World Cup 2018 stadium investments will cost Russia $6bn

The construction and modernisation of the fifteen stadiums for the needs of the 2018 World Cup in Russia will cost approx. RUB 162-199bn ($5.1-6.2bn). In addition the preparation of training centres for national teams participating in the event will cost another RUB 22bn ($674.4m).
According to the research company PMR’s latest report, entitled “World Cup 2018 in Russia − Development forecasts and planned investments”, the Russians have already selected thirteen cities intended for hosting the 2018 World Cup matches: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Sochi, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, and Yekaterinburg. The list, however, will be whittled down to eleven cities. The final list of cities which will be hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be announced by the end of 2012. While choosing the final list of host cities FIFA will evaluate five criteria: the availability of infrastructure, the level of socio-economic development, the investment program of preparation for the tournament, the concept of organising the 2018 World Cup in the city, and the ideas for creating advantages following the sports event. The cities which will definitely host the 2018 World Cup are Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi.
As of September 2012 five proposed stadiums are under construction (in St. Petersburg, Saransk, Kazan, Sochi and the Spartak Stadium in Moscow). Two more stadiums are to be modernised if selected to host the tournament (Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and Yekaterinburg Stadium). Other stadiums are in the design stages (in Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, Samara, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don and the VTB Stadium in Moscow).
The first of the stadiums to be started was Fisht Stadium in Sochi. The construction of this stadium is connected with 2014 Winter Olympics Games and it will be ready by the end of 2013. Also, the construction of the stadium in Kazan will be completed by the end of 2013 in accordance with preparations for the winter sports event. On average, construction of a stadium takes five years. The longest construction time is at Fisht Stadium in Sochi and the reconstruction of Zenit Stadium in Saint Petersburg. The quickest constructed stadiums will be in Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan and the most quickly reconstructed ones being Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, and Shinnik Stadium in Yaroslavl, with works on these stadiums taking four years.
PMR analysts estimate that 2013 and 2014 will be the peak period for the construction of stadiums when works on thirteen stadiums in Russia will be carried out. The majority of construction is planned to start in 2013. In the same year the construction of seven stadiums will begin (the reconstruction of Luzniki Stadium, Shinnik Stadium, Tseatralny Stadium, Stadiums in Krasnodar and Volgograd and the construction of stadiums in Rostov-on-Don and Kaliningrad). All the stadiums will be completed by 2017, with six stadiums (the reconstruction of stadiums in Krasnodar and Volgograd and the construction of stadiums in Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara) being completed in that year.
In addition, each host city must provide a choice of four training sites for each stadium. FIFA will approve two of them (one for each of the teams) and a reserve pitch. Each training centre needs to have at least one full size pitch (105 m x 68 m). Centres should be not more than one hour’s bus drive from the nearest international airport: the distance between a hotel and its training centre should not take longer than twenty minutes to cover by bus. Hosts can offer hotels which have pitches in two different places. The Organising Committee for the 2018 World Cup proposes sixty-four training sites.
This press release is based on information contained in the latest PMR report entitled “World Cup 2018 in Russia − Development forecasts and planned investments”.