The stadium was built in 1982 and opened in 1987, with
Majed Abdullah scoring the first goal there. It hosted matches of the
1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, including the final. In September 2017, as part of
Saudi Vision 2030, there was a celebration of the 87th anniversary of the foundation of Saudi Arabia with concerts and performances. For the first time, women were allowed into the stadium. The stadium has been included in the FIFA series of video games since the
2013 edition, when the
Saudi Pro League began featuring in the game, while a modified version with two tiers all around was featured in the
Pro Evolution Soccer series during the
PlayStation 2 era under the name "Nakhon Ratchasima", due to its resemblance (or lack thereof) to the
80th Birthday Stadium that hosted the
2007 SEA Games in Thailand. The cost of construction was about 1.912 billion
Saudi riyals or $510 million. The stadium's roof covers an area of 47,000 square feet and held up by 24 columns arranged in a 247-metre diameter circle, creating an umbrella effect that shades spectators from the hot desert sun. A special pavilion for members of the royal family is also included. == Events ==