Luzhniki Stadium, football stadium in Moscow, Russia
Luzhniki Stadium is a football stadium in Khamovniki District, Moscow, Russia, set within the larger Luzhniki Olympic Complex. The venue holds 78,360 spectators and has a broad roof structure that shields every row of seats from rain and sun.
The grounds opened in 1956 under the name Central Lenin Stadium and hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics with opening and closing ceremonies. Between 2013 and 2017 the arena underwent a full rebuild that kept the historic facade and removed the athletics track.
The name Luzhniki comes from the flood meadows along the Moskva River where farmers once grazed livestock and harvested hay. Today the grounds carry the memory of that waterlogged landscape which shaped the river bend before being chosen for large sporting events.
Visitors reach the stadium through Sportivnaya metro station on the red line, just a short walk from the main entrances. On event days several gates open around the grounds so pedestrians can find access from different directions.
The stands now sit around 13 meters (43 feet) closer to the pitch than before the renovation because the athletics running track was removed. This adjustment lets spectators have a more direct view of the action during football matches.
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