Rwanda’s main football stadium, Amahoro National Stadium, is undergoing a major face-lift to turn it into an ultra-modern sports ground by the end of 2024, according to the engineers managing the project.

Work started on August 31, 2022. The procuring entity is Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and the beneficiary is the Ministry of Sports.

The contractor is Summa Rwanda JV: a joint venture of the Turkish construction group, Summa, and Crystal Ventures, a local investment company that deployed Real Contractors, one of the leading construction companies in Rwanda and the region. Supervision is done by Gasabo 3D Design: a renowned local consulting firm.

Turkish multinational Summa which constructed Kigali Convention Center (KCC), BK Arena – the biggest regional multi-purpose indoor arena in Kigali – and the African Leadership Academy (ALU), all in Rwanda, also built large-scale projects in Dakar, Senegal, including the International Conference Centre, the Dakar Arena sports center, and Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium.

Rwandan engineers have been to Dakar, and other such places, to borrow a leaf, so that their own project runs smoothly.

On Friday, May 26, 2023, nearly nine months after the half-demolition of the old structure, project managers gave The New Times a guided tour around the full-of-activity construction site. Lately, there are 2,500 workers – 16 percent women; with an aim of 30 percent during the finishing and landscaping works, later – working there every day. They work 24/7 shifts.

Once renovation works are finished, the new stadium will have a circumference of 800 meters. It will be 30 meters high, with a longer roof with four levels (G 3). Standing at the highest level, inside the stadium, one gets the impression that match-goers will have a fantastic experience after the major revamp. The new facility will, undoubtedly, offer a best-in-class fan experience.

And it will be a year-round entertainment and leisure destination

According to Eng. Harouna Nshimiyimana, a project coordinator at the site, the new stadium which will cost just about $170 million – $160 million for construction, with the rest going into supervision, expropriation and the relocation of RNP offices and Remera Health Center – will comply with standards set by the international football governing body, FIFA.

Engineers are upgrading the main bowl from a 25,000-seater to a 45,000-seater covered stadium that meets FIFA standards.

Already, a lot of work has been put in. Engineers, among others, extended the old facility’s outer limits by an extra 23 meters wide – to allow room for expansion which gives 20,000 additional seats.

Inside, the playground was also raised by two meters to ensure that spectators have a good view of games and performances on the pitch and to ease the evacuation mechanism as the pitch will serve as an assembly point in case of emergency.

Nshimiyimana said: "We raised the pitch by two metres and pulled down or extended the seats closer to the pitch for four reasons: to optimize the spectator’s view angle to comply with FIFA standards; to reduce the height between the pitch and the first row of seats to allow easy evacuation of spectators towards the pitch (assembly point) in case of safety or fire emergency; and to optimize the relationship between players and fans.

"They [players and fans] can congratulate each other, or shake hands while celebrating a goal or any other exciting situation if allowed by game or event officials.”

The other reason, he said, was to increase the number of seats.

The new stadium will have a 105 x 68m football pitch with hybrid grass; natural grass and synthetic fibers. The playing field will not be covered as it must be exposed to sunlight.

Sunlight is important for the maintenance of the grass pitch, explained Eng. Jean Claude Niyonzima, a Project Manager from Gasabo 3D Design.

The three current main entrances will remain but will be upgraded. A fourth one, from the east towards the BK Arena side where a new FIFA-standard warm-up court is being constructed, will be constructed to ease movement to and from the biggest regional indoor arena next to the stadium.

Wheelchair spaces

The design includes offices of the Ministry of Sports, a presidential suite, VIP restaurants and bars, and 21 VIP skyboxes (luxury boxes) or premium reserved seating zones with an elevated panoramic view above and away from the crowds below, which generate much higher revenues than regular seating. Skyboxes constitute the most exclusive class of seating in arenas and stadiums. BK Arena has only four such premium reserved seating zones.

The new stadium’s estimated net seats for everyday use, without major event overlay deductions, will include government guest houses that accommodate VVIP officials, ministers, and a large number of visitors – and 57 VVIP seats in addition to 10 VIP wheelchair spaces and VIP companions’ spaces, respectively.

There will be 44,480 general admission spectator seats, 156 press seats with desks, 102 wheelchair spaces, and four commentator platforms, each with three seats. Among others, each seating category will include amenities and easy access seating plus spaces for wheelchair users in accordance with recommended guidelines.

Other new main facilities will include four dressing rooms with first aid; a doping control centre; officials’ dressing rooms; officials’ office and meeting room; an event presentation centre, and a warm-up track.

The new look Amahoro National Stadium will have shops, restaurants, bars, and other commercial premises, which will boost its sustainability – and allow it to function even in the absence of sports activities or other events.

It will have football and rugby pitches of international dimensions and an athletics track. It will also host ceremonies for major events and entertainment functions.

"The project also includes the renovation of Petit Stade to comply with FIBA [the International Basketball Federation] and FIVB [the International Volleyball Federation] standards. The Paralympic playground will also be refurbished as all facilities must have the same look and feel as BK Arena in terms of facade design,” Nshimiyimana said.

Just like the new stadium, Petit Stade, and the Paralympics Gymnasium nearby, will be beautified with a façade similar to that of BK Arena where Imigongo, traditional art patterns, are used on the façade.

ALSO READ: Imigongo: The evolution of Rwanda’s traditional designs

As per the terms of the contract, the timeline ends in August 2024.

"Nonetheless, the contractor promised to hand over the stadium by May 2024 on the condition that all pieces of land meant for the project are available on time. Now that Remera Health Center is yet to relocate, the contractor may reconsider his commitments. It will all depend on when the land will be available.”

The project is part of the larger Kigali Sport and Entertainment City project.