Volgograd Arena, Football stadium in Volgograd, Russia

The Volgograd Arena is a football stadium in Russia built with an innovative cable-supported roof structure that spans across the field in a distinctive pattern. Located on the banks of the Volga River, it accommodates approximately 45,000 spectators with modern amenities and facilities.

The stadium was built for the 2018 FIFA World Cup on the site of the demolished Central Stadium, which dated from 1958. Construction began in 2015, and 300 unexploded bombs from World War II were found and removed during the work. It was inaugurated on 3 April 2018, with its first match on 21 April 2018.

The ground around the stadium carries the symbolism: the pedestrian walkways and driveways form a red star with an outline, and together with the other paths they repeat the shape of the Order of Victory, paved in red, yellow and pink tiles. A wide ramp and eight staircases turn the walkway ring into a five-pointed star, a reference to the city's military past.

The stadium is well-designed for accessibility with multiple elevators throughout, including many dedicated to people with mobility needs. Visitors should plan to arrive early to navigate the venue and find their seating areas comfortably.

The cable roof follows a "bicycle wheel" scheme, but the ground plan carries a second pattern: the pedestrian esplanade, with one wide ramp and eight staircases, is laid out as a five-pointed star, and the paths and driveways around the stadium form a red star with an edging, echoing the Order of Victory. The paving uses red, yellow and pink tiles.