ESSMA Close-up: Andrei Peregoudov, Head of Project at VTB Arena Park

During the recent ESSMA European Stadium Tour to Russia (2-5 July 2017), one of the stadiums visited was the future Dynamo Stadium. With the VTB Arena incorporated into the stadium, both venues and its surroundings are part of an enormous project in Moscow. Check out the insightful interview ESSMA conducted with the Head of Project at VTB Arena Park, Andrei Peregoudov.

What did you want to show the participants of the stadium tour in Russia, when ESSMA visited VTB Arena Park?

Since it’s been almost 10 years since it was designed to be what it will become, there was a lot to show the ESSMA tour members. We were very proud and excited to show the progress the whole site has made. So we hope the members of ESSMA Russia upcoming stadiums tour remember at least some characteristic features of our unique VTB Arena Park project. 

Which special features are included in the project and stadium?

Next year, Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup[™] for the first time in its history, which makes all Russian stadiums steadily turn into places of power, including the most renowned one – the “Dynamo Stadium”. It was closed back in 2008 when all its major structural elements were practically in decline, which made it unsafe to host events. It has been almost 10 years since it was entirely renewed and redesigned to become a futuristic sport arena that is absolutely comfortable and safe both for its guests and event managers, as well as for players from all over the world.

 

A sport arena with seat capacity and ability to make both contestants and the audience feel comfortable is undoubtedly the most important place in any sport complex. And now, it is precisely convertible arenas which can be switched from a hockey court to basketball court and back again in 2.5 hours that make the perfect choice. Such a sport arena at Dynamo Stadium will be a stage for all the major sporting events, musical and ice shows or box matches, with an option to hold both hockey and basketball matches on the same day.

 

The ability to tilt stadium platforms, which allows spectators to maximize their viewing angle and makes the switching process even faster is yet another convenient novelty. This was introduced as basketball fans used to have quite a limited view in comparison with hockey enthusiasts’ due to the gap (roughly 5-6 meters on each side) between the basketball hoop and hockey nets. That makes the viewing angle that is comfortable for hockey not relevant for basketball matches, and vice versa. The new design will not only increase the overall comfort level, but also allow for the fine tweaking of the number of seats, providing hockey enthusiasts and basketball fans with 11,500 and 12,800 seats respectively, while the seating capacity for musical concerts expands to up to the limit of 13,000 or 14,000 seats. This will surely please the crowd.

 

Smartphones are taken into account too, of course, with a special app developed for those who don’t want to waste their time trying to find tickets or standing in a queue of hungry fans to get a hot dog or a bucket of popcorn. This app will not only allow checking the view from the seat of your choice right before buying a ticket, but will also provide a special in-app secondary market in the form of online auction where you can sell one in case you won’t be able to visit the match.

 

The developers of the site claim that a system of dynamic pricing influenced by a number of factors (i.e. match ratings, traffic density, exchange rates or even weather conditions) will be introduced later.

 

The same official app will let those hungry for a meal, order food online. You can receive your order right away at a special fast-track counter or simply use a convenient delivery service that will carry it right to your seat. By combining the use of GPS systems with an automatic seat number tracking service, chances of the courier making a mistake are zero. Moreover, every seat will come with an NFC-tag. To put it simple, it will make you neither feel hunger, nor hurt in a queue. This app will also allow you to call a taxi to your own taste and budget or familiarize yourself with a constantly refreshing section of statistics and information on what is going on both on the sports field and outside.

 

To sum up, Dynamo Stadium is no stranger to modern developments, and it’s a place where history gets along with cutting-edge technologies.

 

What hospitality opportunities will be available at the venue?

Dynamo Stadium will have 403 seats in 26 skyboxes, 92 VVIP seats and 2,255 club-seats.

 

VTB Arena will have 432 seats in 44 skyboxes, 60 VVIP seats and 2,086 club-seats.

Could you tell us what the total project will include? Which areas and facilities will it accommodate?

VTB Arena Park is an integral development project that includes construction of a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex (VTB Arena and Dynamo Central Stadium), Dynamo Sports Academy, Arena Park Residential Area and Dynamo Sports Park with an average area of 80,000 m². The project’s total area is about 320,000 m².

What is the timing of the last construction works?

Dynamo Stadium is hosting a special testing event on 22 October 2017 to celebrate Lev Yashin’s Birthday, with a series of test matches coming afterwards. The official opening of Dynamo Stadium is scheduled for spring 2018.

How many events will take place in the venue each year?

It will be an inspiring result if we reach a figure of not less than 120 events in the venue each year.

What do you think of events like the ESSMA Stadium Tours, gathering stadium industry professionals to exchange knowledge?

Such events are fantastic for the international stadium society to exchange knowledge, experience, patterns, etc. Moreover – it is also good to establish fruitful personal relations and contacts. We were happy to provide such opportunities for participants of the ESSMA Russia stadium tour.

Go to the ESSMA Flickr account for more pictures of their European Stadium Tour.

To find out more about ESSMA, visit their SVB Directory listing at: http://sportsvenuebusiness.com/index.php/2017/04/25/essma-european-stadium-safety-management-association/

Article reproduced courtesy of ESSMA. Read the full interview at:

https://www.essma.eu/en/news/item/732-close-up-andrei-peregoudov-head-of-project-at-vtb-arena-park?utm_content=buffer613a7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

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