International news agencies at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

The FIFA-backed press tour for international news agencies is continuing across the cities in Russia that will host the World Cup 2018. 26 August the delegation came to the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.  

Construction Manager Sergey Pichushkin showed the newsmen around the stadium and talked about the specifics of its construction. The reporters showed surprise with the progress at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, suggesting that already now the arena could be used to play matches, with the installation of the polycarbonate roof above the grandstands nearing completion, with the most of the low tier grandstanded equipped with seats in white, aquamarine and blue, and a month earlier the football pitch became covered with the sprouts of grass, which is now gaining strength before the final stage of the pitch installation—reinforcement of the turf with polymer fibres—can take place.

The event also included a press conference with the Region Governor Valery Shantsev answering reporters’ questions about the extensive campaign for the Word Cup 2018 in the city. Valery Shantsev told the press that it won’t be too long now before the first game will be played at the stadium in construction. “We’re planning—but that’s a secret—to hold the first game at this new arena on the 8th of October, Sunday. This won’t be pros playing, but rather the combined team of the Nizhny Novgorod Government and that of the builders working here right now,” he said. 

Talking about the plans to use the stadium after the World Cup 2018, the Governor remarked that the authorities of Nizhny Novgorod would make every effort to maximise the efficiency of its operation in the Heritage regime. The new stadium is expected to become a new popular venue, which, in addition to football matches, will host major city festivities, concerts, and other public events.