An excellent relationship has been built between Euroleague Basketball and the VTB Arena, for the last three years as the venue has sponsored European club basketball’s premier competition as it readies itself for a grand opening in October 2017.
But what exactly is the VTB Arena? It was a question that had been asked by many people throughout the Final Four in Madrid last weekend when a huge promotional poster of the multi-purpose location was placed in the media work room plus adverts shown on the Barclaycard Center big screen, above the court.
Due to open officially in October 2017 after numerous delays, the VTB Arena, built in the center of the Russian capital of Moscow’s urban district is set to be the world’s ultimate entertainment venue, a title currently held by the O2 Arena in London as they see over two million people through their doors for events every year.
And with the way it is publicised, the VTB Arena, located in Moscow’s supposed heartland should comfortably exceed the average of two million members of the public that travel to North Greenwich every year.
Simple breakdown of the VTB Arena
The $750million arena will feature a 12,000-seat indoor venue, suitable for ice hockey and basketball games. It is said that the Dynamo Moscow basketball team will play its home games there.
The venue also features a 27,000-seat football stadium which is the feature’s centrepiece. The ground can expand to 40,000 exclusively for the 2018 FIFA World Cup if chosen as one of the venues.
There is also an office and retail complex, extensive underground parking facilities. Plus a state-of-the-art, five-star hotel, four office buildings, several apartment blocks, conference centre and sports academy for Dynamo.
What will the Euroleague be interested in?
Once in operation, the VTB Arena will be a hopeful candidate to host the 2018 Final Four, according to a senior Euroleague official. And it makes sense to stage the showcase event at an arena that has sponsored the competition for three years, so 2018 would be a perfect time.
But to be fair, Moscow’s soon-to-be-premier facility will stage the Final Four at some stage. After all this exposure, it’s the least the Euroleague could do.
Will it rival the O2 Arena in London?
The VTB Arena will eventually overtake the O2 Arena and become the world’s busiest venue.
As it was so eloquently put by the architects of the arena, Manica Architecture:
“The project’s ambition is to create an urban oasis – a prestigious, but public space in the spirit of health and sports will rule. It is a place of entertainment, a center of attraction and meetings in a unique environment where traditions are masterfully combined with modern, 21st-century features, where family values, green environment and optimism prevail.”
They are well on their way.
