Ali Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao: Muhammad Ali’s Remembrance To The PH
In remembrance of the Great Muhammad Ali, did you know Ali Mall in Araneta Center, Cubao was named after the boxing icon Muhammad Ali The Great? Ali Mall is the first ever shopping mall in the Philippines built in 1976. This mall is one of the oldest malls in the Philippines.
In 1975 during the “Thrilla in Manila” boxing event, when Muhammad Ali victoriously won against Joe Frazier in Araneta Coliseum, Ali decided to build a shopping mall in which there were no malls in the entire country during that time. He builds Ali Mall in honor of his victory.
The mall started to operate on June 30, 1976, being one of the few huge structures in the country that time, and it was named after him. Moreover, this mall is a part of the annals of the Country’s retail history as being one of the first oldest shopping malls in the country.
The video description says:
Ali Mall Overview Walking Tour Araneta Center Cubao Quezon City. Ali Mall is the very first major shopping mall in the Philippines completed in 1976 and developed by Araneta Center. The 4 storey mall was named after World Champion Boxer, Muhammad Ali. Recently, they relaunched the new Cinemas and Food Court.
Construction on the mall began in 1975 after Muhammad Ali’s boxing victory against Joe Frazier at the sold out Araneta Coliseum which was called the “Thrilla in Manila”. In the 1970s, there were no malls in the entire country, so Ali addressed a speech to the Philippines to build a shopping mall near the Big Dome in honor of his victory, a shopping mall with a floor area of 62,000 sq.m. In the 1980s, the mall has been undergoing expansions and renovations since its construction. In 2009, an expansion to Ali Mall was opened.