Inside Russia’s Insane, $10-Billion World Cup 2018 Stadiums
Russia has spent upwards of $10 billion preparing football stadiums old and new to set the scene for this summer’s showdowns — but not without a few hiccups.
LUZHNIKI STADIUM
MOSCOW
Architect: PA Arena, Gmp, Mosproject-4
Date completed: 1956 (renovated in 2017)
Hosting: The final
One of Europe’s most storied venues, having hosted the Olympics and over 3,000 soccer matches. Its historic facade remains, while modern updates include a drainage system to dry the new natural lawn in just 30 minutes.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD STADIUM
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
Architect: PJSC Stroytransgaz
Date completed: 2017
Hosting: The July 6 quarter final
Resting a ringed roof frame on 132 slim concrete pillars, this complex is topped with blue- and white-coloured glass panels that spiral out to reference the nearby Volga and Oka rivers. And to inspire attendees to do the wave.
VOLGOGRAD ARENA
VOLGOGRAD
Architect: GMP, PI Arena
Date completed: 2017
Hosting: Several group matches
The criss-crossing steel lattices that wrap around this venue create a pattern inspired by celebratory fireworks — a nod to its location near WWII’s Battle of Stalingrad grounds. Because, well, welcome to Putin’s Russia.
ST. PETERSBURG STADIUM
ST. PETERSBURG
Architect: Kisho Kurokawa
Date completed: 2017
Hosting: The third place playoff
A flying saucer-esque dome with a retractable roof and a slide-out field. But, after budget overruns, schedule delays, and leaks in that flashy roof (now fixed), it landed at the centre of corruption controversy. You can’t wow them all.
SAMARA STADIUM
SAMARA
Architect: GMP, PI Arena
Date completed: Yesterday
Hosting: The July 7 quarter final
Pays tribute to the city’s ongoing role in Russia’s space program with another spaceship-like design. Even with some last-minute corner cutting that swapped glass for metal, construction remained dangerously down to the wire.
