When they open the stadium on Krestovsky Island in St. Petersburg

The stadium on the Krestovsky Island in the city of St. Petersburg, in fact, is not a completely new facility. It is located on the site of the old sports complex named after SM Kirov. Its construction is, in fact, the restoration and reconstruction of the existing field. Placement has not changed, but the appearance should make an indelible impression on the residents and visitors of the city.

Start

In August 2006, after the decision of the administration of Northern Palmira to build a new stadium, a vote was taken for the best project. In the first round of the competition, five organizations became winners, whose plans met the basic requirements: they were stacked in 250 million dollars, they allowed to keep the old hill of the stadium and had a sliding roof. Citizens along with members of the jury of the competitive commission were asked to vote for the stadium they liked on the Krestovsky Island. The first project had a gold dome, reminiscent of the Mariinsky Theater. The roof of the second was supposed to be lined with metal cassettes and provide heating. These options were ruled out due to problems with the operation and keeping them clean.

The next option offered to restore the exterior of the stadium, preserving all the elements of the project of architect A. Nikolsky, but adding the field cascades of stairs, fountains and a pyramid in the center. The fourth project depicted a stadium on the Krestovsky Island in bright colors. Its authors drew inspiration in the design of the church of St. Basil the Blessed (a famous temple in Moscow, located on Red Square). The last project that won the contest was offered by the Japanese. In form, the stadium will be like a spaceship, like a huge designer.

Financing of the project

Initially, it was planned that the construction of the stadium on the Krestovsky Island will be carried out at its own expense by the football club Zenit together with the main sponsor - the company OAO Gazprom. However, now for its erection money allocates the city budget, and the new stadium will belong to St. Petersburg. Because of this, the authorities have not decided on the name of the field that Gazprom-Arena previously wanted to name, but now the variants of Primorsky or Krestovsky are popular. The initial calculations of the cost of implementing the project did not justify itself. Initially, the amount of 6.7 billion rubles was announced, but due to the refusal of the organization that started the construction, it was necessary to revalue the expenses and finance the finalization of the project. As a result, in 2014, the amount required to complete the construction was announced, equal to 28.7 billion rubles.

When the stadium is put into operation

In 2006, the authorities promised that the new stadium on Krestovsky Island could be used by April 2009, so that FC Zenit played the first match on it. The expected date of putting the football field into operation was shifted several times over the course of 8 years. To date, the Governor of St. Petersburg promises to open a stadium on Krestovsky Island by the end of July 2016.

Fans are looking forward to the completion of the reconstruction of this facility, because in 2018 will host the World Cup. And if in our country, in St. Petersburg, there will be a stadium of this scale, satisfying all the requirements of FIFA and UEFA, this will attract a huge number of tourists to the football matches of the higher league.