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Chance to shine?

Beyoncé thrills the crowds, but November deadline could leave the new Donbass Arena with a nasty hangover

Anthony James

The Donbass Arena, home of FC Shakhtar, the 2009 UEFA Cup winners, was officially opened on 29 August, with a live performance from US superstar Beyoncé. The former Destiny’s Child diva brought a touch of rare glamour to the city of Donetsk, a hard-edged mining town close to the Russian border and some 700km southeast from Ukraine’s more Western-leaning capital, Kiev.

The first football stadium in Eastern Europe designed and built to UEFA Elite (Five Star) standards, the 50,000-capacity Donbass Arena is currently one of four venues in Ukraine earmarked for UEFA’s EURO 2012 competition. However a UEFA inspection team was highly critical of the country’s preparations in May, refusing to confirm either Donetsk, Kharkiv or Lviv as host cities, and setting a 30 November deadline for serious improvements in local and regional transport infrastructure, as well as accommodation for travelling fans.

Some reports have even suggested that UEFA is considering ditching these three venues altogether in favour of Berlin and Leipzig in the east of Germany if its November deadline is not met.

At least Kiev’s status as a host city is confirmed, but its ambitions to host the final took a blow with the news that UEFA has selected Warsaw as the location of the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) – the strongest indicator yet that UEFA intends to host the tournament’s showpiece across the border in the Polish capital.

Political football

Meanwhile, the chances of Donetsk, Lviv and Kharkiv meeting the deadline seem slim. Bitter fighting between the Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yushchenko, and Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, reached a new nadir at the start of August when the President vetoed US$1 billion in state funding set aside for EURO 2012, citing concerns that the money could be misused or contribute to inflation. Ukraine’s parliament has since rejected the veto, but with a presidential election due next year, the tournament is at risk of falling foul of the power struggle between Yushchenko and Tymoshenko. “I have a suspicion that the disruption of EURO 2012 finals is part of Yushchenko’s dishonest and very cruel game in his fight with me as his opponent in the forthcoming presidential election,” Tymoshenko told reporters in August.

Interestingly, both politicians were in attendance at the opening ceremony for the Donbass Arena, although sat in different sections of the stadium. Addressing the 47,000-strong crowd, Yushchenko attempted to dismiss any fears the locals may have regarding the hosting of the tournament: “EURO 2012 will take place here,” he assured. “I’m sure that Donbass [the Donetsk region] will suitably meet the guests of Ukraine.”

If that is to be the case, the region will need to invest substantially in the airport, and surrounding road and rail infrastructure, as well as push ahead with plans to build at least another five urgently needed new hotels – currently Donetsk is only able to provide just over 500 hotel rooms that meet UEFA’s standards. The city is not alone in its dearth of suitable accommodation; so much so, Ukraine’s government is reported to be considering housing EURO 2012 fans in unused army bases – cold showers and early wake-up calls could provide just the tonic for fans who may have drank too much the night before!

Other rumoured plans involve the refurbishing of Soviet-era riverboats, some of which have been mothballed for decades, to provide sleeping quarters and restaurant facilities.

Even Beyoncé ran into problems during her short stay in Donetsk – the singer had to hand over the penthouse suite at the Donbass Palace hotel to presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovich. The hotel apologised and gave the star a different room.

Alexandr Atamanenko, CEO of Donbass Arena LLC, admits the region has much to do, but is confident it can reach the deadline: “The main challenges according to UEFA reports for Donetsk include the airport, four- and five-star hotels, and improving the traffic infrastructure,” he says. “The city works hard in the above directions, certain progress is being made, and we are confident that the city and the entire Ukraine will be fully prepared for the championship.”

A true jewel

Despite the questions surrounding its preparations for EURO 2012, Donetsk can at least take pride in its sparkling new ‘jewel’ of a stadium – the Donbass Arena, designed by ArupSport, features a gleaming glass façade, which glitters like a diamond in the sun, while integrated blue and white LED lighting ensures it glows like a sapphire at night. It also features a roof that slopes downwards from north to south, ensuring the maximum amount of sunlight reaches the natural grass pitch, and improving air circulation.

A three-tier (two corporate levels) single bowl interior with excellent sight lines includes 48 executive boxes (13 Premium and 35 Classic), three restaurants, four bars for season-card holders, a lounge bar, and dozens of fast food and sales outlets. “We planned to sell out the tickets covering 70% of the boxes, and we are close to fulfilling the plan at the moment,” says Atamanenko. “The Classic boxes cost from US$65,000 to US$140,000, while the Premium boxes range from US$185,000 to US$300,000.”

Meanwhile Atamanenko says season ticket prices vary from US$20 (standard) to US$1,600 (Diamond Club). “However, there are also tickets for FC Shakhtar home matches within the Ukrainian Cup and the National Premier League available for less,” he adds. “The lowest price for a single match is UAH15 (US$1.70) – the most expensive ticket is UAH1,150 (US$136).”

A fitness centre, a fan-café, a museum and an FC Shakhtar shop are also included and open all year round, helping to bring in vital non-matchday revenue. Action from the pitch is displayed on two 100m² LED screens, and advertisers can also buy time on 200m of electronic ribbon boards that surround the playing surface.

The stadium, which was completed by ENKA, a Turkish contractor, cost US$400 million.

Opening party

The Donbass Arena began life in true style, with a spectacular opening ceremony organised by Italian agency K-Events, which has previously organised the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. The show included complex group choreography, with themes inspired by the city’s mining heritage, as well as Cossacks and even aliens – the stadium’s sloping silhouette is reminiscent of a flying saucer. There were also performances from a clutch of Ukrainian pop stars before Beyoncé took to the stage. Her extremely energetic ensemble was capped by a spectacular fireworks display.

K-Events’ president Marco Balich described the ceremony as an “Olympic standard show”, adding that the choreography had required local volunteers to undergo four months of intensive training. Balich estimated the cost of the opening ceremony as between “€3-4 million”, which includes Beyoncé’s fee – plus airfare. The budget was originally higher, but was cut in response to the economic downturn. Both Madonna and U2 were considered for the event, but their concert schedules proved problematic.

“The opening ceremony ticket prices ranged from UAH100 (US$11) to UAH3,500 (US$415),” says Atamanenko. “We also sold UAH75 (US$9) tickets only for the concert by Beyoncé exclusive of witnessing the grand ceremony but which entitled the holders to enter the pitch area in the immediate vicinity of the stage. The Grand Show was attended by a total of 42,000 spectators; another 5,000 people enjoyed the concert by Beyoncé.”

Despite the stadium being a ‘gift’ to the region from its billionaire owner, Rinat Akhmetov, Atamanenko insists his remit includes maximising future revenue by attracting further concerts and events to the rather far-flung venue: “Although designed as a purely football stadium, the Donbass Arena is also ultimately a multipurpose arena – we plan to host other big sporting events apart from the matches of FC Shakhtar,” he says. “These events include national team fixtures, EURO 2012, international boxing events, as well as various concerts of international stars, dancing and other activities. The opening ceremony is a successful example of such an event. We are currently conducting negotiations with the biggest agencies dealing with events of this kind.”

The stadium is certainly ready to host such events – Atamanenko can only hope the rest of the region keeps its word and delivers much needed transport infrastructure and hotel projects, to ensure the impressive venue reaches its full potential.

Anthony James is the editor of Stadia magazine, and recently visited the Donbass Arena in the Ukraine to attend its opening ceremony