It has been a while since we gave you the latest update on the progress of the stadiums that are currently under construction, so here is our heads up for the month of July. You can find earlier versions here and here.
We start with a bang, because the below photo is of Grand Stade Lille Métropole, which is set to open on the 18th of August. No fancy opponent though, as the guests will be AS Nancy for a regular league match. Rest assured though that all 50,000 seats will be occupied for the occasion.
Many more photos in this album on Grand Stade Lille Métropole’s Facebook page:
Photo: Elisa / Valode&Pistre Architects / Atelier Ferret Architectures
The next stadium is also set to open in August. And there is much to like about Rotherham’s cosy 12,000-seater New York Stadium, not least of all its roof that steps down from the higher main stand to the lower opposite side. There are many more photos at this photo gallery at the Millers’ official website, which is also where the below photo came from:
From Rotherham we fly all the way to Rio de Janeiro to have a look at how the renovation of Maracanã is progressing. After all, it is less than 700 days before the start of the 2014 World Cup.
Maracanã is currently 59% finished, and that looks like this:
Photo: Divulgação
Somewhat further south in Porto Alegre the Grêmio Arena is progressing steadily. The stadium is planned to open later this years, and a start has been made with construction of the roof.
Looking at the photo, and there are many more here, one wonders why FIFA and the Brazilian organising committee keep sticking with the painful renovation of Estádio Beira-Rio, while there is an arguably superior alternative in the same city.
Photo: Juliano Kracker via Gremio.net
The next stadium will be one of the playing venues of the World Cup that will be played four years later in Russia. Of course, the new Rubin Kazan Stadium will by then already have been finished for five years. This is how the works look like of a what is to become a stunning new arena:
Photo: Niquille
Finally, it is great to see the new Estadio San Mamés Barria taking shape. While it will be tough to see Bilbao’s classic San Mamés disappear, we are full of hope that an equally impressive stadium will take its place.
For more photos of the new San Mamés you will definitely want to check out the great Sanmames.org, who also took the above photo.