Ak Bars Arena

{{Short description|Stadium in Kazan, Russia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Ak Bars Arena

| nickname =

| former_names = Kazan Arena (2013–2018)

| image = Kazan Arena (Kazan, RUS).jpg

| image_size = 270px

| caption = UEFA {{rating|4|4}}

| fullname =

| city = Kazan

| country = Russia

| location = Prospekt Khusaina Yamasheva, 115 А, Kazan, Russia

| coordinates = {{coord|55|49|16|N|49|09|39|E|region:RU_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}

| broke_ground = {{start date and age|2010|5|5|df=y}}

| built = 2010–2013

| opened = July 2013

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = FC Rubin Kazan

| operator = FC Rubin Kazan

| surface = GrassMaster

| construction_cost = $ 450 million

| architect = Populous, V. Motorin

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor =

| project_manager =

| main_contractors =

| tenants = FC Rubin Kazan (2013–present)
Russia national football team (selected matches)

| seating_capacity = 45,093 (Russian Premier League){{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/rus2022.html |title=Russian Premier League 2021/22 |date= |website=RSSSF |accessdate=5 May 2022}}
42,873 (2018 FIFA World Cup){{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5028773/index.html |title=Kazan Arena |work=FIFA |access-date=15 June 2018 |archive-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615083439/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5028773/index.html |url-status=dead }}

| dimensions = 105 x 68 m

}}

Ak Bars Arena ({{langx|ru|«Ак Барс Арена»|}}; {{langx|tt-Cyrl|Ак Барс Арена}}, formerly known as Kazan Arena ({{langx|ru|«Казань Арена»|}}; {{langx|tt-Cyrl|Казан Арена}})) is a stadium in Kazan, Russia. It was completed in July 2013, and hosts football matches, especially FC Rubin Kazan's home games in the Russian Premier League. The stadium has the largest outside screen in the world. Its capacity is around 45,379.{{cite web|url=http://kazanarena.com/stadium/about/ |title=Футбольный стадион Ак Барс Арена |publisher=kazanarena.com |date= |accessdate=7 February 2022}}

History

File:RubinKazanNewStadium.png

The stadium was constructed for the 2013 Summer Universiade. On May 5, 2010, president Putin held the groundbreaking ceremony.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport-express.ru/newspaper/2010-12-17/12_2/ |title=ЗА КУЛИСАМИ СПОРТИВНОЙ СТРОЙКИ |publisher=sport-express.ru |date=17 December 2010 |access-date=12 October 2020}} The construction of the stadium was completed in 2013. The total cost was 15.5 billion rubles.{{cite web|url=http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/rus/kazan_arena |title=Ak Bars (Kazan Arena) |publisher= stadiumdb.com |access-date=12 October 2020}} The stadium hosted the 2013 Summer Universiade opening and closing ceremonies,{{cite web|url=https://www.stadiumguide.com/kazan-arena/ |title=Kazan Arena |publisher=stadiumguide.com |date=2013 |accessdate=11 May 2022}} and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/grounds/russia/kazan-arena/ |title=Kazan Arena: FC Rubin Kazan |publisher=football-stadiums.co.uk |date= |accessdate=12 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/russia/696708 |title=Universiade-2013 organisers begin preparations for closing ceremony |publisher=tass.com |date=8 July 2013 |access-date=16 October 2020}} On August 17, 2014, the first football match of the Russian Championship was hosted in the Ak Bars Arena.{{cite web|url=https://eng.russia.travel/objects/280597/ |title=Kazan Arena Stadium |publisher=eng.russia.travel |access-date=16 October 2020}}

The 16th FINA World Championships were held in Kazan, with some events held at the Arena. It saw twelve swimming records.{{cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/host-city-kazan|title=Host City – Kazan|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=1 April 2018}}

