Kigali Arena, a multi- purpose live entertainment facility with a seated capacity of 10,000, has been completed and is set to open in the capital of Rwanda.
The new event space is among the top ten largest indoor locations in Africa and the largest in the region of Eastern Africa. It is situated next to the Amahoro National Stadium (30,000-cap.).
The arena includes 13 cafes and bars, restaurants, a press hall and a fitness center covering an area of 28,000 square meters.
The inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) semi- finals and finals will take place in the arena in March 2020, as well as the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Championships.
The venue will also be hosting concerts, meetings and exhibitions.
“[Prior to the Kigali Arena] we had no proper arena to host big competitions, festivals and concerts”
“[Prior to the Kigali Arena] we had no proper arena to host big competitions, festivals and concerts,” says John Ntigengwa of the Rwandan ministry for sports and culture, adding the venue is “a great addition”.
The arena is a joint venture between the Rwandan government and the Turkish investment firm Summa.
Kigali Arena joins a host of other indoor arenas across the continent, including the 20,000- capacity Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex in Egypt and Ticketpro Dome in South Africa.
Over the previous few years, the French media conglomerate Vivendi has reinforced its presence in Africa, opening 13 CanalOlympia locations across the continent, doubling as cinemas and live performance spaces.
