NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, November 15 (R-Sport) – Construction on the 2018 World Cup stadium in Samara will start in January 2014, local authorities said Thursday.
The central Russian city with a population of 1.2 million is to receive the $430 million arena by the end of 2016.
“The design of the stadium and infrastructure buildings is planned to be finished by November 2013,” Samara region sports minister Dmitry Shlyakhtin said.
“The construction period will last from January 2014 until December 2016.”
The plan for the stadium change radically after fatal floods in the country's south led President Vladimir Putin to order any large facilities built near water must be at least eight meters above the water level.
The 45,000-seater arena was to be situated on a picturesque island where two rivers meet, but that failed to pass the new criteria and officials switched the site to a major highway near Samara airport.
The stadium will become the home ground for local team Krylya Sovetov as well as a concert and exhibition venue.
All 12 stadiums needed for the tournament require constructing from scratch or dramatic refurbishments to fall into line with FIFA standards.
