Stitching of the Pitch at Volgograd Arena Stadium Has Begun

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The final stage of the football field preparation – stabilization of the pitch by stitching it with polymer fibre – has started at Volgograd Arena Stadium, which is being built by JSC Stroytransgaz for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

The stitching area will be 8,000 square meters. Two self-propelled tracked vehicles operate as stitching machines: every two centimetres of soil is pierced to a depth of about 20 cm, and polymer threads are stitched into the pitch with the use of special needles. The stitching will require about 48,000 km of artificial fibre. This is almost 8,000 km more than the length of the Earth's Equator.

This stitching technology was developed in the Netherlands. It allows improving the drainage properties of the root zone, increases the wear resistance of the pitch by more than three times and reduces the risk of injury to athletes. Stabilization of the pitch with the use of this technology was carried out at the world-leading stadiums: Wembley Stadium and Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium in Great Britain, Stadio San Siro in Italy, Arena de Sao Paulo in Brasil, etc.

After completion of stitching, Procion LLC will continue to implement a set of measures for pitch maintenance - mowing, watering, feeding with mineral fertilizers, including additional lighting. The pitch heating system will be started when the average daily air temperature drops to + 5°C. The pitch will be preserved for winter season using a special technique.

Simultaneously, specialists are finishing up the installation of the white and blue membranes over the lobby and stands of Volgograd Arena Stadium, as well as installation of the roof drainage system. More than 30,000 seats have already been installed on the stadium stands and the work is carried out for the installation utilities and equipment, including painting of steel structures, interior finishing, fitting of the floor-to-ceiling glazing, and landscaping.