This year promises to be an exciting year for sport in Europe; seeing two major sporting events taking place. Both will be watched by millions globally, direct from some of the world’s most innovative and advanced stadia. SPECTACULAR Sports stadia are exposed to a range of corrosive environmental factors that often mean their steel structures require strong, reliable as well as aesthetically pleasing coatings solutions. AkzoNobel has been supplying such coatings for decades, with some new and high profile projects recently STADIA being completed. Stadium construction and important for stadia to retain or the FNB Stadium as it is to protect against corrosion. regeneration has seen a steep their high impact aesthetics as now more commonly known, A combination of Interzinc® increase over recent years in the trend for striking external boasts a striking exterior Intercure®, Intergard® and both Poland and the Ukraine in design elements soars. made to resemble the fiery Interthane® products were preparation for a major football and earthen tones commonly used to help ensure this tournament towards the middle The importance of aesthetics associated with traditional stadium’s innovative design of 2012. Not only is it vital was none more prevalent South African pottery, the is enjoyed by football fans for each structure to adhere than at a previous football ring of lights surrounding the for years to come. to strict building regulations, tournament back in 2010 structure at its base simulate health and safety laws and held in South Africa where flames engulfing the ‘pot’ as With work only beginning sustainability measures; it is vibrant colours were as if it were placed on a fire. towards the end of 2008 also vitally important that these much the centre of attention and taking just under three structures have specified the as the infamous vuvuzelas. As aesthetics were of such years to complete, the Arena best possible coatings in order The Johannesburg Soccer City great importance to the Lviv, Ukraine is another such to prolong their life, protecting stadium, with a capacity of over success of this stadium, European stadium that placed the structure from corrosion 94,000 is one such example AkzoNobel’s protective coatings high impact aesthetics at and other aggressive elements. where colour and design were were chosen to ensure the the top of its wish list. It is becoming increasingly king. The Soccer City Stadium, longevity of the aesthetics and With a capacity of just under the lower tier was demolished representing their countries in the ‘Coating the National Stadium 35,000, the arena will be and rebuilt, an entirely new ‘beautiful game’ during 2012. in Warsaw is something that will renamed following it playing host west stand was constructed live in the memory for a long to a major football tournament in and a roof was added to cover The largest purpose-built football time’ said AkzoNobel's Sales 2012. The structural steelwork the whole seated area. This stadium in Poland, based in Manager for Eastern Central on the Arena Lviv was protected stadium was also given a dose Warsaw, was also opened Europe. ‘The sales chain was using products from AkzoNobel’s of added sparkle through the in 2011. With a capacity of very demanding to manage, Intercure and Interthane use of AkzoNobel’s patented just over 58,000, the National as the steel fabrication was a ranges, to provide long-lasting acrylic polysiloxane coating, Stadium was built to the joint Polish-Italian venture, with protection against corrosion, Interfine® 878, which was applied highest standards enabling it most of the production in Italy. whilst still ensuring a superb to areas of the steelwork. to play host to matches from However, it was worth it in the longstanding aesthetic finish. some of the most prestigious end to secure the first application In Gdansk, Poland, the 44,636 European tournaments. of Interchar 212 in Poland, and capacity PGE Arena was on such a prestigious project.’ As investment in sports stadia opened in 2011 and utilises This stadium was especially within Europe continues to grow, approximately 140,000 litres unique, for as well as the Whilst Poland and the Ukraine the Olimpiysky National Sports of coatings, applied onto corrosion protection afforded by have seen significant investment Complex in Kiev is another such around 90,000 square metres the system of Interzinc, Intercure in sports stadia over recent stadium to benefit. It was formally of structural steel. Protection and Interfine, fire protection was years, other areas of Europe re-opened in 2011 following was achieved through the also required and was provided have not gone unnoticed. rigorous redevelopment, use of a four coat system in the form of Interchar® 212, Other countries have also which saw AkzoNobel being including Interzinc, Intergard an epoxy based intumescent seen huge investment with To read more chosen as one of its coatings on prestigious and Interthane products. Unlike fire protection, which has also the construction of some of suppliers. During the impressive stadia, this some stadia the PGE Arena does been used on several other the most striking stadia to be reconstruction of this stadium, time in Brazil, not offer athletics track facilities, high profile buildings around built in Europe for decades. which was originally opened scan the QR making it a purpose built football the world to provide structural code with your in 1923 under the name of stadium, which will see some protection against fire scenarios. smart phone. the Red Stadium of Trotsky, of Europe’s best footballers .