facilities on a 360-acre campus, is the first major construction project to be funded entirely by the Iraqi nation.

"The city and the people of Basra are really excited about having this project built in their city," Heinlein said.

[Imperial]

Iraq ? original idea

[pirufioxxx]

if usa dont kill all the iraqies will be a good idea

[ormey]

Originally Posted by pirufioxxx

if usa dont kill all the iraqies will be a good idea

bang out of order that comment

[MKTJ]

I can't believe that Instead of building the sport city in basra with millions of dollars the government should improve the a lot of things especially the electricity

[Ukraine]

A soccer stadium??? Its the last thing that Iraq needs!!

[Jim856796]

Even with a stadium built in Iraq by 2013, there is no way I am constructing large soccer stadiums in a severely war-torn country such as Iraq. But I hope the war should be over soon.

[BobDaBuilder]

A political move, nothing more or nothing less.

[Ganis]

Im surprised Halliburton didn't get this as a no bid contract.

[Jasse James]

Panem et circenses!!!

[Basincreek]

Originally Posted by MKTJ

I can't believe that Instead of building the sport city in basra with millions of dollars the government should improve the a lot of things especially the electricity

Tens of billions of dollars have already been sunk into that. I doubt $500 million more would make much difference.

[sali_haci]

Originally Posted by pirufioxxx

if usa dont kill all the iraqies will be a good idea

[Didier-Dro]

This is good news atleast iraqis will looking forward to a peaceful time where they wont have worry about a missile flying over there head but instead spending enjoying and watching soccer games in this probably the best stadium in the middleeast.

[MrIraq]

[Kansas City, MO] 360 Architecture has been selected by the government of Iraq to master plan
and design a $500 million “sports city” in Basra.

The 360-acre project will be developed in phases. The first phase features a 65,000-seat stadium
and a 10,000-seat secondary stadium/practice facility designed to FIFA (international soccer) and
Olympic (track and field) standards. It also includes four training facilities, athlete housing
facilities, a fire station and helipad, among other items.

360 Architecture is teamed on the project with Newport Global Project Management Group and
Abdullah Al-Jiburi Contracting Company, Iraq’s largest general contractor. The team won an
international design-build competition for the job, beating out 17 facility development teams from
Britain, China, France, Kuwait, Russia and Turkey. Iraq’s Ministry of Youth and Sport led the
selection process and is administering the project. Iraq is financing the project.

“To take the experience we have gained over the past 25 years and share it with Iraq is a
tremendous honor,” said George Heinlein, a senior principal at 360 Architecture who is leading
the design effort. “I am proud to be part of an effort like this.”

The main stadium is needed as Basra prepares for the 2013 Gulf Cup, a World Cup-styled soccer
tournament among Mideast nations.

The Sports City will ultimately help Iraqi athletes train for and compete in various international
sports. Phase two of the project is expected to include: three smaller arenas; a full natatorium; a
tennis stadium; a velodrome; training facilities for a variety of Olympic events; a mosque; an
amusement park/gardens; plus housing and retail components.

When complete, the mixed-use project will be the largest complex of its kind that Iraq has ever
built.

About 360 Architecture
360 Architecture is an innovative architectural practice widely recognized for excellence in planning,
design and execution across a diversity of projects, including sports arenas and ballparks, corporate
and commercial office buildings, mixed-use entertainment districts, municipal and government
facilities, and single- and multi-family residential buildings. 360 Architecture is headquartered in
Kansas City, Mo. and has offices in Dallas, San Francisco, and Columbus. www.360architects.com
__________________

[Evil78]

Originally Posted by MrIraq

[Kansas City, MO] 360 Architecture has been selected by the government of Iraq to master plan
and design a $500 million “sports city” in Basra.

WTF? People are starving in Iraq, children don't have schools and hospitals to go to, clothes to put on, a roof over their head, bombs explode like every 5 minutes, all over the country....AND THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING $500 MILLION ON STADIUMS??? Hell....i must be in the wrong movie, but i sure don't understand shit like this...

[MrIraq]

Originally Posted by Evil78

WTF? People are starving in Iraq, children don't have schools and hospitals to go to, clothes to put on, a roof over their head, bombs explode like every 5 minutes, all over the country....AND THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING $500 MILLION ON STADIUMS??? Hell....i must be in the wrong movie, but i sure don't understand shit like this...

lol wth? that stuff isnt true. please dont judge a country which u know nothing about. Their is no one starving in Iraq, we are an oil rich country... Yes their is poverty, but it is not a large percentage.. fairly small.. bombs do not go off in iraq every five minuites... ever month, their is about 4-5 bombs which go off, and a maximum of 50 people killed by them. Their is no person who doesnt have cloths.. wth are u on about?! we are an oil rich country, have you been to the iraq forums here and seen the projects in Iraq. They arnt cheap.

I take offence to ur predictions.. u make us seem like were afghanitan or something.

go look at these forums http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2427

[Evil78]

Originally Posted by MrIraq

...bombs do not go off in iraq every five minuites... every month, their is about 4-5 bombs which go off, and a maximum of 50 people killed by them.

Fantastic statistics. Makes me really want to visit those Iraqi cities.
I didn't mean to offend you but i don't think that building stadiums for hundreds of millions of dollars is the main priority in the country right now.
Don't give me links to the Iraq SSC forums!! We are still talking about a country, which is not even able to handle crime and terrorism on it's own, and still needs a lot of international help. They should invest in the security of their own citizens, or in fighting corruption, before they start building luxury stadiums. What use of a stadium, if you go there with your family and friends, and are in risk of meeting a suicide bomber inside.

[dande]

Beautiful stadium. The priority are out of whack though.

[MrIraq]

Originally Posted by Evil78

Fantastic statistics. Makes me really want to visit those Iraqi cities.
I didn't mean to offend you but i don't think that building stadiums for hundreds of millions of dollars is the main priority in the country right now.
Don't give me links to the Iraq SSC forums!! We are still talking about a country, which is not even able to handle crime and terrorism on it's own, and still needs a lot of international help. They should invest in the security of their own citizens, or in fighting corruption, before they start building luxury stadiums. What use of a stadium, if you go there with your family and friends, and are in risk of meeting a suicide bomber inside.

btw all the iraqi cities are safe.. except the capital baghdad.. and their are 19 states.. baghdad is only one of them

[Vandoren]

Feast in time of plague...