Ak Bars Arena – stadium description

The new stadium in Kazan's eastern district of Savinovo was planned as the city won the organisation of Universiade 2013. The design was delivered by Populous, who had to modify it significantly since early drawings, because it showed too much resemblence with another stadium by the office – never built Maze Stadium in Lisburn.

After extensive preparation works (19,000 piles had to be installed into the wet soil), corner stone was installed in May 2010, beginning three years of construction. Significant delays were seen, though not threatening the Universiade. A huge cost inflation also took place. The initial cost of $155 million grew rapidly. Back in 2011 the stadium was hoped to cost $330 million, while eventually it even exceeded the updated price tag of $450m.

Significant alterations that contributed to the increase were those done to the face. Instead of light membrane covering the stadium received outer cladding of glass (east) and the largest HD screen of its kind (4,030 sqm covering the west).

Ground level sees various spaces for commercial, medical and cultural use, while access to the stands is possible from the vast promenade atop these spaces. Inside are two tiers of seating with 72 luxurious skyboxes.

Opening, postponed several times, finally took place during the Universiade's opening ceremony. Further large events already contracted for the venue include the 2015 FINA World Cup in swimming and the 2018 World Cup.

Anchor tenant club Rubin Kazan was initially hoped to play here since mid 2013, but the stadium move was changed to mid-2014 after the grass laid after 2013 Universiade proved in poor condition.