I'm quite suprised not to see Sankt Petersburg covered with snow in December. I suppose it not happens very frequently.

I'm quite suprised not to see Sankt Petersburg covered with snow in December. I suppose it not happens very frequently.

As I heard, this winter is warmer in whole Europe.

As I heard, this winter is warmer in whole Europe.

yes, even here in england, we'd normally be under snow by now.. not this year though.

yes, even here in england, we'd normally be under snow by now.. not this year though.

Well in Russia they build big stadiums in the whole country because of the wc.
But look at the average attendance 13.000 :ohno::ohno::ohno:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/attendance/_/league/rus.1/russian-premier-league?cc=5739
Zenit has a average attendance of 19.700 =>69.000???



Now what they wanna do with all that big stadiums??? Even when a football boom will start the stadiums are way too big. It will end like in south africa where the tax payer have to pay for white elephants!:bash::bash::bash:

Well in Russia they build big stadiums in the whole country because of the wc.
But look at the average attendance 13.000 :ohno::ohno::ohno:

Zenit has a average attendance of 19.700 =>69.000???

Now what they wanna do with all that big stadiums??? Even when a football boom will start the stadiums are way too big. It will end like in south africa where the tax payer have to pay for white elephants!:bash::bash::bash:
Zenit has an average of 19,700 in a stadium of 20,000. That means all games are sold out. Shakhtar also had low numbers before moving into Donbass Arena. Well gues what, they've almost doubled their numbers in just 3 years. Slask Wroclaw barely had around 8,000 at their previous ground. First games at the new one brought them a 40,000+ attendance. Of course it won't be that high once the 'new stadium effect' passes. But for Wroclaw 16,000 is enough to make the stadoium sustainable and allow the club to grow. In Sankt Petersburg they also don't need to have 60,000 all the way, filling it somewhere around the 30,000 mark will be something to build upon.

Zenit has an average of 19,700 in a stadium of 20,000. That means all games are sold out. Shakhtar also had low numbers before moving into Donbass Arena. Well gues what, they've almost doubled their numbers in just 3 years. Slask Wroclaw barely had around 8,000 at their previous ground. First games at the new one brought them a 40,000+ attendance. Of course it won't be that high once the 'new stadium effect' passes. But for Wroclaw 16,000 is enough to make the stadoium sustainable and allow the club to grow. In Sankt Petersburg they also don't need to have 60,000 all the way, filling it somewhere around the 30,000 mark will be something to build upon.
Probably you're right. For Zenit it makes sense because they are a big club and the only one in Petersburg. But in Moscow they want to renovate Luzhniki and also building 3 new stadiums. Also i'm not sure they need to build in Kasan or Samarra 50.000 stadiums...

But i also blame FIFA who wants 12 perfect stadiums. Where is the problem only playing in 4 till 6 stadiums??

Look at south africa they have 12 perfect stadiums (Soccer city in my opinion the best big stadium in the world) but so rarely used and some weren't used since the the worldcup.
This is a waste:ohno::ohno::ohno:

All stadia in Russia will be used after WC because we have many worn-out uncomfortable buildings (now in ALL cities where WC might be! You may google all stadia in our WC hosts. They are awful (except Lokomotiv and Luzhniki). Also, only 45,000 for Samara and Kazan

Probably you're right. For Zenit it makes sense because they are a big club and the only one in Petersburg. But in Moscow they want to renovate Luzhniki and also building 3 new stadiums. Also i'm not sure they need to build in Kasan or Samarra 50.000 stadiums...

But i also blame FIFA who wants 12 perfect stadiums. Where is the problem only playing in 4 till 6 stadiums??

Look at south africa they have 12 perfect stadiums (Soccer city in my opinion the best big stadium in the world) but so rarely used and some weren't used since the the worldcup.
This is a waste:ohno::ohno::ohno:

I agree some of the Russian stadiums are way too big and I also agree that the 69,000 capacity was not made for Zenit's needs, but for the need of hosting a semifinal in Sankt Petersburg. I'm not saying this is a perfect size and surely it's too big for starters, but the club may grow to that - they have a huge potential - and will have a great facility to build upon.

