Stadiums
Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia Team: Zenit Saint Petersburg Built: 2017 Capacity: 68,134
Japanese architecture firm Kisho Kurokawa won the contract to design Saint Petersburg’s new stadium back in 2007. A decade later, at the eye-watering estimated cost of over $1 billion, the Krestovsky Stadium opened and hosted the final of the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Drawing inspiration from the Oita Stadium, the Japanese ground devised by Kurokawa for the 2002 World Cup, the stadium resembles a giant spaceship, settled on the edge
of the Gulf of Finland. Russia’s second-largest stadium is topped by a transparent retractable dome, which provides eco-friendly benefits such as solar power and a rainwater recycling system.
Seven matches featured at the Krestovsky Stadium during the 2018 World Cup, including Russia’s 3-1 win against Egypt in Group A, France’s semi-final victory over Belgium and England’s third-place play-off defeat.
As Russia’s scheduled venue for this summer’s European Championship, three group matches and a quarter-final will be played at the stadium during the pan-European event.
Originally selected to host the final of the 2020-21 Champions League, the coronavirus pandemic delayed Saint Petersburg from welcoming UEFA’s showpiece event until next year.