2017 round-up: What happened at Stadium St. Petersburg
The first match, the first goal, the opening of the FIFA Confederations Cup and many other important historical milestones from the life of the new home of the blue-white-sky blues.
Two months later, the Confederations Cup kick-off in St. Petersburg. The tournament opened with a match between Russia and New Zealand.
On the 22nd July we played our first home game of the 2017/18 season. The clash with Rubin saw 38,284 spectators in the arena.
Less than a month later, Stadium St. Petersburg hosted one of the most important matches of the season. Zenit took on fierce rivals Spartak Moscow. An hour before kick-off we said goodbye to Alexander Kerzhakov and thanked him for his career with Zenit.
The two capitals derby was a sell-out with 53,359 supporters in attendance. It was thanks to such incredible support that the blue-white-sky blues defeated Spartak 5-1.
In mid-August, before the home match with Akhmat, Stadium St. Petersburg opened the first Fan Promenade. Inside the arena's halls fans were greeted with all sorts of entertainment. Game zones, face painting, Zenit haircuts, photo booths, a wall of wishes, DJs, contests, football freestyle and much more!
At the end of September, a historic event took place at the stadium, the match between Zenit and Dynamo St Petersburg. In memory of the two team's legendary Leningrad confrontations the club organised the Retro Promenade - a fan event designed in the style of classic Soviet football.
In November 2007, Zenit won the Russian league title for the first time and so on 8th November 2017, before the home match against Tosno, a big celebration was held at the stadium dedicated to the tenth anniversary of that great victory. The fans were able to meet the players from the championship team and get photos and autographs as well as visit an exhibition dedicated to the golden season of 2007.
Zenit v Ural was the final home game for Roberto Mancini's team in 2017, this game saw the stadium turn into a special Christmas event for the city's children. In addition to our usual entertainment at the Fan Promenade, our guests at the arena met Father Christmas, saw a winter carnival procession, a festive musical concert and attended a New Year's market.
The next home game for Zenit in St. Petersburg will be held on 22 February in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League against Scotland's Celtic.
