Egyptian Premier League football club Al Ahly yesterday (Wednesday) staged an opening ceremony for its new stadium in Al Salam City, Cairo.
The 30,000-seat venue was formerly known as Al-Salam Stadium and will now become Al-Ahly Stadium. Club president Mahmoud Al-Khatib and a number of former players were in attendance for the opening ceremony at the stadium, which has undergone extensive renovation work to reflect its new tenant.
Last December, Al Ahly reached a contractual agreement with Egyptian sports development agency Estadat to use the stadium for a period of 25 years. One of the terms of the agreement was that Al Ahly could rebrand the stadium to include the club’s name.
Al Ahly board member Mohamed Serageldin outlined that a number of upgrades would be carried out at the stadium following the handover. All of the seats have changed from blue to Al Ahly red, while a range of club banners have been added around the stadium.
LED screens will be added in the stands to enhance the fan experience, while Al Ahly-themed changing rooms and mixed zones will be introduced. Two new VIP boxes will be set up, while plans are also being put in place for cashless services to be introduced.
Yesterday’s opening ceremony featured a fireworks display and a flying eagle in tribute to the club’s mascot.
The stadium will effectively serve as a temporary home for Al Ahly while work continues on a planned new stadium.
No timeline has been set for the new 60,000-seat stadium but Al Ahly confirmed a conceptual design for the venue back in February 2018. The stadium would become the third largest in Egypt after the 86,000-capacity Borg El-Arab and the 74,100-seat Cairo International Stadium, where Al Ahly has previously played home games.
