RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ministry has tendered a contract to boost the capacity of Riyadh’s Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium to 45,000 seats up from its current 22,188. The expansion project comes as the Kingdom prepares to host the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in 2027, reported MEED. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s plan to build sports stadiums under its SR10.1 billion ($2.7 billion) capital projects program. The ministry requested proposals on April 8 and expects to receive bids on June 14. In April, the ministry also tendered an early works contract for the expansion and development of the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam. At the time, the scope of the contract included the stadium’s decommissioning, demolition, and bulk excavation, as well as the relocation and setting up of related facilities. In July 2023, the ministry invited firms to submit pre-qualification documents for the main construction contracts for the schemes in the capital projects program. The undertakings, which are set for completion before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, entail increasing the capacity of King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to 92,000 seats and boosting the seating capacity of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium to 30,000 seats. It also includes increasing the seating capacity of the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Kahir to 45,000 and building a sustainable New Riyadh Stadium north of the city with 45,000 seats. Another main element of the ministry’s projects program is the construction of as many as 30 new training grounds and facilities in proximity to the stadiums that will be used for the 2027 competition. Construction on the projects is expected to start in July 2024 and scheduled to be completed by December 2025. A total of 18 facilities will be ready in time for the 2026 AFC Women’s Cup.