As for other stadia you should keep in mind that all three new stadiums in Moscow are private investment, they are not paid for by the governement and they are pretty much taylored for the clubs and are of suitable sizes. I'm not speaking of Luzniki as the case with national stadiums is always arguable.

Whether other cities need so big stadiums? Surely not, but Russian gov't has put a lot of money on the table so why not use it? I don't think we can blame municipalities for taking what is given to them. They don't think about the long term, but very often authorities think only about surviving till the next elections.

But i also blame FIFA who wants 12 perfect stadiums. Where is the problem only playing in 4 till 6 stadiums??

64 matches in one month in 4-6 stadiums. I think I can see why that might be an issue.

The problem is more about the size of the stadiums.

64 matches in one month in 4-6 stadiums. I think I can see why that might be an issue.

The problem is more about the size of the stadiums.

But in group stage there are only 4 matches per day and in knockout stages 2 per day. Ok let's say 8 stadiums maximum but 12 is to much when the host is no football nation.
In germany or england the situation is different. Germany could have used 16 stadiums with high quality.

But in group stage there are only 4 matches per day and in knockout stages 2 per day. Ok let's say 8 stadiums maximum but 12 is to much when the host is no football nation.


when the host is no football nation.

you're kidding, yes?

But in group stage there are only 4 matches per day and in knockout stages 2 per day. Ok let's say 8 stadiums maximum but 12 is to much when the host is no football nation.
In germany or england the situation is different. Germany could have used 16 stadiums with high quality.
And you see no need for Russia to have 12 world class stadiums? A hint: largest country in the world? 13 cities with population over 1 million and 25 over 500,000. Come on, why would they not need stadiums?!

And you see no need for Russia to have 12 world class stadiums? A hint: largest country in the world? 13 cities with population over 1 million and 25 over 500,000. Come on, why would they not need stadiums?!

You hit the nail right on the head, my Polish friend!

And you see no need for Russia to have 12 world class stadiums? A hint: largest country in the world? 13 cities with population over 1 million and 25 over 500,000. Come on, why would they not need stadiums?!

Yes the largest country in the world a population of nearly 150 million but does this matter?

Russian Premier league has a average attendance of 13.000!!! you call this a football nation??

For me germany, netherland, Portugal, spain, Great Britain, italy are football nation who are focused on it.
In Russia there is simply not the culture of going REGULAR to sports event and probably not the money for most of them. Yes, you can push it with some new stadiums, but the need for a new stadium should come from the supporters and reverse doesn't work like we see in south africa "here is a new stadium, now do sth. it."

Don't understand me wrong i'm happy Russia got WC, so they can make progress and present themselv for the world and boost the football there, but i doubt there is the need to build/renovate 12 new stadiums.

Yes the largest country in the world a population of nearly 150 million but does this matter?

Russian Premier league has a average attendance of 13.000!!! you call this a football nation??

For me germany, netherland, Portugal, spain, Great Britain, italy are football nation who are focused on it.
In Russia there is simply not the culture of going REGULAR to sports event and probably not the money for most of them. Yes, you can push it with some new stadiums, but the need for a new stadium should come from the supporters and reverse doesn't work like we see in south africa "here is a new stadium, now do sth. it."

Don't understand me wrong i'm happy Russia got WC, so they can make progress and present themselv for the world and boost the football there, but i doubt there is the need to build/renovate 12 new stadiums.

