The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow
Irish company SIS Pitches has been selected to lay the pitch for the 2018 FIFA World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The Sligo-headquartered company is a world leader in synthetic and natural sports surfacing and counts Real Madrid and FC Barcelona among its customers.
SIS reported a turnover of €38.1m for 2014, up 22pc on the previous year.
During 2014 it also successfully completed a number of high-profile international projects, including two further 2018 FIFA World Cup stadium projects in Russia — at Spartak Moscow and Krasnodar.
The Luzhniki stadium in Moscow will also host a semi-final and the opening match of the football tournament.
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“We are delighted with the decision and that our investment in setting up an office in Russia two years ago, combined with completing new stadium pitches for Spartak Moscow and Krasnodar, has been rewarded,” said SIS Group CEO George Mullan.
“Our Russian staff have done a superb job.”
SIS, which employs 350 people, was established by the Sligo native in 2001 with just two employees at the time.
Today it has offices in the UK, Amsterdam, the Middle East, eastern Europe and Angola.
The company has also introduced a new product, which Mullan says will drive significant growth over the coming years.
SISGRASS is a patented injection system that adds artificial fibres into natural grass pitches. The company has invested €1m in the new system.
SIS Pitches has already installed SISGRASS at St George’s Park, the home of the England football team, at Chelsea FC’s training centre and Hull City’s training centre.
It will be installed in the new Besiktas Stadium in Turkey before the end of this year.
Luzhniki Stadium image via Shutterstock
