Russian stadium and infrastructure build for the 2018 World Cup "reported good news with information that the preparation work required for the Yekaterinburg stadium was proceeding ahead of schedule." The existing Central Stadium on the site has to be "first dismantled before work can begin in earnest in the new arena." So far "all seats have been removed" and the southern and north grandstands are "currently being taken down." The east and west stands will only be partially deconstructed (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 2/24). ... Katowice, Poland is preparing to "dip into public funds to build a new stadium" for its "struggling football club GKS Katowice and support its bid to return to
the top division of the Polish league." The investment is estimated to be
worth about €24M ($27.2M). The new facility
will have a capacity of 12,000 spectators, "but with the capability to
expand by a further 6,000 seats." The project was unveiled by Katowice's
municipal authorities at a recent meeting with representatives of the
club's supporters' association. This is "only the latest initiative
by the city to increase its support of the operations of GKS Katowice."
Last year, the municipal authorities bought shares worth €260,000 ($295,000) in the club, making a total of €480,000 ($544,500)
invested to date (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 2/24). ... Serie A side Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero has "hit out at the way the Stadio Luigi Ferraris is run after Saturday's derby against Genoa," which shares the ground with Sampdoria, "was called off because of a waterlogged pitch." Ferrero said the clubs were paying €100,000 ($113,500) per game for a service "which is really worth a lot less" after no covers were put on the playing surface despite "forecasts warning of heavy rain throughout Saturday." A "frustrated" Ferrero said, "I've asked the city council if we can run the stadium, which is currently decrepit and does not conform with the standards -- and, to tell the truth, even the mayor agreed" (ESPN, 2/24).
