The completed stadium is expected to be handed over on December 14, 2009. Major concrete works have been completed and only finishing works such as seating, lighting, cabling, VIP suites, external cladding, media facilities and IT are left.
The roof construction is expected to be completed by September 2009. The inner tension ring and outer compression ring for the roof are complete and installation of the steel roof trusses is going on. About 70% of the work is complete by now.
The first panes of the glass roofing have been fixed. The roof hovers over the stadium in a suspended fashion, focussing viewer attention downwards onto the playing field. At the same time, the underside of the roof surface, hovering above the spectators, operates in a way similar to that of the façade.
This special design feature makes the stadium eco-friendly, as the roof and stadium lighting will not be visible except from the mountain tops, and the structure is designed to minimize noise and disturbance in the surrounding areas.
The stadium’s seating will be reduced from 68,000 to 55,000, the optimal number for a stadium of this type, after the World Cup.
The facility is designed to be a multi-purpose venue, capable of hosting several different events, including concerts, religious gatherings, and possibly rugby and other sports.
