Qatar is preparing to dismantle and transport one of the World Cup stadiums on a ship to another continent, another still unknown part of the planet. His penultimate pirouette. “The best thing is that it fits in 10 or 20% of a boat, and the entire process, until placing it in the future destination, will take almost two years. Building a new one is three,” explains Mark Fenwick, founding partner of Fenwick Iribarren Arquitects (FIA) together with Javier Iribarren, the Spanish studio that designed this stadium, 974; probably the most original of the 2022 event. An architectural caper inspired by Lego, made up of 974 containers, which was presented as the first field of its kind.
In this small, wealthy country, everything was created in a giant way for the World Cup, as was seen with the stadiums. The one at the opening match (Al Bayt) was designed as a traditional tent of the nomadic peoples of the region; The one in the final and where the whites compete against Pachuca in the Intercontinental (Lusail) recreates a ceramic vessel from Arab craftsmanship; and the place of the Spanish premiere (Al Thumama) recalls the traditional men’s cap in the Middle East (gahfiya).
The problem is that, two years after such an exhibition of forms, constructions and economic power, the fields almost always offer a ghostly image in the local League, in the bones, converted into luxurious skeletons attended by only a few thousand spectators. . Or not even that. The scene is repeated daily as seen in the videos posted on the official website of the championship in which Joselu Mato, Javi Martínez, Sergio Rico, Marc Muniesa, Rodrigo Moreno and David García compete. It doesn’t matter if it’s August or a more moderate December in temperatures, even cool at night, like these days. Cement and empty seats rule as much as generous contracts.
Of the eight World Cup venues (seven new), which had a very effective air conditioning system against the heat, league clashes are held in five of them: Khalifa, Al Thumama, Al Janoub, Ahmad bin Ali and Al Bayt. But they don’t welcome everyone, it’s not necessary. The country has other more modest and small venues to alleviate the usual feeling of loneliness. The attendance record, as detailed by the country’s Supreme Committee to this newspaper, is 30,000 spectators at Al Rayyan-Al Arabi, at the Ahmad Bin Ali, a figure that can also be reached occasionally in the Asian Champions League. although Joselu’s Al Gharafa debuted in this tournament with less than 4,500 in the imposing Al Bayt, with a capacity for 60,000.
The revolutionary stadium 974 is preparing to go to another continent on a ship
The invasion of Egyptians in the Intercontinental semi-final between Al Ahly and Pachuca returned 974 to their World Cup nights and Madrid’s hook in the final this Wednesday in Lusail, where almost 90,000 fans can fit, should generate interest. International meetings can attract audiences; However, in the League’s routine the facilities are exposed to the echo. “It’s true that sometimes I watch games and there is nothing sadder than an empty stadium. It’s hard for them to go. It must also be taken into account that there are few inhabitants [2,7 millones; Doha, 1,2]. The Qatari almost goes alone to the VIP stands,” admits Mark Fenwick, who, in addition to 974, designed Al Thumama and Education City, the diamond-inspired stadium where La Roja was eliminated against Morocco.
The desert in the stands was a predictable scenario, even for the authorities, who included in their project the reduction of the capacity of almost all the stadiums; However, two years later that step has still not been taken. “Although it seems like nothing is being done, we are working on giving them other uses. From the beginning, it was one of the country’s concerns,” says Fenwick, whose studio is part of the Egis engineering group. The organizers’ initial plan was to replace part of the stands with homes, a luxury hotel, shops, offices or a sports clinic.
Reducing the capacity by half is not that complicated and it does not take long either. Stadiums were designed with this in mind
Mark Fenwick, designer of three stadiums for the Qatar World Cup
“Reducing the capacity by half is not that complicated and it does not take long either. They were designed taking this into account,” he clarifies. “The lower bleachers are made of concrete and the upper bleachers are made of screwed iron. You have to dismantle the top part and unscrew the beams, something more or less manageable. The height of the stadium and the envelope are maintained, and on that second floor it will be built for other uses,” specifies the architect, who is not clear if this will end up being carried out in all the World Cup facilities.
At Al Thumama and Education City, for example, Fenwick already knows what will be in the future on top of both stadiums. In the first, buildings will be built for two League clubs, and in the second, located on a campus, spaces will be enabled for the university world. Meanwhile, the 974, which curiously was 30-40% cheaper than the rest, is preparing for the move. “It is a very valuable plot, near the sea, and they are clear that they must leave there,” concludes the Spanish architect, who patented the design. Various solutions for venues that dazzled at the World Cup, but now only show concrete.
