Stadion Balgarska Armia

Stadion Balgarska Armia (Bulgarian: Стадион „Българска Армия“, lit. ''Bulgarian Army Stadium'') is a stadium of the Bulgarian football club CSKA Sofia. It is situated in the Borisova gradina in the centre of Sofia. Until 2024 the stadium had four sectors and a total of 22,995 (18,495) seats, of which 2,100 are covered; the pitch length was 106 meters and the width was 66 meters. The capacity of the old stadium was divided in four sectors: Sector A: 6417 seats Sector B: 4889 seats Sector V: 5689 seats Sector G: 6000 (1500 seats) The sports complex also includes tennis courts, a basketball court, and gymnastics facilities, as well the CSKA Sofia Glory Museum. The press conference room has 80 seats. In late 2023, the stadium was closed, in preparation for its reconstruction, which will involve a complete overhaul and demolition of the current stands and rebuilding the stadium into a football-specific stadium, without an athletics track. During the process, CSKA would play home matches at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, situated only a couple of hundred meters away from the Bulgarska Armia. In 2024 the stadium was demolished and the construction of a new 18,540-seat venue began on the same site. History Built in 1923 for AS-23, the stadium was known as Athletic Park until 1944, when AS-23 merged with two other clubs to form Chavdar Sofia. From 1944 until 1948 it was called Chavdar Stadium. Between 1948 and 1990 it was the People's Army Stadium, and since 1990 it is the Balgarska Armia Stadium. The current structure was built by architect Anton Karavelov in the period between 1965 and 1967 on the old grounds of AS-23. It was reconstructed again in 1982, which included the introduction of floodlights. In 2000, the stadium was equipped with a new Dynacord surround sound system, capable of 48 kilowatts and 107 decibels. The electric lighting is also of the latest generation and is covering the pitch with 2100 lux. Despite the improvements over the years, parts of the stadium were in a deteriorating condition, especially sector B, which has been completely closed down for spectators and covered with advertising instead, in order to hide the growing plant and fungal life underneath. The seating of the stadium was also in a poor condition, with many seats being either partially broken or missing completely, with the main cause abdication of the state that owned the facility until 2023. The last game on the old stadium was held on 10 December 2023, between CSKA and Ludogorets Razgrad, ending in a 0-1 loss for CSKA. After the match, fans on the stadium were allowed to take a piece of the stadium as a memory from the venue before demolition begins. Reconstruction plan In 2023, CSKA Sofia and the Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sports, joint owners of Stadion Balgarska Armia, established a dedicated joint venture to carry out a full reconstruction of the stadium. The new stadium is designed to include 18 540 seats and conform to UEFA Category 4 stadium requirements. A full construction permit was granted by the Sofia municipality in October 2023. The final competitive match at the old stadium took place in December 2023, after which the facility was closed. Demolition of the 1967 structure began in spring 2024 and was completed by late May 2024. On 19 September 2024, CSKA Sofia announced the signing of a construction contract with Glavbolgarstroy Holding JSC, one of Bulgaria’s leading construction companies. The main construction period is expected to last 18 months, with completion projected for spring 2026. Architectural design and planning are provided by IPA – Architecture and More, whose concept converts the former multi-use stadium into a compact, football-specific structure with stands positioned much closer to the pitch. The new stadium will include: UEFA Category: 4 full compliance with capacity of approx. 18 540 seats, football-specific, no athletics track, single-tier seating bowl surrounding the pitch, continuous roof covering all spectator areas. Facilities: expanded hospitality zones, media and broadcast areas, upgraded player facilities, and improved accessibility Technical elements include a hybrid-turf pitch with under-soil heating, a modern drainage system, advanced irrigation, and water-recycling capabilities. Sustainability measures integrated into the project include: Rainwater harvesting systems. Solar panel installations. LED lighting and energy-efficient systems. Prefabricated structural elements to reduce environmental impact. On 9 December 2024, the first two reinforced-concrete columns for the new stadium were transported from Pazardzhik to the construction site. Each column measures 24 metres in length and weighs 62 tonnes. These are the first of 54 structural roof-support elements to be installed and marked the start of the vertical construction phase. The stadium is expected to be completed in 2026, after which CSKA Sofia will return to the venue. During reconstruction, the club plays its home matches at the Vasil Levski National Stadium. The redevelopment represents a transformation of one of Bulgaria’s most historically significant football grounds, replacing the aging mid-20th-century structure with a modern, sustainable, football-specific facility built to contemporary international standards. Transport Bulgarian Army Stadium is located in the centre of Sofia, Bulgaria. The stadium can be approached by Sofia Metro Line 1, 3 and 4. The nearest Metro station is called Vasil Levski. There are also several paid parking lots in the area, which are of the closed type. The paid car zone in the centre area works every day, except Sundays. Statistics As of 'Тhis statistic will be kept up and running when the new stadium opens in 2026.' Top-scorer: TBA See also List of football stadiums in Bulgaria Lists of stadiums References