Saida Municipal Stadium, Football stadium in Sidon, Lebanon
Saida Municipal Stadium is a football ground in Sidon that sits along the Mediterranean coast and features concrete stands divided into sections with capacity for roughly 22,600 spectators. The venue includes multiple entry gates and concession facilities throughout the grounds.
The stadium was built in 1999 on the expanded grounds of an older stadium in Sidon, as one of the venues for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup held in Lebanon. It also bears the name of Rafic Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister assassinated in 2005. By the 2020s, neglect had left its condition deteriorated.
The stadium is also called Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium, and the opening match of the 2000 AFC Asian Cup was played here, with Iraq beating Thailand 2-0. Local side Al-Ahli Sidon plays its football at this ground.
The ground has parking nearby and sits within walking distance of public transport stops, making it easy to reach. Visitors should arrive early for popular matches as the stands fill up quickly, and coastal weather conditions may affect comfort during events.
The stadium's official second name honours Rafic Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister assassinated in 2005; the Arabic name is Mal'ab al-Ra'is al-Shahid Rafic Hariri. It opened in 1999 on the enlarged grounds of an older stadium, built for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, whose opening match here ended Iraq 2–0 Thailand.
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