The stadium was built as one of thevenues for the2018 FIFA World Cup. The competition between architectural projects was won byKisho Kurokawa's "The Spaceship".[17] The design of the stadium is a modified and enlarged version ofToyota Stadium inToyota City, Japan, which was also designed by Kurokawa. The stadium was built on the location where the formerKirov Stadium used to stand before it was demolished.[18] The capacity of 56,196 seats was increased to 68,000 seats for the World Cup. It also has 104 luxuriously designedskyboxes.[19]
In 2005 the planning of the stadium began. Initialconstruction work began in late 2008.[20]
In January 2009The St. Petersburg Times reported that the project was now to be funded by the city government of St Petersburg, with Gazprom switching to build a separate skyscraper project. The City Hall had to step in afterGazprom declined to invest any further money into the stadium's construction.[21] Before thestadium was namedSankt Petersburg in October 2015, it was known under the names Zenit Arena, Gazprom Arena and Piter Arena.[19][22]
On 25 July 2016 the general contractor, Inzhtransstroy-Spb, issued a statement that the city authorities have failed to pay 1 billionrubles ($15.8 million at the current exchange rate) worth of construction work and stopped the work. The next day the contract was terminated. On 1 August there were reports of wind damage to parts of the metal sheathing, and a flood.
In the end of August 2016, the new general contractor, Metrostroy, resumed construction works on the site.[23]
On 16 December 2018 the stadium hosted aChannel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland. 71,381 spectators attended the game, setting a record attendance for domesticice hockey and the stadium overall.[5]
On 19 September 2014, it was announced by UEFA that the stadium was chosen to host fourUEFA Euro 2020 finals fixtures, three group games and a quarter-final match. On 23 April 2021, the stadium was given three additional group stage matches in Group E (Poland vs. Slovakia, Sweden vs. Slovakia and Sweden vs. Poland) following the removal of theAviva Stadium inDublin as a Euro 2020 host city due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland.[42]
Saint Petersburg Arena offers 560 seats for people with disabilities, 266 of them are for wheelchair users.[54] Moreover, the stadium design includes special lobbies, elevators and ramps to ensure accessibility to spectators with limited mobility.[55]
The stadium has been fully prepared for the FIFA World Cup games in accordance with the FIFA requirements for capacity and security.[55] The stadium is equipped with a video surveillance and identification system that makes it possible to detect any troublemakers and fans who are not allowed to enter.[56]
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