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the stadium hosted six matches, including the ones where three past champions (Germany, Argentina, and Brazil) were eliminated from the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/kazan-arena-where-champions-bid-adieu-ss |title=FIFA World Cup 2018: Kazan Arena – where Champions bid adieu to the World Cup |publisher=sportskeeda.com |date= 8 July 2018 |access-date=16 October 2020}}

UEFA announced in March 2020 that the stadium would host the 2023 UEFA Super Cup;{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/news/025b-0ed522ae0bce-a8e0f2fd983d-1000/ |title=UEFA Super Cup bound for Helsinki and Kazan |website=UEFA |publisher=Union of European Football Associations}}{{cite web |title=Champions League in seismic overhaul with tennis-style knockout change |url=https://global.espn.com/football/uefa-champions-league/story/4668539/champions-league-in-seismic-overhaul-with-tennis-style-knockout-change |date=20 May 2022 }} however, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the venue was later moved to the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece.

Moreover, this was supposed to be the location for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, but it was later moved to Singapore.{{Cite web |title=Kazan and Budapest awarded 2025 and 2027 World Aquatics Championships |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1082396/fina-announce-2025-hosts}}{{cite web |date=9 February 2023 |title=Singapore replaces Kazan as host of 2025 World Aquatics Championships |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1133493/singapore-2025-world-aquatics-champs |publisher=InsideTheGames}}

Design

The architectural concept has been designed by Populous; according to lead designer Damon Lavelle, the stadium is a unique response to the local culture and place. As a multiple-purpose venture, Ak Bars Arena can be used as football matches and other sporting events, cultural events concerts.{{cite web|url=http://kazanarena.com/stadium/about/ |title=Футбольный стадион Ак Барс Арена |publisher= kazanarena.com |access-date=19 October 2020}} With a capacity of 45,379 seats{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/stadium/3479/Kazan_Arena.html |title=General Information about Kazan Arena |publisher=national-football-teams.com |date= |accessdate=11 May 2022}} and 28 ha stadium territory, Ak Bars Arena is one of the UEFA's highest category stadium.{{cite web|url=https://idaoffice.org/posts/kazan-and-the-world-cup-2018-en/ |title=Kazan and the World Cup 2018 |publisher=idaoffice.org |date=11 May 2018 |accessdate=12 May 2022}} The stadium has also 72 skyboxes and a fitness center. The general design stage: "TatInvestGrazhdanProekt", "Intex", "TsNIIpromzdany". It replaced Central Stadium as Kazan's main football stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.stadia-magazine.com/features/world-cup-2018-stadium-guide.html |title=World Cup 2018 stadium guide: The facts and stats of every host venue |publisher=stadia-magazine.com |date=8 June 2018 |access-date=9 October 2020}}

2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

class="wikitable"
Date

!Time

!Team #1

!Result

!Team #2

!Round

!Attendance

18 June 201718:00{{fb|POR}}style="text-align:center;"| 2–2{{fb|MEX}}Group Astyle="text-align:center;"| 34,372{{cite web |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/60/96/eng_02_0618_por-mex_fulltime.pdf |title=Match report – Group A – Portugal – Mexico |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=18 June 2017 |access-date=18 June 2017 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712134326/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/60/96/eng_02_0618_por-mex_fulltime.pdf |url-status=dead }}
22 June 201721:00{{fb|GER}}style="text-align:center;"| 1–1{{fb|CHI}}Group Bstyle="text-align:center;"| 38,222{{cite web |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/76/75/eng_08_0622_ger-chi_fulltime.pdf |title=Match report – Group B – Germany – Chile |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=22 June 2017 |access-date=22 June 2017 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712151115/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/76/75/eng_08_0622_ger-chi_fulltime.pdf |url-status=dead }}
24 June 201718:00{{fb|MEX}}style="text-align:center;"| 2–1{{fb|RUS}}Group Astyle="text-align:center;"| 41,585{{cite web |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/81/01/eng_09_0624_mex-rus_fulltime.pdf |title=Match report – Group A – Mexico – Russia |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=24 June 2017 |access-date=24 June 2017 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712171147/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/81/01/eng_09_0624_mex-rus_fulltime.pdf |url-status=dead }}
28 June 201721:00{{fb|POR}}style="text-align:center;"| 0–0 (0–3 pen.){{fb|CHI}}Semi-finalsstyle="text-align:center;"| 40,855{{cite web |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/91/20/eng_13_0628_por-chi_fulltime.pdf |title=Match report – Semi-final – Portugal – Chile |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=28 June 2017 |access-date=28 June 2017 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712134405/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/91/20/eng_13_0628_por-chi_fulltime.pdf |url-status=dead }}

