Grand Stade d’Agadir; where the Atlas Mountains blend with sports facility

Occasionally, structural designers attempt a blend of nature with constructions. This is very apparent in the design of Grand Stade d’Agadir, one of the arenas that Morocco is proposing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations’ hosting.

The stadium is lying at the foot of the Atlas Mountain from where the Morocco national team drived their appelation, Atlas Lions, is one of the stadiums that the North African nation is putting forward in the bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nation.

According to Hitcham Allouli, the stadium’s director, the 45,480 capacity Grand Stade Adrar Agadir was designed to form part of Morocco’s bid for the 2010 World Cup. Early construction works kicked off in 2003, but works progressed slowly and stalled when South Africa got awarded the World Cup instead of Morocco.

Construction works resumed in 2007 and was completed in October 2013 and hosted some matches of that year’s edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.  

Located on the eastern edge of the Agadir at the foot of the Atlas mountain range, the stadium is about five kilometres from Agadir’s centre and beachfront.

The arena’s director said that the stadium is estimated to have been constructed at cost of one million euro.

The design was by a Moroccan architect, Sad Benkirane in conjuction with a foreign firm, Gregotti Associati International.

Outwardly, the stadium in colour and in shape, is designed to have a perfect harmony with the surrounding hills as outside walls have sloped elevations.

Hitcham Allouli, the director at the stadium informed that the arena, with natural grass, has a media tribune that can hold 288 journalists as well as 12 commentary boxes.

The three-tiered grand stand has three VVIP zones and each had capacity for 250 guests. This is in addition to 12 lounges that can host 300 guests.

The locker rooms have facilities for ice room as well as that for sauna baths.

The ability of the arena to host major international tournaments, especially the Africa Cup of Nations has already been proven as the Grand Stadium d’Agadir had hosted international matches and also the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013.