Falcons Esports, Heroic Founders Join Qiddiya Gaming Board

Credit: Qiddiya Gaming District

Falcons Esports Co-Founder and Chairman Musaad AlDossary, Heroic Founder and former CEO & Chairman Joachim Haraldsen, and former IMG Worlds of Adventure VP of Marketing, International Business, Special Projects & Licensing Rajiv Sangari have taken advisory roles with the Qiddiya City’s Gaming & Esports Advisory Board. They join former Team Liquid executive Mike Milanov, who also revealed Thursday that he would serve as the board’s chairman.

A full list of Qiddiya Gaming & Esports Advisory Board members has not been released publicly (as for as we know), but it is highly likely that at least some of the esports and video game industry executives that attended the Saudi-Backed New Global Sport Conference in October have also signed on to advise the board.

While Musaad AlDossary only made a minor note about his new role with Qiddiya Gaming on social media, Joachim Haraldsen (who, incidentally, sold off his stake in Heroic) offered a more robust statement on his participation:

I’m beyond excited to unveil my latest adventure: Joining the Board of Qiddiya City’s Gaming & Esports Advisory Board. This role is not just a position for me—it’s a passion and a platform where innovation meets the extraordinary world of gaming and esports.

My journey with Qiddiya City has been a blend of strategy, creativity, and a deep dive into the future of entertainment. We’re not just building a district; we’re crafting an experience that will redefine the landscape of gaming and esports globally.

I extend my deepest gratitude to our dynamic team and partners, whose visions and efforts are the lifeblood of this project. Your dedication is transforming our dreams into reality.

As we move into 2024, expect to witness groundbreaking developments. We’re gearing up to unveil initiatives that will captivate the global gaming community and set new benchmarks in the industry. Think of Qiddiya City as more than a destination—it’s a revolution in the gaming universe!

Stay tuned as we continue our quest to make Qiddiya an epicenter for innovation and excitement in the world of #gaming and #esports. The future is bright, and the game is just beginning!

Rajiv Sangari did not make a formal announcement on social media, and his role is different in scope. In September he left IMG Worlds of Adventure to join the Qiddiya project as a strategic advisor on “entertainment & e-gaming licensing.”

U.S.-based esports venue design firm Populous (who helped design Esports Stadium Arlington, Fortress Melbourne, and the NBA 2K League Broadcast Arena, and many other esports-focused facilities in the world) also revealed first details on its work related to the gaming and esports district within the mega city project. From an announcement Thursday:

Within the Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District, the Populous-designed Qiddiya City Esports Arena stands out. Combining the largest combined total video screen area of any esports arena in the world, as well as 4D haptic seats where visitors can sense, feel and even smell the action taking place in front of them, the striking design creates an iconic venue, capable of adapting to multiple experiences and events. Featuring a distinctive architectural identity, the 5,155-seat multifunctional venue will provide a best-in-class experience for players and spectators alike. Extensive sightline studies have been carried out to optimize seating in the main auditorium for the best views, and parametric design tools have been utilized to refine screen locations, resulting in an innovative “digital chandelier” placed centrally within the seating bowl for enhanced gameplay content delivery.

Qiddiya City is a mega city project run by the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), which is owned by the Public Investment Fund,” or Saudi Arabia’s government-owned sovereign wealth fund.

Announced in April of 2017 by Saudi Arabia’s  leader HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (MBS), the project hopes to be an international entertainment destination offering “video gaming headquarters, motorsports area, Formula 1 racetrack, golf courses, Six Flags theme park, water park, music festivals, and various sports competitions” when it is completed.

More details can be found in this report.