First, you do not know the history of European football. Russia (USSR) won the European Championship, was in the finals, several times in the semifinals, the last time in 2008.
England has never played a final EC.
In Russia the issue is capacity of stadium. For example Zenit play at the stadium, which receives 21 500th But it's not the reason no interest in football in Piter. But because Zenit main stadium Kirov destroyed (Kirov:110 000 people received-match between Zenit and CSKA on 14 July 1951, additional temporary stands were installed, increasing the capacity of the stadium to 110,000. The stadium was sold out, and the attendance of 110,000 is the record for the Soviet football. ). Now it is building a new stadium, Gazprom Arena: 70 000 people.
Moscow clubs Dinamo and CSKA play in Podmoskovlye(Moscow region, which is equal to the surface of the Netherlands) at the Arena Khimki receiving 19 000 people. Because stadium renovation and building a new stadium, respectively. Khimki is located 20 kilometers from Moscow.
Third, Lav Yashin-was voted the best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS.
Russia is not USA, Australia or Qatar in football.

Yes the largest country in the world a population of nearly 150 million but does this matter?

Russian Premier league has a average attendance of 13.000!!! you call this a football nation??

For me germany, netherland, Portugal, spain, Great Britain, italy are football nation who are focused on it.
In Russia there is simply not the culture of going REGULAR to sports event and probably not the money for most of them. Yes, you can push it with some new stadiums, but the need for a new stadium should come from the supporters and reverse doesn't work like we see in south africa "here is a new stadium, now do sth. it."

Don't understand me wrong i'm happy Russia got WC, so they can make progress and present themselv for the world and boost the football there, but i doubt there is the need to build/renovate 12 new stadiums.

There are several reasons for this low attendance:
1) Old-fashion stadiums: absence of a roof, uncomfortable conditions, etc;
2) Bad location of some stadiums (see previous post about FC Dynamo and CSKA);
3) Bad weather conditions (cold);
4) Since 1990s - low culture of football fans and security problems (fan riots, police corridors, etc);
5) Since 1990s - low quality of playing.

Yes the largest country in the world a population of nearly 150 million but does this matter?

Russian Premier league has a average attendance of 13.000!!! you call this a football nation??

For me germany, netherland, Portugal, spain, Great Britain, italy are football nation who are focused on it.
In Russia there is simply not the culture of going REGULAR to sports event and probably not the money for most of them. Yes, you can push it with some new stadiums, but the need for a new stadium should come from the supporters and reverse doesn't work like we see in south africa "here is a new stadium, now do sth. it."
Yes, this does matter. Because if you have 12 cities over 1mln people, the 'target group' to use bad phrasing, is huge. There is a huge potential and the sole fact that you used South Africa as an example proves that you are wrong. Because in South Africa clubs ARE using the world cup stadiums, just not the main ones. They very often play at the smaller ones that were also rebuilt and they are doing fine. Meanwhile in Russia the level of investment in football is far larger than in South Africa. Remember that the Moscow clubs are actually building huge stadiums with their own money. Meanwhile they are not even the most attended clubs. I recall times where over 20k+ attendances were noted only in places like Samara or Mahachkala. Not mentioning that the likes of Samuel Eto'o plays in a club few people know in the west of Europe. I think this level of disbelief in Russia's potential is a bit of a result of western European ignorance, sorry (I'm not free from it as well, to some extent).

Plus, attendance of 13k per game in a league were most stadiums are around 20k and very old and poor, that has to be a football nation. Especially taking into account the weather conditions and distances in the league (harder to build 'traditional rivalries' with limited away following).

:ohno: reading the comments above made me :lol: some of the people should stop posting about football and stick to construction. Russia has a good level league and a good national team once the new stadiums are built the figures would double easily.

Russian Premier league has a average attendance of 13.000!!! you call this a football nation??

For me germany, netherland, Portugal, spain, Great Britain, italy are football nation who are focused on it.
But Netherlands, Portugal, UK, Italy and others don't have a second major league in country, like KHL, world's second best hockey league, which attendance is more than 4,2 million people every year.

And this discussion in not for this thread.