2018 FIFA World Cup

File:Poland_v._Columbia_(42095441565).jpg vs Colombia match during 2018 FIFA World Cup]]

class="wikitable"
Date

!Time

!Team #1

!Result

!Team #2

!Round

!Attendance

16 June 201813:00{{fb|FRA|1974}}style="text-align:center;"| 2–1{{fb|AUS}}Group Cstyle="text-align:center;"| 41,279{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/2e87b52818fb1ed9/original/d0nb6lisuh3rgphcyvwv-pdf.pdf |title=Match report – Group C – France – Australia|website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=16 June 2018 |access-date=16 June 2018}}
20 June 201821:00{{fb|IRN}}style="text-align:center;"| 0–1{{fb|ESP}}Group Bstyle="text-align:center;"| 42,718{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/a5a29516e199c00/original/upxyuyxyxyhs7bbximat-pdf.pdf |title=Match report – Group B – IR Iran – Spain |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=20 June 2018}}
24 June 201821:00{{fb|POL}}style="text-align:center;"| 0–3{{fb|COL}}Group Hstyle="text-align:center;"| 42,873{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/1d31ea9173c6e7d1/original/rn1rau23bfjhzi9clze9-pdf.pdf |title=Match report – Group H – Poland – Colombia |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=24 June 2018 |access-date=24 June 2018}}
27 June 201817:00{{fb|KOR}}style="text-align:center;"| 2–0{{fb|GER}}Group Fstyle="text-align:center;"| 41,835{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/4c6759397c767c60/original/nvasmittjvlndnmprpiw-pdf.pdf |title=Match report – Group F – Korea Republic – Germany |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=27 June 2018}}
30 June 201817:00{{fb|FRA|1974}}style="text-align:center;"| 4–3{{fb|ARG}}Round of 16style="text-align:center;"| 42,873{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/65f2f46f0e31393f/original/l8h65vfw78efsgdhw6rh-pdf.pdf |title=Match report – Round of 16 – France – Argentina |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=30 June 2018 |access-date=30 June 2018}}
6 July 201821:00{{fb|BRA}}style="text-align:center;"| 1–2{{fb|BEL}}Quarter-finalsstyle="text-align:center;"| 42,873{{cite web |url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/7767b42ae969b7bb/original/lmitcdvz2nsoapxx5bxq-pdf.pdf |title=Match report – Quarter-final – Brazil – Belgium |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |format=PDF |date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 July 2018}}

Gallery

Kazan-arena-stadium.jpg|General view of the stadium

Kazan-arena-screen.jpg|Media Facade

Kazan-arena-stroitelstvo.jpg|General view during construction

Opening of the Summer Universiade in Kazan 6 July 2013 01.jpeg|Stadium at the Universiade 2013 Opening Ceremony

Футбольный стадион на 45000 зрителей - panoramio.jpg|during construction

Kazan-kazanarena-skyboxes.jpg|

Kazan 2015 - Kazan Arena Panorama Sector 306.JPG|Pools at the arena during the World Water Sports Championship

Kazan-kazanarena.jpg|Kazan Arena in Kazan

Closing of 2013 Summer Universiade 79.jpg|

Kazan 2015 - Kazan Arena Panorama.JPG|Panorama view of Kazan Arena during 2015 World Aquatics Championships

References

{{reflist}}