Arena Sofia
Multi-purpose indoor arena in Sofia, Bulgaria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arena Sofia (Bulgarian: Арена София, [ɐˈrɛnə ˈsɔfijə]) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Sofia, Bulgaria. Opened in July 2011, it has a seating capacity of 12,373.[1] It was formerly called Arena Armeets after the Bulgarian insurance company Armeets purchased the naming rights, until the sponsorship was terminated in October 2022.[2]
Арена София | |
 Exterior of the arena | |
 | |
| Full name | Arena Sofia |
|---|---|
| Former names | Arena Armeets Sofia (2011–2022) |
| Address | 1 Asen Yordanov Blvd |
| Location | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Coordinates | 42°40′16″N 23°22′9″E |
| Owner | National Sport Base PLC |
| Capacity | Boxing: 15,545 Tennis, wrestling: 13,545 Basketball, volleyball: 15,373 Concerts: 17,906 |
| Surface | Parquet |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2 July 2009 |
| Opened | 30 July 2011 |
| Construction cost | BGN 90 million EUR € 47 million |
| Architect | Zheko Tilev |
| Main contractors | Glavbolgarstroy |
| Tenants | |
| Bulgaria men's national volleyball team (CEV) (2011–present) 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 with a maximum capacity of 17,906. 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.
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.[3]
During three days in February 2012 the arena hosted the Cirque du Soleil show Saltimbanco for the first time in Bulgaria.[4] Between 9 and 11 November 2012 it also hosted the travelling ice show Disney on Ice, another debut for the country.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
 |
- Jean Michel Jarre – 9 October 2011
- Sade – 29 October 2011
- Amorphis – 10 November 2011
- Tom Jones – 18 November 2011
- Lepa Brena – 3 December 2011
- Mark Knight – 25 December 2011
- Tarja Turunen – 27 January 2012
- Solar Easter: Marco Carola and Victor Calderone – 13 April 2012
- Ceca – 22 May 2012
- Julio Iglesias – 13 June 2012
- Lady Gaga – 14 August 2012 17 000
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – 1 September 2012[8]
- Jennifer Lopez – 18 November 2012[9]
- Lili Ivanova – 22 November 2012
- Goran Bregović – 29 November 2012[10]
- Giorgos Mazonakis – 12 December 2012
- Solar Christmas 2012: Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Fedde le Grand, Sophie Ellis-Bextor – 21 December 2012
- Armin van Buuren – 8 March 2013 – A State of Trance 600, with Dash Berlin, Ferry Corsten, Myon & Shane 54, Dennis Sheperd and Ruben de Ronde
- Helloween and Gamma Ray – 15 March 2013
- We Will Rock You (musical) – 15–19 May 2013
- Jamiroquai – 28 June 2013
- Jessie J – 29 June 2013
- Snoop Dogg – 8 July 2013
- Signal – 27 November 2013
- Ennio Morricone – 10 December 2013[11]
- Scorpions – 16 December 2013
- Armin van Buuren – Armin Only: Intense – 7 February 2014
- Iron Maiden – 16 June 2014
- Ceca - 7 November 2014
- Slavi Trifonov & Ku-Ku Band - 25 April 2015
- OneRepublic – 2 June 2015
- Skrillex – 5 June 2015
- Roxette – 17 June 2015
- Toto - 28 June 2015
- Judas Priest - 30 June 2015
- Lepa Brena – 22 October 2015
- Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 – 21 November 2015
- Violetta - 6 November 2015
- Whitesnake - 24 November 2015
- Enrique Iglesias – 14 December 2015
- Al Bano – 16 December 2015
- Ricchi e Poveri – 16 April 2016
- Enrique Iglesias – 14 May 2016
- Tiësto – 5 June 2016
- Foreigner - 12 June 2016
- Scorpions - 17 July 2016
- Nightwish - 14 September 2016
- Bryan Adams - 11 October 2016
- Mile Kitić – 20 October 2016
- Lyube - 10 December 2016
- Dragana Mirkovic - 16 December 2016