But Netherlands, Portugal, UK, Italy and others don't have a second major league in country, like KHL, world's second best hockey league, which attendance is more than 4,2 million people every year.

And this discussion in not for this thread.

This is why i said, that Russia is no football nation. :)

Where is the problem to discuss about it, as long as they don't make progress.^^

Yes, this does matter. Because if you have 12 cities over 1mln people, the 'target group' to use bad phrasing, is huge. There is a huge potential and the sole fact that you used South Africa as an example proves that you are wrong. Because in South Africa clubs ARE using the world cup stadiums, just not the main ones. They very often play at the smaller ones that were also rebuilt and they are doing fine. Meanwhile in Russia the level of investment in football is far larger than in South Africa. Remember that the Moscow clubs are actually building huge stadiums with their own money. Meanwhile they are not even the most attended clubs. I recall times where over 20k+ attendances were noted only in places like Samara or Mahachkala. Not mentioning that the likes of Samuel Eto'o plays in a club few people know in the west of Europe. I think this level of disbelief in Russia's potential is a bit of a result of western European ignorance, sorry (I'm not free from it as well, to some extent).

Plus, attendance of 13k per game in a league were most stadiums are around 20k and very old and poor, that has to be a football nation. Especially taking into account the weather conditions and distances in the league (harder to build 'traditional rivalries' with limited away following).

No, no it's not disbelief in Russia. I also said, im sure they will make a great wc. But i'm not sure they will need all those big stadiums. Well Lokomotive Moscow has a great stadium since more than 10 years, play always in europe, good support but attendance still low with 14.000.
http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?stadion=lokomotiv&folder=sites&site=fotos&id=458&page=1

Well in south africa most stadiums are white elephants and those who are used are nearly empty. average attendance in south africa football league is about 8.000.
Only the rugby games of the national team can fill those beautiful stadiums.
A lot of south african complain now about the waste of money.

Moscow isn't a football city. It is multisportive. And Lokomotiv is 4th by the number of fans in Moscow, like Fulham in London.

But Krasnodar (Kuban) (old stadium - 1st avg. att. in Russian PL), Samara, Ekaterinburg, St. Peterburg, Volgograd, etc is football cities.
For how the russian will be a football nation you can talk only in 2017.
Let's see how HUGE will be attendance in Russian PL then.

Theres like 10 football teams in Moscow anyways :lol: maybe im over exaggerating but still :).

Theres like 10 football teams in Moscow anyways :lol: maybe im over exaggerating but still :).

only 5 in 3 top leagues.

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/y_65e65575_347.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/y_3f8011f0_943.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/y_4e5d2501_127.jpg

But in group stage there are only 4 matches per day and in knockout stages 2 per day. Ok let's say 8 stadiums maximum but 12 is to much when the host is no football nation.
In germany or england the situation is different. Germany could have used 16 stadiums with high quality.

How much of a gap do you want to allow each venue between hosting games?

With 32 teams there as well, you want as many cities as you can so that travelling fans have a chance of finding somewhere to stay (although they didn't really care about that part when allowing Ukraine to co-host Euro 2012)


Overall though, if a country is too small to host a large tournament such as the world cup, then perhaps they shouldn't be hosting.

This is why i said, that Russia is no football nation. :)

Where is the problem to discuss about it, as long as they don't make progress.^^

How did you get the idea that Russia is not a football nation? Because of the attendance? Except Germany, England, Spain, Italy, France and Netherlands no other country exceeds Russia in terms of attendance. Maybe 13k is not a big figure but the stadiums are old, without any facilities.
Do you know how big was the attendance in Bundesliga 20 years ago? Twice lower then today. Only 20-23 k average attendance. Since then germans built new stadiums, refurbed old ones, investing in football and now they have 42 k

This is why i said, that Russia is no football nation. :)


Well they are even if they never won the world cup. Zenit won the Europa cup just a few years ago and Russia was semifinalasist in 2008(Outplayed Holland) and they have two teams in the last 16 of this years UCL, thats just the latest few years. The russian league have however struggled with very old stadiums and difficult economic situations in the country. That will change giong forward to 2018.

