As Yekaterinburg competes for the right to host EXPO 2020, the site for coordinating the global fair should be found before the end of May, acting Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuivashev said at a meeting dedicated to the city’s EXPO 2020 application campaign.

According to head of Yekaterinburg Architecture, City Planning, and Land Management Administration Mikhail Vyatkin, four locations have been considered as the possible sites: Novokoltsovsky, Ural Federal University, Severno-Shartashsky, and VIZ Pravoberezhny. The winning location must meet quite a few criteria: it should fit within the urban development plan, offer extensive infrastructure, and be logistically convenient.

The Russian Academy of Architecture’s Corresponding Fellow Grigory Mazayev says that the chance to use the site for the local dwellers’ needs once the exhibition is over is a crucial factor. For one, some cultural and entertainment facilities could be housed there.

‘Any universal fair is typically centered around theme pavilions that convey the event’s overarching idea and around the country pavilions. Our novelty consists in that we suggest using the EXPO site as a recreation area. In this case, Yekaterinburg will be left with a large EXPO arena to hold concerts, a media center, and the Russian pavilion,’ says EXPO 2020 Application Committee’s Deputy DG for Development Alexander Vyakhirev.

It was stated that every site has its strengths and weaknesses. For one, Ural Federal University’s campus requires the smallest amount of spending: 3.7bn RUR, and has a well-developed infrastructure. However, its disadvantages are the isolation and the lack of access to water reservoirs. As for Novokoltsovsky location, its definite pluses are its proximity to logistic hubs, the already available pavilions, and the necessary engineering infrastructure. Yet, according to Vyatkin, this is the most expensive location in terms of investments. Then, VIZ Pravoberezhny allotment also looks quite promising. Its strong points are its proximity to the border of Europe and Asia and to the Central Stadium: this means the site could also be used for holding the World Cup 2018. Its weak point is the lack of electric mainlines.

The meeting attendees explain they already have certain preferences, but the final decision will be made later on.