11/05/2018 21:40
Kazan poised to host ‘Volleyball party of the year’
2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men
Kazan, Russia, May 11, 2018. This coming weekend the capital city of Tatarstan will host the final stage of Europe’s elite club competition. On May 12-13, Zenit KAZAN, which has claimed such a highly coveted crown for the last three years in a row, will be hosting the CEV Champions League Final Four. Along with the home team, two clubs from Italy, Sir Colussi Sicoma PERUGIA and Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA, and Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE from Poland are participating in the tournament.
Competitors and Schedule
The results of the Drawing of Lots suggest that fans will be enjoying an exciting Final Four in Kazan with two Italian clubs (representing one of the world’s top national leagues) playing in both semi-finals. Zaksa and Cucine Lube will be the first ones to fight for a spot in the final. The Italian team headed by Osmany Juantorena has made it to the finals in all national tournaments of this season, and now is eager to do it again in the Champions League. However, it will not be easy. Zaksa has been doing well, having lost only one match in the Champions League this season.
The second semi-final, which starts at 19.00, is going to be a tough battle. For Zenit KAZAN, the upcoming match is of great importance. The team coached by Vladimir Alekno will play in the final tournament in front of a home crowd. On top of that, Zenit and its fans are looking forward to winning five trophies this season. This will depend on the result of the match with a competitor, Sir Colussi Sicoma PERUGIA, who, like Zenit KAZAN, has no equal in his home country.
Schedule (local times)
Saturday, May 12
16:00 Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE (Poland) vs Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA (Italy)
19:00 Sir Colussi Sicoma PERUGIA (Italy) vs Zenit KAZAN (Russia)
Sunday, May 13
16:00 Bronze medal match
19:00 Gold medal match
‘Delicious Kazan’ is waiting for you!
The Final Four of the CEV Volleyball Champions League is a true sports holiday that brings together Volleyball fans from many countries. Spectators should arrive well in advance, two or three hours prior to the match to enjoy off the court entertainment. For instance, the gastronomic festival ‘Delicious Kazan’ will be taking place on May 12-13 starting at 12.00 in the Millennium Park next to the Basket-Hall. The festival will be offering top dishes from the best cafes and restaurants in Kazan, master classes by restaurateurs, and a farmers’ market selling food by local producers. While children have fun in a playground, fans will enjoy live music and many cooking shows, as well as take part in voting for the best restaurant in town.
Final Four entertainment programme
Supporters will be able to walk around the area between the Basket-Hall and the Millennium Park. For this purpose, there will be three entrance and three exit gates available in the arena. To ensure free movement before the Final Four, fans should print out their e-ticket, in case they have purchased it online.
The Basket-Hall lobby is also going to offer much fun. Within the arena, supporters will enjoy photo-zones, a Final Four photo exhibition, a Volleyball history museum providing valuable items, face painting, children’s playgrounds and food stands. To look like a true fan, supporters can put on the club colours - there will be merchandise stores on the first and second tiers of the Basket-Hall. By the way, for every purchase during the Final Four fans will receive ‘zens’. Prior to the semi-final featuring Zenit KAZAN, a prize drawing will be held among the top 10 leaders of ‘Zenomania’.
The opening ceremony of the Champions League ‘grand finale’ starts on May 13, at 18:20. Spectators will enjoy a great show with Dina Garipova, the winner of the Russian version of ‘The Voice’ and a Eurovision Song Contest participant back in 2013.
Transport
Basket-Hall is located in the centre of Kazan, so you can get there easily. There are bus stops next to the arena on Ostrovsky and Salimzhanov streets. Ploshchad Tukaya, which is a five-minute walk to Basket-Hall, is the major public transport station of the city where you can get from anywhere, by any transport including metro. During the tournament, a small parking on the territory of Basket-Hall will be available for teams and tournament services only. However, there is no reason for worrying, as there are free and paid parking facilities next to the arena. Basket-Hall is a five-minute walk to shopping malls ‘Koltso’, ‘Suvar Plaza’ and ‘Respublika’ which offer covered parking as well.
There is no doubt that Kazan will hold a truly international Volleyball party with the best European teams taking part in it. Those visiting the pinnacle of the Champions League will witness an exciting and memorable spectacle.
Click here for further info or visit the official website http://finalfour.zenit-kazan.com/en.
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