Alleged use of Beirut Municipal Stadium as parking area sparks controversy

BEIRUT — A controversy has emerged over the management of Beirut Municipal Stadium after concerns were raised about the use of parts of the historic sports facility as a parking area for cars and motorcycles.

The issue was raised by Beirut MP Fouad Makhzoumi, who addressed the matter in a letter published on X on Thursday and sent to Youth and Sports Minister Nora Bayrakdarian, with copies sent to the Director General of the Public Institution for Sports, Scouting, and Youth Facilities, Naji Hammoud; Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud; and Beirut Municipality President Ibrahim Zidan.

Makhzoumi questioned whether Beirut Municipal Stadium, a venue built for sporting activities, had effectively been transformed into a parking facility.

The Minister of Youth and Sports did not respond to L'Orient Today's request for comment at the time of publication of this article.

"Beirut Municipal Stadium has become a parking area for cars and motorcycles. The stadium belongs to the municipality. It is a sports facility," Makhzoumi said in remarks published on X.

He also raised questions over access to the stadium’s stands and whether individuals were authorized to park their vehicles there.

"People are entering the stands with their cars. Under what authority? Who allowed this?" he questioned.

The Beirut MP called for clarification regarding the management of the stadium and urged the relevant authorities to take measures to ensure that the facility continues to serve its original purpose.

Hammoud told L’Orient Today on Monday that the use of the stadium’s stands as a parking area was not permitted.

"Some people are using the stands as parking spaces for their motorcycles and cars. This needs to be stopped. Who allowed them to do this? It is illegal," Hammoud said.

Beirut Municipal Stadium, one of the oldest stadiums in the Arab world is an 18,000-capacity multi-purpose venue located in the densely populated Tariq al-Jadideh neighborhood. Over the decades, it has served not just for sports, but as a local gathering place for holiday prayers, celebrations, and various community events. It is located in the same area as the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, but they are two separate stadiums.