Otkrytiye Arena

Otkrytiye Arena (Russian: «Открытие Арена»; IPA: [ɐtˈkrɨtʲɪjə ɐˈrʲenə]) is a multi-purpose stadium in Moscow, Russia. The venue is used mostly for football matches, hosting the home matches of Spartak Moscow and occasionally the Russian national team. It will be called Spartak Stadium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.^[3] The stadium is designed with a capacity of 45,360 people.

History

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 2 July 2007, but after that the conctruction process was delayed multiple times for different reasons. The completion of the construction was scheduled for 2009—2010, but as of 2009 the stadium was only in the design stage. In the 2010 the stadium project underwent revision because it was rejected by an architectural council. The project was found too ordinary. The current design has been developed by AECOM and Dexter Moren Associates and will also neighbour a separate indoor arena.^[4] The main financing of the construction came from the club's owner Leonid Fedun through affiliated companies LUKoil company and IFD Kapital. Simultaneously with the construction of the stadium was completed the nearby metro station Spartak which was conserved in the construction stage in 1975. 19 February 2013 it was released that the new stadium will be named «Otkrytiye Arena» 6 years under the terms of the contract with the new sponsor «Otkrytiye» bank. 21 August 2014 near the north tribune inside the stadium was opened the monument in the memory of Starostin brothers the founders of FC Spartak Moscow, on the square near the stadium was opened the Gladiator sculpture 24,5 high.

Starostin brothers monument

Square near Otkrytiye Arena

Otkrytiye Arena inside

The stadium was officially opened on 5 September 2014. Spartak played against Red Star Belgrade and won, 1–1, with Dmitry Kombarov scoring a first goal for Spartak at the new stadium after a free-kick. The stadium was constructed on the site of the Tushino Airport. The new stadium is included in the Russia's bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, possibly hosting the opening game, as the Luzhniki Stadium is to host the final.^[5] The stadium is to be completed ahead of the VTB Arena to hold the rights. It will also be one of four stadiums used for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Artists such as Muse, Incubus, Triggerfinger (Park Live 2015) have all performed concerts in the stadium.

Notes

External links

• Official website
• Section on the official site of Spartak about the stadium with renders of the stadium
• Article on the official website of Spartak with pictures of the current design of the stadium as of December 2010

Coordinates: 55°49′4.3″N 37°26′24.9″E / 55.817861°N 37.440250°E / 55.817861; 37.440250.