The new stadium for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod was built in the historic area known as the Spit (Strelki), at the confluence of the two major rivers: the Volga and the Oka. It overlooks the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlinstanding on the opposite bank of the river. The stadium design follows the classic style and uses a palette of white, blue and azure that is associated with the nature of the Volga region and the elements of water and wind. Its metalwork roof weighing over 11,000 tons gives the stadium a massive appearance, while its façade and semi-translucent rooftop add lightness and airiness to the overall look. At night, the white colonnade circling the stadium is highlighted with illumination. The stadium appearance is shaped by a colonnade consisting of several columns arranged in a circle. The columns support the canopy covering the stands and the arena lobby. At night the arena is highlighted with illumination. The stadium has three main levels and two mezzanine levels.
The projected total area of the stadium building is 127,500 m².[3]
The capacity of the stadium will be about 45,000 seats, including 902 seats for low-mobility groups of people together with accompanying persons. It is expected that after the tournament is over, the stadium will be used for home matches of the FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorodin the Russian Football Premier League.
In the spring of 2017, Governor Valery Shantsev suggested that the stadium will be used for competitions in other sports, as well as for other major events and concerts.[4]