The Mos Espa Arena, also known as the Mos Espa Grand Arena, served as the site for the yearly Boonta Eve Classic Podrace. Constructed from a blend of sandrock and ditanium atop durasteel supports, its construction was financially backed by the Hutts. Situated on the periphery of Mos Espa, the arena stood at the intersection where Xelric Draw met the Northern Dune Sea. Before the arena's existence, Tatooine's daredevils engaged in unrestricted races at this location, initially using animal-drawn carts, subsequently hanno speeders, and ultimately, podracers.
The arena's grandstands, funded by Jabba the Hutt, were nestled within an amphitheater sculpted into the natural curvature of a steep-sided canyon. The arena's track drew competitors and spectators from across the galaxy. The complex had a capacity exceeding 100,000 spectators, although significantly more flocked to major events like the Boonta Eve Classic. While overpriced tickets for podraces were commonly marketed to naive off-worlders, Tatooine's locals simply arrived on speeders and forced their way into the loosely regulated stands. The arena included both underground and VIP parking facilities. The Hutt residence featured expansive hospitality halls designed for post-race celebrations. The Arena Citadel housed betting floors managed by the Hutts. The starters' box, marking the finish line, was positioned atop a bridge that connected the press building to the race officials' building.
A network of cam droids provided comprehensive coverage of the circuit from every vantage point, transmitting the action to Hutt-owned podracing channels. Spectators within the arena could pay to access these live feeds on handheld devices or on large screens within the citadel building. Those unwilling or unable to afford official hovercam feeds could opt for more economical, balloon-supported alternatives. A modest fee granted access to live coverage from a slow-moving balloon, while adventurous racegoers could pay a premium to float above the arena in person. These balloons occasionally carried illegal omnicams. The two-headed Troig Fodesinbeed Annodue was a renowned commentator at the arena, with one head speaking Galactic Basic Standard and the other Huttese.
Following the sport's prohibition, the arena decayed into ruins. At some point, a Sandcrawler met its end in a crash within the arena.
According to Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, the Grand Arena was situated on the border of the Western Dune Sea. However, Ultimate Star Wars explicitly states that Mos Espa and its surroundings were located at the intersection of Xelric Draw and the Northern Dune Sea. The article "World Building" also proposes that the Grand Arena is an integral part of the Mos Espa upper sprawl and spaceport area.