Armeets Arena

Arena Armeec Sofia (Bulgarian: Арена Армеец София, [ɐˈrɛnə ɐrˈmɛet͡s ˈsɔfijə]) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Sofia, Bulgaria. It has a seating capacity of 12,373.[1] For concerts it can grow to 17,906. It was originally called Arena Sofia before the Bulgarian insurance company Armeec purchased the naming rights. There are 887 parking lots, 614 of them placed in a central exterior parking, 231 placed in near streets and 42 designated for disabled people.

Arena Armeec
Многофункционална спортна зала "Арена Армеец София"
Arena Armeec draped with two large banners of Bulgaria's GERB party. (April 2012)
Full nameArena Armeec Sofia
Former namesArena Sofia (planning/construction)
Address1 Asen Yordanov Blvd
Sofia
Bulgaria
Coordinates42°40′16″N 23°22′9″E
OwnerNational Sport Base PLC
CapacityBoxing: 15 545
Tennis, Wrestling: 13 545
Basketball, Volleyball: 15 373
Concert: 17 000
SurfaceParquet
Construction
Broke ground2 July 2009
Opened30 July 2011 (2011-07-30)
Construction costBGN 90 million
ArchitectZheko Tilev
Main contractorsGlavbolgarstroy
Tenants
Bulgaria men's national volleyball team (European Volleyball Confederation
Sofia Open (ATP 250)
Website
Venue Website

Designed as a universal hall for cultural events and sports, the arena could host up to 30 types of sports, including basketball, volleyball, handball, futsal, boxing, tennis, weightlifting, fencing and gymnastics competitions as well as concerts.

Major events and notable firsts
The interior of the multi-purpose indoor arena.
indoor arena.

The first major concert in the arena was held by Jean Michel Jarre, followed by artists Sade and Amorphis.

The arena has hosted the 2012 European Taekwon-do ITF championship in May, followed by the 2012 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships in the first three days of June. The city was previously awarded the 2004 edition of the event.[2]

During three days in February 2012 the arena hosted the Cirque du Soleil show Saltimbanco for the first time in Bulgaria.[3] Between 9 and 11 November 2012 it also hosted the travelling ice show Disney on Ice, another debut for the country.[4]

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 was held in the arena on 21 November 2015, the first time a Eurovision event was held in Bulgaria.[5]

The arena recorded its first sold-out game on 9 June 2012, when 12,501 fans (128 more than the official capacity) came to see the Olympic qualification volleyball match between France and Bulgaria. It will be used for the 2020 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.

Bulgaria's ruling GERB party is a consistent user of the arena, having held its rallies and conferences within it for years. This trend was bucked during late 2019 Bulgarian local elections, as the party wanted to undertake a "humble" campaign.[6]

List of major concerts

List of major sporting events

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2016-09-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "2012 Sofia AER World Championships : Homepage". Sofia2012.fig-gymnastics.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  3. Archived January 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Дисни на лед - Събитие - Арена Армеец София". Arenaarmeecsofia.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  5. "Junior Eurovision 2015: 21 November in Sofia, Bulgaria". JuniorEurovision.tv. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  6. "За първи път: Без зала „Арена Армеец" в кампанията на ГЕРБ". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  7. Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Дженифър Лопес - Събитие - Арена Армеец София". Arenaarmeecsofia.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  9. "Горан Брегович - Събитие - Арена Армеец София". Arenaarmeecsofia.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  10. "ENNIO MORRICONE – THE BEST MOVIE MUSIC COMPOSER OF THE 20TH CENTURY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BULGARIA (ArenaArmeecSofia.com)". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  11. http://www.sme.bg/en/concerts/347/five-finger-death-punch
Preceded by
Ergo Arena
Gdańsk / Sopot		 FIVB Volleyball World League
Final Venue
2012		 Succeeded by
Polideportivo Islas Malvinas
Mar del Plata
Preceded by
Malta Shipbuilding
Marsa, Malta		 Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Venue
2015		 Succeeded by
Mediterranean Conference Centre
Valletta
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