- Intersolar 2016: Richie Hawtin, Tale Of Us, The Martinez Brothers, Liubo Ursiny - 31 December 2016
- Ceca – 16–17 March 2017
- Vivaldianno - 19 March 2017
- Vladimir Ampov - Grafa - 6 April 2017
- Goran Bregović & Bijelo Dugme - 07 April 2017
- Hits Only: C. C. Catch, Sandra & Samantha Fox - 29 April 2017
- Vasilis Karras - 10 May 2017
- Upsurt - 13 May 2017
- Deep Purple - 14 May 2017
- Europe - 16 May 2017
- Moscow State Circus - 20 May 2017
- Cirque du Soleil - Varekai - 26–28 May 2017
- 50 Years Shturtsite - 03 June 2017
- Slavi Trifonov & Ku-Ku band - 16–18 June 2017
- Sting - 16 September 2017
- Sully Erna - 26 September 2017
- 40 Years FSB - 07 October 2017
- Dubioza Kolektiv - 27 October 2017
- Charles Aznavour - 30 November 2017
- 2Cellos - 04 December 2017
- Sofi Marinova - 09 December 2017
- Helloween - 14 December 2017
- Solar Christmas 2017: Armin van Buuren, Fedde Le Grand - 22 December 2017
- Intersolar 2017 Marco Carola, Liubo Ursiny - 31 December 2017
- Lepa Brena - 23 March 2018
- Goran Bregović - 13 April 2018
- 45 Years Tonika - 14 April 2018
- Nova Generacia, Kontrol, Review & Hipodil - 21 April 2018
- Roger Waters - 04 May 2018
- Foreigner - 09 May 2018
- David Garrett - 6 June 2018
- Enrique Iglesias - 06 November 2018
- Hits Only: DJ BoBo - 10 November 2018
- Skandau - 06 April 2019
- Lenny Kravitz - 04 May 2019
- Evanescence - 11 September 2019
- Deep Purple - 07 December 2019
- Five Finger Death Punch & Megadeth – 22 February 2020
- Deep Purple - 29 May 2022
- Iron Maiden - 13 July 2022
- Godsmack - 25 October 2022
- Pantera - 26 May 2023
- European qualification tournament for Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics – April 2012
- European qualification for the 2012 Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament – 8–13 May 2012
- 2012 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships – 1–3 June 2012
- World qualification for the 2012 Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament – 8–10 June 2012
- 2012 FIVB World League Final Round – 4–8 July 2012
- 2012 WTA Tournament of Champions – 30 October – 4 November 2012
- 2013 Summer Deaflympics – 26 July – 4 August 2013
- 2013 WTA Tournament of Champions – 29 October – 3 November 2013
- 2013 Trampoline World Championships - 7–10 November 2013
- 2014 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships – 12–18 May 2014
- 2014 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships – 19–25 May 2014
- 2014 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Sofia - 9–10 August 2014
- 2014 WTA Tournament of Champions – 28 October – 2 November 2014
- 2015 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Sofia - 15–16 August 2015
- 2015 Men's European Volleyball Championship - 9–18 October 2015
- 2016 Garanti Koza Sofia Open - 1–7 February 2016
- 2016 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Sofia - 27–29 May 2016
- 2016 World Sambo Championships - 10–14 November 2016
- 2017 Garanti Koza Sofia Open - 5–12 February 2017
- 2017 European Taekwondo Championships 20–23 April 2017
- 2017 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Sofia - 5–7 May 2017
- 2017 Trampoline World Championships - 9–12 November 2017
- 2018 Diema Xtra Sofia Open - 4–11 February 2018
- 2018 World Junior Figure Skating Championships - 5–11 March 2018
- 2018 FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Sofia - 30 March-1 April 2018
- 2018 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships - 10–16 September 2018
- 2018 FIVB Volleyball World Championship - 9–30 September 2018
- 2020 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup - 4–12 July 2020
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