Schalke or Venice?

Saint Petersburg Stadium

History

Saint Petersburg Stadium is a new, super-modern arena built on the site of the Kirov Stadium on Krestovsky Island, which, in its days, was one of the country’s largest stadiums, with a capacity of 110,000. The tender to build Saint Petersburg Stadium was won by the renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurosawa.

The stadium hosted its first official match on April 22, 2017, with FC Zenit beating FC Ural 2–0. The Opening Match and Final of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup also took place here.

Design

The architect’s vision for Saint Petersburg Stadium was of a spaceship that has landed on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. The seven-storey building is 79 metres high.

Technologically, Saint Petersburg Stadium is one of the world’s most modern arenas. Equipped with a retractable roof and a sliding pitch — just like German club Schalke 04 — it’s able to host any type of event at any time of year.

Saint Petersburg Stadium is the northernmost stadium of this kind, with the largest heated area. Thanks to the high-tech equipment, the temperature inside is up to 21.°C all year round.

City and legacy

St. Petersburg is often referred to as the northern or second capital of Russia. It’s the second-biggest city in the country in terms of size and population. St. Petersburg’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city, with its numerous canals, islands and bridges, is often called the Venice of the North. Up to seven million tourists come to see it every year, securing its top spot on the list of most-visited cities in Russia.

Saint Petersburg Stadium is home to Zenit St. Petersburg. It is able to host many different types of events, from concerts and shows to competitions in a whole range of sports. In 2020, the arena will host three matches in the group stage of Euro 2020, as well as one of the competition’s quarter-finals.