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23 May 2018
SIS Pitches at Luzhniki

There is now less than one month to go until the 2018 World Football Cup finals in Russia!

With the schedule set, tickets purchased and squads finalised, we take a look at some of the high-tech stadia set to dazzle the world stage this summer.

six of the best for sis pitches

SIS Pitches has been selected to design, construct and install SISGrass hybrid technology at 6 of the 12 venues to be used during this year’s finals! This includes the Luzhniki stadium, which will host the opening and final games of the tournament- making the 2018 World Football Cup the first to have the final contested on anything but a natural grass surface.

In total, 30 of the 32 nations taking part in this year’s showpiece will take to SISGrass during the group stages. Only Sweden and Egypt will have to progress to the knockout stages to have a chance of playing on the surface in the tournament.

3 of the 6 stadiums with SISGrass have also been fitted with SISAir, our innovative system designed specifically to proactively manage moisture content of soil and then remove excess water from the soil profile.

Luzhniki Lights
Luzhniki stadium being readied

World Football cup to remember

George Mullan, CEO of SIS Pitches, believes this year’s finals are set to be extra special:

“It was an absolute honour to have been chosen to not only design, construct and install the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium but at six of the 12 World Football Cup venues – working on more pitches than any other company.”

“It’s the first time a World Football Cup Final has been played on anything but all-natural grass. SISGrass was only launched in 2015 and already it has been installed at a number of world-class stadiums and now the 2018 World Football Cup Final will be played on it. The quality of SISGrass will ensure that the pitches are resilient in all conditions, and I am sure the 2018 World Football Cup finals will be one that we will always remember.”

Here, we take a closer look at our super six stadiums!

Luzhniki Stadium

Luzhniki Stadium
Luzhniki Stadium with SISGrass machine

Capacity: 81,000

Games held here: Opening game and 3 x further group games, 1 x Round of 16, 1 x Semi Final, Final

Features: SISGrass and SISAir

Fun Fact: Before redevelopment, Manchester United and Chelsea contested the 2008 Champions League Final here.

OKRITIE arena

Home of Spartak Moscow
The Otkritie Arena

Capacity: 45,000

Club team based here: Spartak Moscow

Games held here: 4 x group games, 1 x Round of 16

Features: SISGrass and SISAir

Fun Fact: The Okritie Arena will host Lionel Messi’s Argentina in their opening group game.

Rostov Arena

Rostov Arena
Rostov Arena

Capacity: 45,000

Games held here: 4 x group games, 1 x Round of 16

Features: SISGrass and SISAIR

Fun Fact: The stadium is situated on the left bank of the Don river.

Kaliningrad Stadium

Kaliningrad Stadium;
Kaliningrad Stadium

Capacity: 35,000

Games held here: 4 x group games

Features: SISGrass

Club team based here: FC Baltika Kaliningrad

Fun Fact: The stadium is built on Oktyabrsky Island and is the furthest West of all World Football Cup venues.

SAMARA ARENA

Samara Arena
Samara Arena

Capacity:  45,000

Games held here: 4 x group games, 1 x Round of 16, 1 x Quarter Final

Features: SISGrass

Fun Fact: The shape of the stadium represents a glass dome.

MORDOVIA ARENA

Mordovia Arena, Saransk
SISGrass installed at Mordovia Arena, Saransk

Capacity: 45,000

Games held here: 4 x group games

Features: SISGrass

Fun Fact: Post World Football Cup, the stadium is to house indoor volleyball, basketball and tennis courts.

Who will star on SISGrass this summer? We haven’t long to find out!