View source for Astana Arena

{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name        = Astana Arena
| nickname            = 
| logo_image          = [[File:Astana Arena Logo.png|200px]]
| image               = [[File:Astana Arena (inside interior).JPG|270px]]
| caption             = View from the Southeast stands.
| location            = Qabanbay Batyr Avenue, [[Astana]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| coordinates         = {{coord|51|6|29|N|71|24|6|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}
| broke_ground        =
| built               = 
| opened              = 3 July 2009<ref>http://www.worldofstadiums.com/asia/kazakhstan/astana-arena/</ref>
| renovated           = 
| expanded            = 
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = City of Astana
| operator            = City of Astana
| surface             = [[Artificial turf]]
| construction_cost   = [[Dollar|$]] 185 million<ref>{{cite web|title=Sembol’s $185m Astana stadium opens|url=http://kazworld.info/?p=2057|date=27 July 2009|accessdate=1 July 2014|publisher=kazworld.info}}</ref>
| architect           = [[Populous (company)|Populous]] + [[Tabanlıoğlu Architects]]<ref name="e-architect">{{cite web|url=http://www.e-architect.co.uk/kazakhstan/astana-arena|title=Astana Arena – Kazakhstan Stadium Building|publisher=e-architect.co.uk|date=March 6, 2014|accessdate=March 15, 2014}}</ref>
| structural engineer = [[Buro Happold]]<ref name="e-architect"/>
| services engineer  =
| general_contractor  = 
| project_manager     =
| main_contractors    = Sembol Construction<ref name="e-architect"/> 
| former_names        = 
| tenants             = <center>[[FC Astana]]<br />[[FC Bayterek]]<br />[[Kazakhstan national football team]]<br />[[2011 Asian Winter Games]]</center>
| seating_capacity    = 30,244<ref>{{cite web | url = http://astanaarena.kz/shema-mest/ | title = Official website }}</ref>
| dimensions          = 
| website             = [http://astanaarena.kz/ www.astanaarena.kz]
}}
The '''Astana Arena''' ({{lang-kk|Астана Арена}})  is a [[Association football|football]] [[stadium]] in [[Astana]], [[Kazakhstan]]. The stadium holds 30,000 and has a [[retractable roof]]. It serves as the national stadium for the [[Kazakhstan national football team]]. Astana Arena is the second largest stadium in the country and it was built from 2006 to 2009 at a cost of $185 million, and was officially opened on 3 July 2009. It is also a home ground for  [[FC Astana]] of the [[Kazakhstan Premier League]] and  [[FC Bayterek]] of the [[Kazakhstan First Division]]. The stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the [[2011 Asian Winter Games|7th Asian Winter Games]] on 31 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jena Isle|title=The 7th Asian Winter Games 2011 Opening Ceremony in Astana, Kazakhstan|url=http://www.batangastoday.com/the-7th-asian-winter-games-2011-opening-ceremony-in-astana-kazakhstan/9406/|date=January 31, 2011|accessdate=March 15, 2014|publisher=BatangasToday.com}}</ref> Astana Arena was one of the venues to bid to host [[Euro 2020]] matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Astana bidding to host UEFA matches in 2020|url=http://en.tengrinews.kz/sport/Astana-bidding-to-host-UEFA-matches-in-2020-22765/|date=September 21, 2013|accessdate=March 15, 2014|publisher=TengriNews.kz}}</ref>

==History==
Construction of the Astana Arena began in 2006. The stadium was designed by leading sports architects [[Populous (company)|Populous]] in association with [[Tabanlioglu Architects]].<ref name="e-architect"/> The general contractor was Sembol Construction. It was opened with the [[FC Astana|Lokomotiv Astana]] match against the [[Kazakhstan national under-21 football team]] on July 3, 2009. Match judged famous Italian referee [[Pierluigi Collina]], the symbolic first blow at the ball under his whistle struck the President of Kazakhstan [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]]. As part of each team, in addition to their regular players, were invited on two “stars”: in the youth national team of Kazakhstan – the [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] defender [[Kakha Kaladze]] and [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] striker [[Andriy Shevchenko]], and in the Lokomotiv Astana – [[Turkey|Turkish]] players [[Hasan Şaş]] and [[Hakan Şükür]].

On January 31, 2011, Astana Arena hosted the opening ceremony of the [[2011 Asian Winter Games|7th Asian Winter Games]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Astana’s new stadium ready to host games|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/12016756.asp?scr=1|date=July 7, 2009|accessdate=July 28, 2009|publisher=Hurriyet.com.tr}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[File:Astana Arena 2014-03-15.JPG|270px|thumb|right|View from the back side.]]
The 30,000-seat stadium was conceived as a large amphitheater with a distinctive and instantly recognizable form when viewed from a distance and from close proximity. Essentially a two·tiered structure, the lower terrace, accommodating 16,000 seats, encircles the playing area while the upper stand on the east and west sides seats a further 14,000 spectators. There is effective separation of VIPs, spectators and players to ensure smooth access. All spectators are seated and have a clear sight line with an unobstructed view of the field of play. The playing surface is covered in high quality grass surface specified to meet FIFA and UEFA criteria. The grass can be covered for other events.

==Design==
The stadium, designed on an [[Ellipse|elliptic form]], is constructed on a 232,485 m² (330m x 704.5m) rectangular site. The design introduces innovative solutions adopting high technology principles for operational management, interaction with the environment and especially with harsh climatic conditions of the geography.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://astanaarena.kz/ Official Website]

{{Commons category|Astana Arena}}
{{Asian Games stadia}}

{{FC Astana}}
{{List of retractable-roof stadiums in Europe}}

[[Category:Retractable-roof stadiums]]
[[Category:European retractable-roof stadiums]]
[[Category:FC Astana]]
[[Category:Football venues in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Astana]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2009]]