Bahrain National Stadium investment tender draws one bid

TDT | Manama

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GFH Financial Group has offered BD770,000 to take charge of the development, operation and upkeep of Bahrain National Stadium, after emerging as the sole bidder for the state-owned sports ground.

The General Sports Authority opened the bid through the Government Land Investment Platform. It will now undergo technical and financial checks before a final decision is made.

The tender covers Bahrain’s largest stadium, which stands within Isa Sports City in North Riffa and has hosted major football matches and sports events for decades.

The winning investor would be required to develop and maintain the ground under the tender terms, run its facilities and pay annual fees fixed by the authority.

The package also includes naming rights for selected parts of the stadium, sole rights to provide food in VIP areas and the right to rent existing food and drink outlets and other facilities.

The authority placed the stadium on the investment platform in January under a competitive negotiation tender aimed at bringing a private operator into the running of the site.

The plan would allow the ground to draw income from hospitality, sponsorship, commercial naming rights, restaurants, cafés and event hire while remaining a venue for sport.

The tender is part of a scheme launched under Bahrain’s Economic Recovery Plan to list state land and property open to private investment.

Government bodies have used the platform to offer sites for schemes covering education, healthcare, shops, leisure, property and public services.

The stadium proposal would place the upkeep and commercial running of one of Bahrain’s main sports grounds in private hands, while the venue continues to host local contests and overseas events.

Opening the bid does not amount to awarding the tender. GFH’s offer must first be studied under Tender Board rules before the project can move ahead.