By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 2 – Russian billionaire Leonid Fedun has announced that the new stadium currently being built for Spartak Moscow will cost 14 billion rubles ($426 million). Fedun told local news agency ITAR-TASS that Spartak is already receiving funds for the investment from its sponsor, Russian bank Otkritie, under a naming rights deal signed in February 2013.
Located in the Tushino district, in the Russian capital’s northern part, the Red-Whites’ home stadium will be named Otkritie Arena for at least six years under a 1.28 billion ruble ($39 million) contract. Since the beginning of the 2013/2014 season, the bank’s name also appears on its squad’s uniforms.
The club’s new 44,000 seat stadium will host its first football match on July 24, 2014. With Russia set to host the 2018 World Cup, Spartak’s Otkritie Arena will be one of the country’s 12 host stadiums.
Construction works at the Tushino-based facility were launched in late 2010. The Red-Whites currently play their home matches at the 28,800 seat Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow.
Otkritie Bank is a subsidiary of Russia-based Otkritie Financial Corporation. Set up in 1995 and based in Moscow, the group says it is Russia’s second largest financial group with assets exceeding 1.3 trillion rubles ($39.6 billion).
Established in 1922, Spartak currently plays in the Russian Premier League. Fedun became the owner of the Moscow-based football club in 2003.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735579967labto1735579967ofdlr1735579967owedi1735579967sni@i1735579967kswom1735579967ada.w1735579967alsor1735579967aj1735579967