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St Pete may extend contract with company building Zenit Arena - governor

Now, the city has two options: either to continue working with the company or to announce a new competition

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, July 20 (Itar-Tass) - St. Petersburg’s government considers a possible extension of the contract with the company, which is building a stadium for the Zenit football club.

The contract with the Transstroi Company expires in the end of the current year, Governor Georgy Poltavchenko told Itar-Tass on Saturday.

Now, the city has two options: either to continue working with the company or to announce a new competition.

“Any competition is at least a year-long delay,” the governor said, adding the local government may extend the contract.

“We are looking for legal ways to do so,” he said. The governor is satisfied with the construction process, but once again did not rule out the construction costs may be lowered.

Construction of Zenit-Arena began in 2007. In 2008, the stadium will host the world championship. Initially, the project’s cost was estimated at 6.7 billion roubles, while now the cost is approved at 34.9 billion. The end of construction is due in late 2015, and from 2016 the stadium should be ready to host competitions.

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