Riyadh Season 2023 draws to a close with visitor numbers hitting 20 million
Riyadh Season 2023 draws to a close with visitor numbers hitting 20 million
The fourth edition of Riyadh Season has come to a close after nearly five months of non-stop entertainment, international showdowns, and exciting events
13 March 24
20 Million Visitors to Riyadh Season 2023
The fourth edition of Riyadh Season has officially come to a close after almost five months of non-stop action with an array of internationally anticipated events, family fun and a bevvy of brand new Season Zones.
Riyadh Season 2023 began on October 28 with a world-class opening ceremony followed by the epic showdown between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou in the Battle of the Baddest title bout. (Spoiler alert: after ten impressive rounds, Fury was declared the winner and retained his title of undefeated champion, a split decision by a panel of side-line judges).
The final events of the season included Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, and yet another glove-to-glove fight—Knock Out Chaos—between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.
The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) of Saudi Arabia announced the close of Riyadh Season, alongside a statement declaring this years edition of Riyadh Season as one of the most successful thus far.
Turki Alalsheikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has played a major role in increasing the international reach of the event, and elevating the expectations of annual celebration.
And, it was Alasheikh who confirmed that this Riyadh Season reached a milestone achievement, with visitor numbers surpassing 20 million visitors - a record breaking figure.
Initially it was estimated that Riyadh Season 2023 would see 12 million visitors upon its close, however this figure was achieved within the first two months of the seasons opening. In the first week of opening, more than one million visitors from near and far had attended Riyadh Season. And, by February, the GEA confirmed that the visitor numbers had hit 18 million visits.
Announced under the theme of "Big Time," Riyadh Season 2023 showcased a diverse array of exceptional events, setting new standards in entertainment across the Kingdom and for Riyadh Season. This is particularly true with regards to number of high-calibre sporting events that took place throughout the last five months: from boxing bouts to tense football championships, a snooker tournament and head-to-head tennis matches between top seeded players, and a competitive nod to the trending sport of padel.
Alongside a plethora of athletes such as Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou, Anthony Joshua, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, there were also a number of international celebrities attending as spectators. Of course, Saudi's newest resident celebrity Cristiano Ronaldo, tens of international celebrities visited Riyadh to get an up-close view of the all action, including: Mike Tyson, John Cena, Conor McGregor, Eminem, Kanye West, Rio Ferdinand, Anthony Hopkins, Abdu Rozik and many more.
Not just a selection of incredible events, the spirit and success of Riyadh Season 2023 has been immortalised in a brand new Netflix documentary. Marking a major milestone for the Kingdom and for the future of Riyadh Season, a camera crew documented the moments behind Riyadh Season's landmark bout between two heavy-weight champions, Fury and Ngannou, during the inaugural Riyadh Season event, Battle of the Baddest.
This year's edition of Riyadh Season has solidified the event's position as a global entertainment hub, attracting record numbers of visitors seeking diverse entertainment, culinary delights, and immersive experiences. Through its groundbreaking initiatives, Riyadh has emerged as a premier destination for those seeking unparalleled entertainment offerings.
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