Pasay stadium awarded sports venue of the year

The intense action unfolds at the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena 2023, with teams battling for supremacy in front of an excited crowd.

The SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena cemented its position as a leader in Philippine sports tourism after being awarded the prestigious Sports Venue of the Year at the 6th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards. This recognition highlights the arena’s commitment to excellence and its role in attracting major sporting events to the Philippines.

Since its opening, the SM MOA Arena has been a central stage for landmark sporting events. It gained international recognition in 2013 by hosting the National Basketball Association (NBA) Global Games between the Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets, featuring basketball icons like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The arena has also been home to major events such as the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia Championships, the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup, the International Premier Tennis League, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight Night in 2015.

SM Mall of Asia Arena’s senior AVP and general manager Arnel Gonzales (center) accepts the “Sports Venue of the Year” award at the 6th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards.

The arena hosts annual events like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Philippine Basketball Association, and the Philippine Volleyball League. The SM MOA Arena also embraces the growing esports scene, hosting tournaments for popular games like Dota 2 and Mobile Legends.

In 2023, it played a pivotal role in the Fiba Basketball World Cup, serving as a key venue for the group and final stages. Earlier that year, it also hosted the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), drawing in volleyball fans to watch top men’s teams compete.

The SM Mall of Asia Arena’s iconic eye-shaped structure symbolizes the vision of holding events that are a “feast for the eyes.”

Over the past four years, the arena has invested $4.5 million in upgrades, including improvements to its giant LED Mesh, basketball lighting, players’ entrance, spectator seating, and sound acoustics. These upgrades ensure the venue remains at par with the highest global standards for major sporting events.

In 2025, the SM MOA Arena will host the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers and serve as a key venue for the International Volleyball Federation Volleyball Men’s World Championship. Upcoming events, such as the Men’s VNL and other international tournaments, further solidify the arena’s reputation as the heart of sports events in the Philippines.