2013 SU Update: Tatarstan President evaluates Construction Progress of 45,000-Seat Football Stadium

KAZAN – On Friday, March 16, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov visited the construction site of the 45,000-capacity football stadium being built in the run up to the 27th Summer Universiade and held a working meeting in the site office to discuss the facilities the stadium will be equipped with. The President was joined on his inspection tour by Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov, Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin, Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Vladimir Leonov and other officials.

Before the meeting began, the inspection team descended onto the future pitch of the stadium, where they got a closer look at the construction of the sports venue. First steel roof structures have already been installed over the stands to date.

Various options of stadium seats were presented to President Rustam Minnikhanov in the site office. To assess their level of comfort and convenience, the President tried out all of them. «A seat is one of the most important parts of a stadium. It’s really important that it is service-strong and convenient»;, Rustam Minnikhanov said. «We need to select the most comfortable seats and to negotiate their price with suppliers.»

According to the President of Tatarstan, the best solution is to combine the seat order for the stadium with the one for theAquaticsPalaceas it will create more attractive conditions for a supplier and reduce the cost. During the meeting, director of the football stadium Radik Minnakhmetov introduced the new venue’s layout concept. It is expected that the new stadium will comprise a shopping and leisure centre, children’s play area, a restaurant, a nightclub, a sports bar, a football merchandise shop, the FC Rubin museum.

In general, Rustam Minnikhanov expressed approval of the suggested concept, although he noted that the high cost of implementing the offered projects was a barrier to a steady preparation for the 2013 Games. The President of the Republic ordered to make a detailed analysis and decided which elements of the infrastructure can be financed by the managing company and which expenses can be covered by attracting investments.

The working meeting also discussed the stadium’s lighting system and various other facilities that the venue will be equipped with. The Tatarstan President instructed to select best suppliers, to examine their bid details and to determine which bidder offers the lowest price. Rustam Minnikhanov welcomed the use of outsourcing for a whole array of equipment and venue maintenance services. This approach will enable to cut stadium construction expenses, the Head of the Republic said.

(Source: Press Office of President of Republic of Tatarstan – Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

Nikolay Nikiforov, Minister of Informatization and Communications of the Republic of Tatarstan & Ildar Khalikov, PM of the Republic of Tatarstan

Vladimir Leonov