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Philippine Arena

Coordinates: 14°47′37″N 120°57′13″E / 14.79359°N 120.95354°E / 14.79359; 120.95354
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Philippine Arena
Map
LocationCiudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines[note 1]
Coordinates14°47′37″N 120°57′13″E / 14.79359°N 120.95354°E / 14.79359; 120.95354
Public transitBus transport  5  North Luzon Express Terminal
OwnerNew Era University (Iglesia ni Cristo)
OperatorMaligaya Development Corporation
Record attendance55,000 (Guts World Tour Silver Star Show, October 5, 2024)[2][note 2]
Field size220 m × 170 m (720 ft × 560 ft)[4]
Tenants
Philippines national basketball team (2014–present)
Building details
Map
General information
Architectural styleModernist
GroundbreakingAugust 17, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-08-17)
CompletedMay 30, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-05-30)
InauguratedJuly 21, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-07-21)
CostUS$213 million[5] (₱9.4 billion)[6]
Height65 m (213 ft)[4]
Dimensions
Diameter227 m × 179 m (745 ft × 587 ft)
Technical details
Floor count4
Grounds36,443.6 m2 (392,276 sq ft)[4]
Design and construction
Architecture firmPopulous
DeveloperNew San Jose Builders
Structural engineerBuro Happold
Main contractorHanwha Engineering and Construction[7]
Other information
Seating capacity55,000[8]

The Philippine Arena is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Ciudad de Victoria, a 140-hectare (350-acre) tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue and Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines[9] about 30 kilometers (19 mi) north of Manila. With a maximum seating capacity of 55,000, it is the world's largest indoor arena,[10] and one of the centerpieces of the many centennial projects[11] built by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for their centennial celebration on July 27, 2014.[12] The arena is legally owned by the New Era University, an educational institution of Iglesia ni Cristo.[13] The arena was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest mixed-use indoor theater in the world on July 27, 2014.[14]

History

Construction

In 2011, South Korean firm Hanwha Engineering and Construction won the contract to manage the construction of the Philippine Arena. Hanwha outbested bids from Filipino firm EEI Corporation and done on August 17, 2011.[15] Hanwha announced that it had completed the construction of the indoor arena on May 30, 2014.[10] The venue was not formally inaugurated until almost two months later.

Inauguration

The Philippine Arena, along with Ciudad de Victoria, was officially inaugurated on July 21, 2014. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo unveiled the marker of Ciudad de Victoria.[16]

Building details

Concept

The initial design concept of the Philippine arena was inspired by narra tree, the mother tree of the Philippines, and the root of banyan tree.[17] The roof was inspired by Nipa Hut.[18]

Architecture

Populous, a global mega-architecture firm, designed the arena through their office in Brisbane, Australia.[19] The official website of the sports facility describe's the structure's architectural style as Modernist.[20] The arena has been master-planned to enable at least 50,000 people to gather inside the building and a further 50,000 to gather at a ‘live site’ or plaza outside to share in major events.[19] The seating bowl of the arena is a one-sided bowl and is partitioned into two parts, the upper and the lower bowl each with approximately 25,000 seating capacity. The lower bowl is the most used part of the building and the architectural design allows for easy separation of the lower bowl from the upper tier, by curtaining with acoustic and thermal properties. A retractable seating of 2,000 people capacity is also installed behind the stage which is used by the choir of the Iglesia ni Cristo for events of the church.[4]

The seating layout of the arena is different from that of a standard arena where the stage is at the middle and is surrounded by seats. The seating of the arena closely resembles that of a Greek amphitheater, built in a semi-circle with the seats at the sides and front of the arena stage. The seatings are divided into three sections. Each of the sections are colored green, white and red: the colors of the Iglesia ni Cristo flag.[21]

The arena has four floors or levels. Level 1 is the stage level, Level 2 is the main access level open to the general viewing public, Level 3 is the VIP area which also houses conference rooms with views facing the main plaza outside the indoor arena building, and Level 4 is the upper concourse.[4]

Furthermore, contractor Hanwha hired their own architecture firm, Haeanh Architects for the project.[4]

Structure

Interior - upper box lobby

Built on 99,200 square meters (1,068,000 sq ft) of land, the arena has a dome over 9,000 square meters (97,000 sq ft).[22] The oval roof has a dimension of 227 m × 179 m (745 ft × 587 ft)[23] and contains 9,000 tons of steel work. The roof was made as a separate unit to reduce burden on the arena with extra load. The arena is 65 meters (213 ft) in height, or about fifteen stories high and founded on pile construction. About a third of the dead load of the building was designed for earthquake loads. The building was also divided into multiple structures to strengthen the arena's earthquake resistance.[18][24]