Nice stadium :)

looks nice, but its taking forever!!! Still plenty of time for 2018.
But the club could really use the extra stadium revenue for its Champions League aspirations.

looks nice, but its taking forever!!! Still plenty of time for 2018.
But the club could really use the extra stadium revenue for its Champions League aspirations.

They are financed by gazprom...they dont need it. The new stadium is just the natural step for a club which could become one of the biggest in europe. A good fanbase in a one club city of 4.5m, in a developing economy and growing league is a good recipe for the future.

Moscow isn't a football city. It is multisportive. And Lokomotiv is 4th by the number of fans in Moscow, like Fulham in London..

Fulham isnt the 4th best supported side. Arsenal, tottenham, chelsea, west ham, charlton all have more fans, then you could argue betweenfulham qpr and crystal palace

Hopefully this stadium makes it into the rotation to host the UEFA Champions League Final.

They are financed by gazprom...they dont need it. The new stadium is just the natural step for a club which could become one of the biggest in europe. A good fanbase in a one club city of 4.5m, in a developing economy and growing league is a good recipe for the future.

Yes it was like an accident that such an important city just like Moscow didn't have a "big" team... in the mid term Russia should have always one or two teams contending on european competitions on a regular basis. Just like England, Spain and Italy.

The attendance should boost with better stadiums able to cater for the growing middle and upper class, plus success in Europe.

New 3D-panoramas:

http://s54.radikal.ru/i146/1202/61/04ef8406c2f1.jpg

http://fc-zenit.ru/data/media/pano/feb/stad_feb1.swf

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130349_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130362_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130338_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130371_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130341_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130379_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130346_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130373_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130356_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130353_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130376_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130380_700x526.jpg

http://media-beta.fc-zenit.ru/resources/1/5228/130340_700x526.jpg

BEAUTIFULLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE RUSSIAAAAA

The next 6-8 months are critical, they really need to move quickly to finish this thing.

Why ^^^

Why ^^^

There's no rush in terms of the 2018 World Cup but it is crazy how long this has taken.

Coming up to five years since construction began. And it's still a year or so from being finished.........more than a year if they only continue at the current pace.

Such a well designed stadium but such a poorly managed construction.

I can't imagine trying to site cast that much concrete through a serious winter, even here we have to wrap and heat concrete while its forming if pours are going on through winter; along with watering to maintain integrate of the concrete, which is a bit of a logistical nightmare even on a fairly small project. I know architects in their heart of heats always want in situ concrete, but precasting in shop is just so much more efficient in terms of time and consistency unless there is a really compelling reason to pour it all on site.

Nice. Thanks for update.

Why ^^^

Because it's when they can finally lay concrete in serious amounts without worrying about the weather. Realistically the concrete should be done with by fall, so then they can worry about the facade, and internal installations. Those things can be worked with even in the cold St. Petersburg winter. If it takes one more year for this stadium to be finished, it will be deeply disappointing. Zenit could really use this stadium now.

As JimB says, it's taken wayyyyyyyyyyy too long.

Hmmm.... I'm not going to start a flame war, but frankly speaking this is one of the worst realized stadium investments around the world. They started more than 3 years ago and still are in deep forest. Aren't you afraid that this skeleton will collapse before construction is finished? Something like this happened in Valencia. They lost source of financing there and construction stopped. After a long period of time group of engineers made their examinations with final coclusion, that pillars and many others critical parts are exploited due to the lack of proper care against weather conditions and the building process cannot be continued. Bear in mind that weather conditions in Valencia are "slightly" better than in Petersburg.

The outer steel ring seems to be full of rust. The "teeth" on the pillars prepared to put prefabricated stands on them look horrible, too. Entire construction isn't protected against moisture properly. Sorry for saing that but despite a great design this stadium is going to be an epic fail.

