In late December 1954 USSR authorities decided that Moscow Leeds a major stadium, worthy of the empire it was supposed to represent. Uncovered terraces for app. 103,000 people were designed and construction started already in Spring of 1955. The massive stadium took only 450 days to be ready for opening, despite the need to install some 10,000 piles in the ground to secure future stability. Resources needed for construction and equipment were brought to Moscow from all parts of the USSR, including Belarus, Lithuania, Armenia and distant regions of Russia. Cost remains unknown, but to show how important it was to finish this stadium in time, let us just say that a whole district of housing was halted in order to have sufficient resources for new Luzhniki stadium.

Single-tiered bowl for spectators was erected on reinforced concrete and hidden behind monumental facades from the outside. Over the whole venue were four giant floodlight masts that lasted until roof was installed in 1996. Then came conversion to all-seater mode in 1999, that decreased capacity to around 80,000. Corruption charges were raised when it turned out seats were provided by a company belonging to Russia’s richest woman, wife of Moscow’s mayor.

It’s hard to name one sporting event that hasn’t been played or planned in the near future here. Summer Universiade in 1973, Summer Olympics in 1980, Youth Olympics in 1998 and Athletics World Championships in 2013. The list goes on with football fixtures – UEFA Cup final in 1999, Champions League final in 2008, World Cup final in 2018. Then comes rugby World Cup 2013, domestic cup finals, major Moscow derbies and other games by Moscow’s largest clubs.

There are also many non-sporting events in history of Luzhniki. Concerts of World’s biggest stars (Madonna, Michael Jackson, U2, etc.) and political rallies are on the list. There is also a tragedy that took place here in 1982, when many people died. Due to official propaganda, number of victims remains unknown to date, estimates starting at the official 66 victims and ending at over 350, according to independent journalists.