sports developments insight
What are the main challenges of creating a sports-related development?
The main challenge is selecting a sporting concept which matches the residents’ desires. Other challenges include achieving acceptable standards, maintaining the facilities and fur- nishing them with proper and up-to-date equipment.
How should developers devise the correct sporting model?
It depends on the country and the demographics of the prospective homeowners. When the studies have been completed, the developer who is considering a sports concept has to take into account the age demographic of the targeted homeowners and position their sports facility accordingly.
What are the classic mistakes made by developers when conceiving or delivering sports communities?
There is no other development like Sports City in the world, so there are no historical mistakes that we can look at. Up until now we haven’t identified any mistakes – it’s such a new concept. Of course, if anything is raised during the development of this project then it will be addressed with proper solutions.
How important are the wider facilities of Sports City to the residents of Victory Heights?
At Victory Heights, we also have areas for jogging, walking and cycling. In addition, there are the wider facilities in Sports City such as the cricket stadium and the sporting academies, which have a big impact on people buying into this project. People today are looking at these valuable sports and want to be closer to these activities. Plus the lifestyle provided differentiates this community from others in the UAE or indeed the region.
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Are there any successful examples of sports-related developments in the Middle East or elsewhere?
What we can see is that golf com- munities are spreading in the region. A good example is Riffa Views in Bahrain – it’s still under development but a good portion of the villas have been delivered. Other good examples are Meydan City, which is themed around horse racing and Jumeirah Golf Estates, both in Dubai.
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DUBAI SPORTS CITY
The US$4 billion Dubai Sports City occupies 50 million square feet within Dubailand. Key components include:
Stadia
60,000-seater multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football, rugby and track & field to major cultural and entertainment events
Talal Chihabi
There’s an extensive health club in Vict ory Heights. Why is this necessary?
Again, today’s lifestyles require people to focus on their health and fitness – that’s why it is necessary to provide health clubs in any development. In Dubai, and in many places throughout the world, one of the first things that people ask is ‘do you have a fitness centre?’ That’s why it’s an advantage to have an extensive fitness centre complex like we have at Victory Heights.
10,000-seater indoor stadium for basketball, volleyball, handball, badminton, tennis and ice hockey
5000-seater International Hockey Federation-approved stadium.Location of the FIH World Hockey Academy
25,000-seater ‘bowl design’ International Cricket Council- approved cricket stadium
Sports Academies
Manchester United Soccer Schools Socatots ICC Global Cricket Academy World Hockey Academy Butch Harmon School of Golf Swimming Academy Rugby Academy
The Els Club
Ernie Els-designed 18-hole, par 72 course
Residential
Canal Residences West – set on the Riviera-style waterfront of the downtown district, this complex will contain a range of apartments in various styles including Venetian, Mediterranean, Classic European, Spanish Andalusian and Arabian Victory Heights. Overlooking the Els Club golf course, this residential development includes 964 villas, 400 of which have been handed over to homeowners
Commercial/ Retail
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Gateway – featuring twin 44- storey commercial towers at the entrance to Sports City North Point – designed in a Venetian style on the waterfront, this neighbourhood will contain a mix of boutique retail, residential and office space South Point – boutique outlets and restaurants, as well as office suites and exclusive residences, set alongside the canal waterfront
2-4 Victory Heights 5 Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium
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/apr-may 2010
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