Philippine Arena, 'World's Largest Domed Arena,' To Open Next Year

Philippine Arena, which upon its completion will reportedly be the new record holder as the largest domed arena in the world, is set to open in 2014 in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of the religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

Philippine Arena (Photo courtesy of Populous)

Started in 2011, the 50,000-seater indoor performance hall will soon rise at a 99,200-square-meter area in Bocaue, Bulacan. The project reportedly costs $175 million (about P7.5 billion).

Kansas City-based global mega-architecture firm Populous designed the arena, while PWP Landscape Architecture, the firm who landscaped the famous National September 11 Memorial & Museum, designed the landscape for the arena. Korean builder Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. is responsible for the arena's construction.

Apart from major church gatherings, Philippine Arena will also operate as a multi-purpose sports and concert venue, capable of holding a range of events from boxing and basketball to live music performances. The overall vision of the masterplan will eventually see inclusion of shopping centers, a hospital and large scale residential developments.