The testing of utilities, facilities and the electronics of the new national stadium in Bucharest is expected to begin in late May, according to Bogdan Hreapca, the investment manager with the Bucharest City Hall. The stadium’s roof will also be completed by the end of May, according to the chief supervisor Stephen Monus. He also expects the stadium to be functional by the end of July.

Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu said during an on-site visit that the government promised the City Hall the EUR 76 million needed to complete the stadium. He added that he hopes the new stadium to host an U2 concert in September this year.

Works on the stadium began in fall 2007. The total cost of the project will be of around EUR 175 million, up on the originally planned EUR 116 million. The stadium will have about 55,000 seats and provide the access through 94 pathways. It is built by construction companies Astaldi and Max Boegl and will be inaugurated on August 10 this year with a Romania – Argentina football match, according to previous announcements. In 2012, it will host the UEFA Champions League final.

More photos of the new stadium here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: prosport.ro)