Key Fact:
Host: Moscow
Capacity: 45 000
Project Type: New Construction
Completed: 2014
Matches
Saturday, June 16, Group D, Argentina vs Iceland, Group Stage
Tuesday, June 19, Group H, Poland vs Senegal, Group Stage
Saturday, June 23, Belgium vs Tunisia, Group Stage
Wednesday, June 27, Serbia vs Brazil, Group Stage
Tuesday, July 3, Round of 16
History and description
The Otkritie Arena is the recently opened new home of Spartak Moscow. In its history, Spartak had never owned a proper stadium, using various stadiums around Moscow instead, and ultimately playing at Luzhniki Stadium.
The club had been looking to build a new stadium from as early as the mid 1990s, but early plans failed to materialise. The project of the Otkritie Arena became concrete in 2005 after the club acquired a site at the Tushino Airfield grounds in the far north-west of Moscow.
Few progress was made in the following years, however the financial crisis in 2008 led to significantly reduced construction costs, which in turn made getting funding easier. Construction of the stadium finally started in July 2010.
Initial plans went for a stadium with about 35,000 seats, but this was later revised upwards to 42,000 with an eye on the 2018 World Cup. The Otkritie Arena got subsequently confirmed as the second Moscow playing venue besides Luzhniki Stadium, beating Dynamo’s VTB Arena for the spot.
In February 2013, Spartak announced a naming rights deal with local bank Otkritie, resulting in the name Otkritie Arena. The stadium officially opened on 5 September 2014 with a friendly between Spartak and Red Star (1-1).
The Otkritie Arena was selected as one of the playing venues of the 2017 Confederations Cup, hosting three first round group matches and the match for third place.
Source: FIFA & thestadiumguide.com
