Key facts
| Capacity | 100,000 seats |
| Build Date | 1950 |
| Demolished | 2006 |
| Record Attendance | 110,000 |
Description
Kirov Stadium used to be a stadium located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was one of the biggest stadiums in the world. It was named after Sergey Kirov. The design of the stadium was developed by the architect Aleksandr Nikolsky, and construction of Kirov Stadium started in 1932, but it was interrupted by WWII. The work resumed only in 1945, when thousands of recruits could be engaged in construction.
Kirov Stadium was open in 1950, and the first match that took place in the ground was between Dynamo and Zenit, both were Leningrad teams. Initially, a capacity of the stadium was 100,000 people, 16,000 of which were standing places.
In 1951, the capacity of the stadium was increased up to 110,000 by adding temporary stands. All of the tickets were sold out, and the highest attendance in the ground and for the Soviet football reached 110,000 people. To prepare for the Summer Olympics in 1980, the stadium was reconstructed, and its capacity was reduced to 72,000.
In 1994, the ground was chosen for the Goodwill Games, a major international event with participants from more than 50 countries. Over the next several years, Kirov Stadium was used for football matches, and a range of athletics and other events. In 2005, it was decided to be demolished so that a new stadium could be built instead of it.
The last match at the stadium was held between Petrotrest F.C. and Spartak Shelkovo in the summer of 2006, and the ground was demolished in the same year. In 2017, the Krestovsky Stadium was opened on the site.
FAQ
Kirov Stadium was officially opened on July 30, 1950. It was one of the largest stadiums in the Soviet Union at the time of its completion.
The stadium was named after Sergey Kirov, a prominent Bolshevik leader who was assassinated in 1934. Kirov was an influential figure in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and played a significant role in the city’s development.
At its peak, Kirov Stadium could accommodate approximately 110,000 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums in Europe. However, the capacity was reduced to around 72,000 in its later years due to safety regulations.
Kirov Stadium hosted a wide variety of events throughout its history. It was primarily used for football matches, including home games for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. The stadium also hosted athletics competitions, concerts, and political rallies.
Kirov Stadium was demolished in 2006-2007 to make way for a new stadium, now known as Gazprom Arena or Krestovsky Stadium. The new stadium was built for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and continues to serve as the home ground for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Kirov Stadium was known for its distinctive horseshoe shape, with one end open to provide a view of the Gulf of Finland. This design was unusual for large stadiums of its time and created a memorable atmosphere for spectators.