Something like this happened in Valencia. They lost source of financing there and construction stopped. After a long period of time group of engineers made their examinations with final coclusion, that pillars and many others critical parts are exploited due to the lack of proper care against weather conditions and the building process cannot be continued.

Where did you get that crazy idea from? It's not true.

any updates? I'd like to see how much they have progressed in March

The "teeth" on the pillars prepared to put prefabricated stands on them look horrible, too.

Yeah, they look really bad, not a single rebar on them are equal and they look crooked. And i don't think the stands are preprab, they look like poured on site.

A monument to corruption.

Is the construction stopped? Or is it halted because of the weather conditions?

Is the construction stopped? Or is it halted because of the weather conditions?

Neither......it's just that progress on this stadium is happening in geologic time. ;)

YOU guys are jealous about the stadium wait till it finish and i know it will be done

YOU guys are jealous about the stadium wait till it finish and i know it will be done

Nothing to do with jealousy.

I really like this stadium. The renders are fantastic. I'm very keen to see it progressing.

But even the most blinkered and biased of Zenit fans, or Russians generally, would have to concede that the construction of this stadium is taking a ridiculously long time.

Five years and counting. Likely to be another 18 months yet. More than that, if construction continues at the current pace.

Yeh sorry true ^^^^

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/3488_1334120761.jpg_140.jpg

completion in 2020?

completion in 2020?
2014.

i bet it will be done 2015

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/3488_1334150008.jpg_191.jpg

Nothing to do with jealousy.

I really like this stadium. The renders are fantastic. I'm very keen to see it progressing.

But even the most blinkered and biased of Zenit fans, or Russians generally, would have to concede that the construction of this stadium is taking a ridiculously long time.

Five years and counting. Likely to be another 18 months yet. More than that, if construction continues at the current pace.

Agree with you, it's just the sign that corruption is going on. Someone making big money...

completion in 2020?
Now you're a little too optimistic... :cool:

Zenit Forever

Should hopefully pick up the pace in the warmer months. :lol:

I recently read that the final documentation for the roof will be ready by the end of may. I really really hope that after that the construction would become much faster. Now when the weather is warmer is the best season for construction. The team and fans need a new stadium. Hope it will be finished by 2014-2015.

There is a new panorama:
http://fc-zenit.ru/data/media/pano/avril/avril1.swf
Click 'Войти на стадион' to enter the stadium.

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/imgp1567_panorama_615.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/imgp1569_panorama_946.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/imgp1578_101.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/imgp1581_167.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/imgp1580_124.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/imgp1579_747.jpg

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/files/3d_aeue_model_760.png

http://spb-projects.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1860&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=1785

Why is the construction so slow? Budget issues?

it cold and take long time to do concrete^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

They should have built with prefab concrete.

The problem is that the final project (including roof) should be ready only on May 21st. This is why construction stopped. The whole stadium cost should be re-counted once again because city government doesn't want to waste money anymore:ohno:
By the way, the weather is fine now. It is approximately +15 degrees in the day and +8 in the night.

so capacity is 64,287?

Not sure about capacity yet. This was done for UEFA commission, which visited St. Petersburg a couple of days ago. I guess renders are not for the final project as well.
They promise to provide all the documentation on May 21. Hopefully, it will be the last time when the construction is postponed.

If they really hurry up, Zenit could play here starting February 2013.

Of course the current pace suggests that is only a dream

so capacity is 64,287?
It's on the level 42,450 m. But it will be few metres higher.
When places for media and journalists on the stands (green) will be replaced by chairs for fans, it will also add numbers.

If they really hurry up, Zenit could play here starting February 2013.

Of course the current pace suggests that is only a dream

Of course it is joke. In Russian forum are speaking about 2015-16-17. In average 2016. Only roof construction will be at least two years. It will begin in happy case in 2013.

