The eye-catching temporary stands used for Ekaterinburg Arena’s hosting of 2018 FIFA World Cup games will be dismantled as work commences on repurposing the stadium as a multi-use venue.
Russian state news agency Tass said the 12,000 seats used for the two stands will be redistributed across stadia in eight municipalities of the region of Sverdlovsk Oblast, of which Yekaterinburg is the administrative centre.
Ekaterinburg Arena hosted four group games during the World Cup, with the temporary stands giving it the 35,000-capacity necessary to be a venue for the tournament. Extending beyond the façade of the stadium, the temporary stands became a major talking point during the World Cup, with fans situated in these seats located outside the main bowl.
In October, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree transferring Ekaterinburg Arena to the Sverdlovsk Region. Russian Premier League club FC Ural Yekaterinburg currently competes in the stadium.
A tender process has reportedly been launched to find a partner to transform the stadium into a multi-purpose venue, with a contractor set to be appointed on April 29.
Image: FC Ural Yekaterinburg
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