New site for Samara’s stadium approved

FIFA and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Local Organising Committee (LOC) have approved Samara’s application to change the location of the city’s planned new stadium, which will be hosting matches during the tournament. Under the revised plans, the arena will be built in the Radiocenter district in the north of the city. Organisers cited a number of reasons to justify abandoning the original proposal to build a stadium near Samara’s river harbour, at the confluence of the Volga and Samara rivers. Building the stadium there would have meant undertaking to strengthen the shore line, which would have significantly added to the final cost of the project. According to governing officials from the Host City, the plans for the new venue will allow for infrastructural development, improved transport accessibility and the further development of the northern part of the city. “Drawing on Russian and foreign experience, we can build all the required infrastructure around the football arena – car parks, approach roads and so much more,” said the governor of Samara Region, Nikolay Merkushkin, as he explained the advantages of the new venue. “Right next door, we’re planning to build a residential area with affordable housing and all the social infrastructure, so there’ll be multipurpose sports centres, recreation areas and conference halls that can be used to host important events for the city and the region. That way, this area will become Samara’s key area for sport and recreation, a new and attractive location where local people and visitors to the region will be able to live and rest.” The new stadium will become home to the local football club, Krylya Sovetov, which has for many years now been making a fine contribution to the Russian Premier League. “The World Cup is opening up unique opportunities for the region,” said the CEO of Krylya Sovetov, Denis Maslov. “These new and modern football arenas simply have to be built, given the traditional interest in football in each individual region, and particularly in Samara.” The change of site for the stadium will not affect the timescale for construction. The deadline to submit applications for the design of the arena is the end of 2012, and design work will begin in earnest in 2013. “We backed Samara’s initiative to move the site for the stadium to the Radiocenter district,” said the CEO of the Russia 2018 LOC, Alexey Sorokin. “The new location has been chosen to take account of the city’s development plans and will ensure the tournament leaves a legacy which will last for many years to come. This principle is fundamental to preparations for Russia 2018.” From : Fifa