The construction of the Zenit Arena stadium is the longest event in Russian football. Unfinished construction began in 2007 and has not yet been completed, the deadlines for putting the property into operation are constantly being postponed, and the cost is increasing day by day. The newspapers regularly receive encouraging statements from contractors and executives about the construction of the stadium.
“Zenith” has already waited for a new arena, but players can not affect the speed of raising in any way. So, let's go back ten years, when the idea of building a new stadium came up.
2005 year
In March 2005, information appeared that the Kirov Arena would be demolished on Krestovsky Island, and in its place the construction of the stadium would begin from scratch. “Zenith” then was still far from the UEFA Cup and the Hulk in the composition. Management announced that the new arena will cost one hundred and fifty million dollars, and the capacity will be 50 thousand spectators.
Already in April, the concept of the future stadium appeared. The basis was Old Trafford. This idea was later criticized by Demit Momot, who considered the open stadium unsuitable for the Russian climate. Six months later, management said that the construction of the Zenit Arena stadium was already worth $ 250 million.
2006 year
In January, the organizers of the construction site promised to surrender the Gazprom Arena (as they planned to call the stadium) by 2009. Already then, analysts predicted a repeated postponement. In April, the vice-governor of St. Petersburg promised that the construction of the Zenit Arena stadium will begin at the end of this year.
In the summer of 2006, an arena project was presented, which was developed by a Japanese company. The building was supposed to receive a roof in the form of a spaceship with the possibility of heating. The project cost was 225 million dollars. At the end of the year, the builder was determined. It became the company SINTEZ-SUI LLC, which promised to build the Zenit Arena stadium for 6.7 billion rubles.
2007 year
In March, Valentina Matvienko announced that the construction will be completed by the end of 2008, and the team will spend the next season at the new stadium. A month later, the governor of St. Petersburg said that the Zenit Arena stadium would receive a pull-out field that was worth the extra cash. In September, the vice-governor issued a statement stating that construction was ahead of schedule. He promised that in December 2008 the arena will be ready.
2008 year
In March, Vitaliy Mutko announced that the erection of a new stadium could rise in price. Gazprom was attracted for additional investments. A month later, Alexander Dyukov made it clear that in 2009 FC Zenit would not see the new stadium. The deadlines were supposedly moved to 2010. In addition, the cost of construction now amounted to 13-14 billion rubles.
In mid-summer, another rise in price of the Zenit Arena stadium happened. Now the price was a whopping 23.7 billion rubles. Management promised a capacity of 62,000. At the end of the year, it was announced that the company “Inzhtransstroy” would take up construction, which concluded a contract for 13.2 billion rubles.
year 2009
In April, the media reported that in 2010 the famous Metallica will perform at the opening of the stadium. In December, the arena under construction was inspected, and it was found that it does not meet the FIFA requirements. Claims were to the location of the stands and sub-tribune rooms.
2010 year
In February 2010, they decided to make the stadium more spacious (67,000), which affected its cost. Due to budget adjustments, the construction period is again increasing in April. Because of this, the cost rises again. At the end of the year, the president of Zenit announced the completion of the redesign of the arena. The new capacity will be 68,000 people.
2011
In January, the Glavgosexpertiza orders to dismantle the already built roof of the arena, which leads to additional costs and delay in delivery. Now the total construction cost is already 33 billion rubles in space. In October, the roof was again demolished, which the customer did not like. In November, the delivery of the finished arena for 2013 is scheduled. Cost increased to 40 billion rubles.
year 2013
At the beginning of the year it was published that the stadium was ready at 34.4%. In February, the investigative committee begins to investigate the arena fraud case. The first contractor and the sum of 500 million rubles appear in the case.
In March, the construction management promises to surrender the arena in the summer of 2016. In the summer, it turns out that the construction of the Zenit Arena stadium, which will host home 2018 World Cup matches, is only 35% complete.
year 2014
In April, the exact date for the commissioning of the object is June 15, 2016. The vice-governor ruled out an increase in value and named the figure of 34.9 billion rubles.
2015 year
In March, the case of the theft of 145 million rubles was closed. The reason is the expiration of the statute of limitations. In November it was announced that the first match at the new arena, Zenit will play in September 2016. A month later, the date was again moved to December.
2016 year
In February, the contractor asked to increase the amount of construction to 35.3 billion rubles. In the summer, 144.5 million rubles disappear, which were intended to install a video display. There was information that workers do not receive a salary. On July 13, according to the general contractor, an attempt was made to raider capture the building under construction. He did not rule out that in this way the city administration is trying to delay the deadline for the delivery of the facility.