Landscape

PWP Landscape Architecture, the firm who landscaped the National September 11 Memorial & Museum,[25] designed the landscape for the arena and the whole complex of Ciudad de Victoria. For the arena, a series of outdoor plazas, gardens and performance venues form the setting for the development including: The North and South Arrival Plazas, The Promontory Plaza, The Great Stairs, and Ciudad de Victoria Plaza that are all related to each other with two cross axes (N-S and E-W) that intersect at the Promontory Plaza. Two fountains that can shoot waters up to 15 meters (49 ft) are also installed in front of the arena.[13]

Uses

An Iglesia ni Cristo event being held at the arena in 2014
The arena during the Philippines vs. Australia FIBA World Cup qualifying game in July 2018

The arena serves multiple purposes, hosting major church gatherings of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and functioning as a versatile sports and concert venue. It accommodates various events, including boxing, basketball, and live music performances, but not association football or field events due to its limited size. For field events, the adjacent Philippine Sports Stadium, also owned by the Iglesia ni Cristo, is used. Every seat in the arena offers a clear line of sight, even with different configurations such as church ceremonies, boxing matches, tennis, concerts, or indoor gymnastics. The INC allows non-Iglesia tenants to use the arena but reserves the right to prohibit activities that violate its religious principles, such as gambling-related events and cockfighting.[19][26][27]

Notable events

Main article: List of events held at the Philippine Arena

Basketball

PBA games

On October 19, 2014, the Philippine Arena hosted its first commercial and non-INC event with the opening ceremonies of the 2014–15 PBA Philippine Cup. It was attended by 52,612 people, making it the largest attendance record for an opening ceremony in PBA history. It again hosted the opening ceremonies for 2019 PBA Philippine Cup on January 13, 2019, attended by 23,711.[28]

The most attended PBA game of all time was recorded in the arena on January 15, 2023, when Barangay Ginebra San Miguel played Bay Area Dragons in front of a crowd of 54,589 for Game 7 of the 2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. It broke the previous record of 54,086 set back on October 27, 2017, at the same venue during Game 7 of the 2017 Governors' Cup Finals. Game 6 of the same series on October 25 also recorded a crowd of 53,624.[29]

FIBA 3x3 World Cup

The 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup was hosted by the Philippines on June 8–12, 2018 with Philippine Arena as the venue. Serbia won the men's tournament, while the women's tournament was won by Italy. The event was co-organized by FIBA.

FIBA Basketball World Cup

The Philippine Arena was one of five venues for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which the Philippines hosted from August 25 to September 10, 2023. It served as the venue for the first two games of Group A on August 25, 2023, including the Philippines' opening game against the Dominican Republic, which broke the attendance record for a FIBA Basketball World Cup game with 38,115 spectators.[30] It was originally set to host the final round, but it was moved to the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Metro Manila due to logistical and traffic concerns.[31]

FIBA World Cup Qualification events

Concerts

The Philippine Arena during U2's Joshua Tree concert on December 11, 2019.
Coldplay performs for over 48,000 fans at the Philippine Arena on January 20, 2024, during their Music of the Spheres Tour.

The Philippine Arena has hosted several concerts by local and international artists. Some of the notable acts who performed at the arena include Blackpink which became the first musical act to perform multiple nights and sell out two shows at the arena with their Born Pink World Tour,[32] Bruno Mars who is the first solo artist to sell out two shows at the arena,[33] and Coldplay which currently holds the record for highest attendance by a musical act for their Music of the Spheres World Tour with a combined attendance of 96,079.[34]

Other events

Attendance records

Type Event Attendance Date Ref.
Music concert Coldplay
Music of the Spheres World Tour 		96,079 (combined) January 19–20, 2024 [34]
Basketball Barangay Ginebra vs. Bay Area Dragons
2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Game 7 		54,589 January 15, 2023 [29]
Variety show Eat Bulaga!
Sa Tamang Panahon 		55,000 October 24, 2015 [36]
  • The Philippine Arena was featured in a documentary called Man Made Marvels: Quake Proof. It aired on Discovery Channel on December 25, 2013, and focused on making structures in the Philippines more safe from natural disasters in general such as earthquake and typhoons.[39]
  • The live television event of Sa Tamang Panahon, a special episode of Kalyeserye segment from Eat Bulaga!, spawned around 55,000 people on October 24, 2015, making it one of the most attended event held in the Philippine Arena.[36]
  • Disney+ Philippines' launch event A Night of Wonder with Disney+ was held at the Philippine Arena on November 17, 2022, featuring local Filipino singers performing Disney hit songs in an illuminated empty arena around projections of clips from various Disney films.[40]

