Russian Government Announces $612M Tender To Upgrade Luzhniki Stadium

The Russian government has put out a $612M tender "to reconstruct Moscow's iconic Luzhniki Stadium, the venue for the 2018 World Cup final," according to R-SPORT. Work has already begun "to rip out the seats at the hulking arena, which will be hollowed out and furnished with new stands." Only the outer shell "is to be kept intact." The winning contractor, to be announced on Dec. 12, "will have three-and-a-half years to complete all necessary work." World Cup organizers had initially put the costs of the refurbishments at $800M, "though that was before they announced a more frugal approach to building for the tournament." The tender is worth 20B rubles. Original plans had a final capacity of 90,000 spectators, "but the budget was reduced and world governing body FIFA approved new designs with the more modest total." There "are to be 300 places for disabled people." The renovated venue "will also allocate 2,000 VIP seats and another 2,000 places for media and 160 commentator positions " (R-SPORT, 11/20).