Nigerian-Canadian NBA executive backs $294 million sports and entertainment hub in Nairobi

• A $294 million multipurpose arena and entertainment district will be built in Nairobi, led by Zaria Group.
• The project backed by Masai Ujiri and Helios Sports & Entertainment Group will have a 10,000-seat capacity.
• The project is part of Nairobi Railway City, following a long-term lease with Kenya Railways Corporation.
• It will create about 3,500 construction jobs, 1,500 permanent operational positions, and up to 25,000 temporary event-related roles annually.

The project, led by Pan-African developer Zaria Group, will feature a 10,000-seat indoor arena designed to host basketball tournaments, international concerts, conferences, exhibitions and cultural events.

According to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed indoor sports arena, serviced apartments, hotel and supporting infrastructure, the site is positioned as a key component of the Railway City master plan, which aims to create a more connected, transit-oriented commercial district.

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The assessment describes the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE-Core) Centre as a potential catalytic development for the area, with the project expected to strengthen commercial activity while taking advantage of its location within one of Nairobi’s major transport and business corridors.

Beyond the 10,000-seat indoor arena, the development is expected to include serviced apartments, a hotel and supporting infrastructure, creating a broader sports, hospitality and events destination within the Railway City project.

President William Ruto witnessed the signing and described the project as part of efforts to attract international events, support Kenya’s creative industries and strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional economic hub.

The Nairobi project builds on Zaria’s strategy of combining sports venues with entertainment, hospitality and commercial real estate.

The project will create about 3,500 construction jobs, 1,500 permanent operational positions, and up to 25,000 temporary event-related roles annually.Bloomberg

Helios Sports & Entertainment Group acquired a stake in Zaria in 2023 as part of its broader investment strategy around African sports, entertainment and lifestyle real estate.

Zaria’s model has already been applied in Rwanda, where its portfolio includes the 10,000-capacity BK Arena, Amahoro Stadium and Zaria Court Kigali.

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The Nairobi development is expected to create about 3,500 direct construction jobs and 1,500 permanent operational positions, while generating as many as 25,000 temporary event-related roles annually across hospitality, retail and live production.

For Ujiri, whose career includes leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019, the project extends his long-standing involvement in African sports development beyond basketball.

He also founded Giants of Africa, a basketball-focused organisation that has worked with young people across more than 20 African countries.

The investment comes as Kenya increasingly treats sports and entertainment infrastructure as part of its economic strategy. The government is also developing Talanta Sports City and preparing Nairobi for major regional events, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.