Hosted by Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Turki Al-Alshikh, a detailed press conference on what the public can expect of Riyadh Season 2024, was held in the capital and broadcast live on both social media and on television.
The fifth edition of the seasonal celebrations will officially begin in the capital city on October 12 with a boxing extravaganza IV Crown Showdown, featuring Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol going glove-to-glove and battling it out for the chance to be crowned the ultimate champion in the world's light heavyweight division.
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These are the exciting and eye-catching announcements made so far, about what we can expect from the 2024 edition of Riyadh Season:
New Zones
Each year we are introduced to new zones at Riyadh Season, and this year will be no different. Two new zones have been confirmed to open: The Venue and Boulevard Runway / BVLD Runway.
The Venue
This is a brand new announcement for Riyadh Season 2024. At the press event, a new zone set to be known as 'The Venue' was unveiled by the GEA.
Although very little has been revealed about what type of experiences and events we can expect at The Venue, it was noted that this is going to be a an exclusive location and a huge, new zone for visitors to explore. Slated to cover an area of more than 9400 square metres, The Venue will have a capacity of approximately 8000 people at any one time.
From November 13, The Venue will be the location of the Elie Saab showcase; a curated display of fashion that will tell the story of the designer, and his most iconic creations. This exhibit will be a "celebration and tribute" to Elie Saab's creativity. In complete contrast, on January 30, 2025, The Venue will host the new and intriguing 'sport' of Power Slap, and continuing on a similar theme, on February 1, 2025, The Venue will be the location of an international UFC Fight Night.
Said to be equipped with high-tech audiovisual technology, of the new zone, Al-Alshikh said: "It is a very wonderful and different area."
Boulevard Business Park
A new zone that will combine business with pleasure, Boulevard Business Park will be introduced as part of an expansion project for the already popular destination of Boulevard City. Boulevard Business Park will include a selection of bookable office and meeting spaces, alongside a new business-travel hotel.
Boulevard Runway / BVLD Runway
Initially Boulevard Runway or BVLD Runway was announced by the GEA in late January of this year, and construction of the new zone began shortly afterwards. Set to be brought to life in partnership with Saudi Arabian Airlines, now known as Saudia, BVLD Runway will showcase five unique experiences aboard five real (yet grounded) airplanes.
The new airplane themed zone will stretch across an impressive 140,000 metre area, and will comprise of three separate zones, and in total the new zone will be able to host a capacity of up to 9000 visitors at any one time.
Blending entertainment and experiences, this new sky-high themed zone will invite visitors to explore and travel the world, without having to pack a bag or bring a passport. From restaurants to gaming and theatrical performances, guests can indulgent luxury, sky-high tea experience - from the ground - aboard the majlis-styled airplane, or opt for a thrilling horror game aboard another aircraft, there is set to be something for everyone in this new zone.
Exciting Events
What would Riyadh Season be without a whole host of exciting events? Visitors to the fifth edition of Riyadh Season are set to be in for a treat as a selection of new sporting events were announced.
Tennis
The Six Kings Slam will return to Riyadh Season again this year, slated for three unmissable days, the tournament will take place from October 16 - 19. The tennis tournament will see the six best male tennis players in the world battle it out be crowned the official 'King' of tennis. Tennis titans such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will take on current, top-seeded players including Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and Holder Rune.
Power Slap
On January 30, 2025, the very first competitive Power Slap event to take place in the Kingdom. Riyadh Season's new zone - The Venue - will host a slap fighting championship, Power Slap. A unique sport proposed and brought to life by UFC's Dana White, Power Slap involves opponents forcefully striking each other across the face, with an open hand until one or the other opts out, or is knocked out.
Hans Zimmer Live
The legendary and iconic musician and composer will grace Riyadh Season with both his presence and his compositions on January 24, 2025. Slated to be an immersive and spine-tingling performance, the internationally renowned composers will give Riyadh audiences a night to remember at Boulevard City.
Martin Lawrence: Y'All Know What It Is Tour
Bringing his latest comedy tour to Riyadh, funny man Martin Lawrence will take to the stage at Boulevard City on October 18. Known for his comedic roles in the Bad Boys franchise with Will Smith, and the Big Momma movies, the American stand up comedian is eye-wateringly funny, and is bound to make the audience at the Bakr Al-Shedi Theatre roll on the floor with laughter. Keep an eye out for tickets, as these are bound to sell out quickly!
Incredible Surprises
Several incredible surprises await the visitors of Riyadh Season 2024, but some surprises are too incredible to keep a secret.
Dinosaur on Display
The GEA revealed that a real-life dinosaur skeleton, named OluLou will be on display from November onwards in the Boulevard City zone. This is said to be one of the largest and most intact pre-historic dinosaur skeletons in the world, making it a must-visit attraction for guests.
Ronnie O' Sullivan Academy
Opening on October 14, the Kingdom's first snooker academy will open in Boulevard City. Brought to life in collaboration with namesake and snooker champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, the academy will be a specialised training facility for those interested in the intense and accurate sport.
Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams
For fashion lovers, the world-renowned Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition is coming to Riyadh. Showcasing more than 500 pieces of intricate art in the form of clothing, pieces from the Christian Dior archive will be on display from November 22. In addition to the showcase at the AlMurabba National Museum, there will be a pop-up cafe and a souvenir shop.
Feeding the Giraffes, Elephants and Monkeys
Making Riyadh Zoo a more interactive zone for children and families, the zoo will host a daily feeding session with the giraffes, the monkeys and even the elephants too. From October 30, a select few members of the public will be able to become a zoo keeper for a moment and take part in the feeding of some of the most incredible animals on earth at Riyadh Zoo.
Official Ticket Platform
This year WeBook has been made the official ticket platform for Riyadh Season 2024.
With a large majority of last year's bookable experiences already taking place via WeBook, it has been confirmed that the ticketing platform will be the official ticket seller of the event.
In addition a more straightforward purchasing and booking experience, the decision to make WeBook the official platform for Riyadh Season tickets was also to directly combat the black market and reselling of tickets for inflated prices. It is hoped that this more clear and transparent ticketing process will allow for the exciting events of Riyadh Season to be more accessible to all.
Subscription ticketing packages for more comprehensive experiences will also be made available to those interested via WeBook, alongside the "biggest announcement" of the night - that a suite of 'Riyadh Season Packages' will be available to book: Silver, Black and Diamond. Although not yet announced, it is anticipated that these packages will allow visitors from other cities and nations to book a fully-rounded entertainment and Riyadh Season package for specific events, including tickets, access to special areas and hotel stays.
During the press conference Al-Alshikh encouraged anyone interested in visiting or attending the events of Riyadh Season 2024 to only book via this official booking channel, and emphasised that black market sales would not be tolerated.
Riyadh Season 2024 will begin on October 12, 2024
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