Project Watch

EU Infrastructure takes a look at the sports stadiums across Europe that are currently under construction.

New Camp Nou Stadium

The existing stadium bowl is to be retained with the upper tier expanded to accommodate extra seating capacity. The stadium will be enclosed in a new mosaic composed of translucent panels in the colours of the FC Barcelona club. The enclosure will act as a rain screen around the sides of the stadium allowing naturally ventilated concourse areas. The design also includes photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy. At night lighting will make the enclosure glow in bright colours and feature animated effects to give the stadium a changing image and dynamic response to environment and events.

Project stats:

• Projected capacity increased from 98,000 to 106,000
• Approximate budget is €250 million
• The project includes a new stadium museum

Shakhtar Stadium

Shakhtar Stadium will be the first stadium in Eastern Europe to be designed and constructed in compliance with EUFAs five star guidelines. The iconic design features a sloping roof from north to south in line with the site, a glass façade providing views into and out of the stadium, and clear external concourses, is sympathetic to its surroundings in Leninskiy Komsomol Park and has seated accommodation for 50,000 spectators.

Project stats:

• At the project peak, over 1000 construction workers will be working on the stadium
• Approximately 4300 tones of steel will be used in construction
• Opening is scheduled for 2009

Swedbank Arena

The Swedbank Arena will be the largest in the Nordic region and will serve as Scandinavia’s premier football and entertainment venue. One of the greatest structural engineering challenges will be to engineer the steel structures that will bear up the weight of the retractable roof that extends over the pitch – each half of the roof weighs a full 400 tonnes, plus the considerable extra load arising from snowfall.

Project stats:

• The arena is scheduled for completion in 2012
• It will accommodate 50,000 spectators during football matches and 65,000 at concerts
• It is calculated to cost around €192 million

Baltic Arena

The Baltic Arena will be the first stadium in Poland to comply with all UEAFA regulations. The project is estimated to cost around €170 million and the expected capacity is 44,000, when it is completed in 2011. The outside walls will be made of amber coloured material that will be illuminated at night to make the building look like a lump of amber. The stadium will be built on a site raised from the ground, which will make it visible from almost anywhere in Gdansk as well as from the sea.

Project stats:

• It will take just 10 minutes to get from the city centre to the stadium via bus, tram or train
• The stadium will be used for the European Football Championships, which will take place in Gdansk in 2012
• The stadium will cover around four hectares, but combined with surrounding car parks, green areas and a training pitch it will cover 37 hectares

Olympic Stadium

The innovative design of London’s Olympic Stadium allows for an 80,000-seat athletics stadium to be converted into a more easily maintained 25,000-seat venue after the Games. The Olympic Stadium will be at the heart of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, with all athletics events taking place in the stadium as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. A roof will stretch around the stadium to provide cover and support the lighting and sound systems used to stage the Games. It will be built to international track and field standards for athletes.

Project stats:

• Construction started in May 2008
• The stadium is on an island site, surrounded on three sides by waterways
• Construction is scheduled to finish in 2011, in time for test events to take place before the Games

Lia Manoliu Arena

The Lia Manoliu Arena will be the first five-star venue in Romanian football and is predicted to host European competitions when it is built by April 2010. The arena will be built on the site of the Lia Manoliu Stadium, built in 1953, which has now been demolished to make way for the new arena. The new arena will be built from in-situ concrete and prefabricated parts, with a membrane covering. The arena is expected to hold 55,000 people, with a potential expansion to 63,000.

Project stats:

• The stadium is named after Lia Manoliu, a Romanian discuss thrower who competed at a record six Summer Olympics, winning three medals, two bronze and one gold
• The arena is expected to cost €142 million
• The stadium is the first one built to support a possible bid for Euro 2020, which Romania and Bulgaria are prepared to jointly host.