Notes

  1. ^ Ciudad de Victoria spans over an area administered by two municipalities. However according to the official website, the arena's address only mentions the town of Bocaue and omits the town of Santa Maria.[1]
  2. ^ Tied with Eat Bulaga!: Sa Tamang Panahon on October 24, 2015, with the same attendance record[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Contact". Philippine Arena. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2016. The Philippine Arena
     • Ciudad De Victoria, Bocaue Bulacan, Philippines
  2. ^ Severo, Jan Milo. "'Miss So Filipina': Olivia Rodrigo proud Filipina in sold-out 'Guts' Philippine concert". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "AlDub shatters records anew". philstar.com. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Pan Stadia & Arena Management (Autumn 2014 ed.). September 24–26, 2014. pp. 85–87.
  5. ^ Newcomb, Tim (August 31, 2011). "Building Bigger: World's Largest Indoor Arena Set for the Philippines". Time. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  6. ^ Encarnacion, Fidea (July 24, 2014). "INFOGRAPHICS: The Philippine Arena vs. world stadiums". ABS-CBNNews.com. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  7. ^ Choi, He-suk (August 18, 2011). "Hanwha E&C to build world's largest domed arena near Manila". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  8. ^ "Facilities – The Philippine Arena". philippinearena.net. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  9. ^ Donna, Cueto-Ibanez (July 20, 2014). "Iglesia opens world's largest indoor arena for centennial rites". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ^ a b de Vera, Ben (June 11, 2014). "Korean construction firm completes Iglesia ni Cristo's P7-B Philippine Arena". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  11. ^ Salud, Joel Pablo (November 5, 2012). Joel Pablo Salud (ed.). "Dawn of the New Guard" (magazine). Philippine Graphic. 23 (23). Makati City, Philippines: T. Anthony C. Cabangon: 23. OCLC 53164818.
  12. ^ "Populous Designs World's Largest Arena in Manila in the Philippines". Populous. August 29, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  13. ^ a b "New Era University Philippine Arena". PWP Landscape Architecture. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  14. ^ "Largest Mixed-Use Indoor Theatre". GuinnessWorldRecords.com. Guinness World Records. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  15. ^ Ranada, Pia (July 27, 2013). "Waiting for Iglesia ni Cristo's PH Arena". Rappler. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  16. ^ Locsin, Joel (July 21, 2014). "PNoy arrives at Philippine Arena in Bulacan for Iglesia ni Cristo event". GMA News. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  17. ^ "Philippine Arena". Haeahn Architecture. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  18. ^ a b Arcangel, Xianne (July 21, 2014). "INC's Philippine Arena a 'challenge' for firm behind London's O2". GMA News. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  19. ^ a b c "New Manila Arena pushes boundaries of Arena Design". Populous. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  20. ^ "About – Architecture". Philippine Arena. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  21. ^ Santos, Reynaldo Jr. (July 21, 2014). "FAST FACTS: Iglesia ni Cristo's Philippine Arena". Rappler. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  22. ^ Ramon Efren R. Lazaro (February 13, 2013). "Prices of agriculture lands in Bulacan town rise". Business Mirror. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  23. ^ Kim, Jong-soo; Cho, Duck-won; Choi, Eun-gyu; Cho, Hyun-wook (2015). "Structural health monitoring during construction in Philippine Arena". Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2015.
  24. ^ Peter Hipolito (September 11, 2011). "Chris Sparrow on the Groundbreaking of the Philippine Arena 04:30". Christian Era Broadcasting Services Inc. YouTube. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  25. ^ "National 9/11 Memorial". PWP Landscape Architecture. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  26. ^ June Navarro (April 22, 2013). "POC eyes INC-owned stadium as training site". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  27. ^ Badua, Snow (April 18, 2014). "Noticed that huge arena while travelling down NLEX during Holy Week? Well, it's months away from grand opening". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  28. ^ Lozada, Bong (October 19, 2014). "More than 50,000 jam PH Arena for PBA opener". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Li, Matthew (January 15, 2023). "Ginebra-Bay Area Game 7 breaks all-time PBA attendance record". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  30. ^ Reynolds, Tim (August 25, 2023). "Basketball World Cup sets attendance record with 38,115 showing up for game in Manila". Associated Press. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  31. ^ "FIBA Statement on venue change at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  32. ^ Navarra, Ruth L. (April 2, 2023). "'Born Pink' showcases Blackpink's brand of power (Concert Review) | Inquirer Super". inquirersuper.com.ph. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  33. ^ Admin (June 29, 2023). "Bruno Mars Comes Home to the Philippines". Philippine Concerts. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "#Tickets sold out at Coldplay's 2nd night concert at PHL Arena"". businessmirror. January 20, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  35. ^ "SEA Games 2019 opening ceremony". BusinessMirror. November 30, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  36. ^ a b c "AlDub shatters records anew". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  37. ^ Patag, Kristine Joy (February 8, 2022). "Away from home towns, Marcos-Duterte kicks off grand 'UniTeam' campaign at giant arena". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  38. ^ "Star-studded Asia Artist Awards draws fans to Philippine Arena". ABS-CBN News. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  39. ^ Umbao, Ed (December 27, 2013). "INC's Philippine Arena Featured on Discovery Channel (Video)". Philippine News. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  40. ^ "Janella Salvador, Morissette, Stell of SB19 and More Shine At Disney+ Philippines' 'A Night Of Wonder'". nylonmanila.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
Events
Preceded by
Parc des Chantiers de I'lle
France Nantes
 Host of the
FIBA 3x3 World Cup
2018 		Succeeded by
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