Of course it is joke. In Russian forum are speaking about 2015-16-17. In average 2016. Only roof construction will be at least two years. It will begin in happy case in 2013.

How can a roof construction last 2 years???? Wembley didn't last that long. And they can't use the "concrete in the cold weather" excuse anymore.

New St Petersburg stadium to adorn Russia 2018

http://www.fifa.com/mm//Photo/Tournament/Destination/01/62/11/30/1621130_FULL-LND.jpg

A delegation of senior members of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Local Organising Committee (LOC) and experts from FIFA made an inspection visit to Saint Petersburg on 26 April 2012, as part of the process of selecting the Host Cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Heading the delegation on the LOC’s behalf was its CEO, Alexey Sorokin, while FIFA was represented by its head of department for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, Jurgen Muller.

The delegation began its visit to Saint Petersburg in Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square, which is under consideration as the main site for potential Fan Fests. Once Russia 2018 gets under way, the square will be able to hold up to 57,000 supporters.

Next stop for the delegation was Krestovsky Island, where work is already under way on the construction of a 69,000-seat stadium. The arena is being put forward as the venue for one of the semi-finals.

“At the moment, we’re waiting for approval based on a state assessment of the design for the arena’s retractable roof,” said architect Dmitry Bush, when speaking to the delegation about the project. “Once that comes through, we’ll be able to expand the scope of the construction work significantly. The stadium will host its first official matches in 2015. And Saint Petersburg is planning to host matches during the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.”

The stadium on Krestovsky Island promises to be one of the most striking of Russia 2018. The high-tech arena will have a retractable roof and sliding pitch, which ensures that the surface can be maintained in ideal condition at any time of year.

It also means that the arena will be able to host not only football matches, but also concerts, when its capacity can be expanded by a further 14,000. In addition, specific areas in the stadium – accounting for one per cent of the venue’s total capacity – will be equipped for disabled supporters.

Saint Petersburg has a special place in the Russia 2018 concept plan. Under the plan, the city will host the Preliminary Draw for the tournament, the first official event of Russia 2018. The venue for that draw could be the new stage of the celebrated Mariinsky Theatre. The new building will be opening to the public in 2014, and in 2015, it may well be where national teams from around the world will learn the fate they face on the road to Russia 2018.

“The discussion we had today at Saint Petersburg’s committee for physical education and sport was very fruitful,” said FIFA’s head of department for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, Jurgen Muller, in summing up the results of the visit to St Petersburg. “We discussed some of the aspects to do with preparation of the infrastructure needed to host the World Cup. At this stage we’re just gathering information from the candidate cities, and what we can say is that we’re pleased with the responses we received to the questions we asked.”

That evening, the LOC and FIFA delegation headed off to Kaliningrad, where it will be continuing its inspection tour on 27 April.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/news/newsid=1621464/index.html

How can a roof construction last 2 years???? Wembley didn't last that long. And they can't use the "concrete in the cold weather" excuse anymore.
I think he means not only an installation on the stadium, but all work since the beginning: order + time to build the metal parts + transportation + installation on stadium.

May 23, 2012

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/0f/1921d85aaaccc1394daea9f7a229930f.jpg

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/ae/d8c07f9174246f9bb17c2bf04fb939ae.jpg

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/01/475aa0e6c91f115eacb56075c7530c01.jpg

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/be/11f624104743d46a7d8329175c14aebe.jpg

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/d6/fdbb29411af4403e0f6a3ba350c251d6.jpg

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/27/1dd82ef4a3f8b53a14a387fbf6bbd327.jpg

http://i38.fastpic.ru/big/2012/0526/43/53cb065babac8379a10a6129e509fe43.jpg

Ignat Chernyaev (http://ignat-chernyaev.livejournal.com/24138.html)

So sometime in 2015 is the opening match according to that article.

This is constructed in a very slow pace. Typical for the past system.