site.btaBulgaria's Largest Multifunctional Sports Hall Renamed Arena Sofia

The National Sport Base (NSB) EAD has terminated by amicable procedure a BGN 1.08 million/year sponsorship contract with the Armeec Insurance JSC for Bulgaria's largest multifunctional sports hall, the company said on Thursday. The hall has therefore been renamed from Arena Armeec Sofia to Arena Sofia.

The NSB company, which manages the largest state-owned sports facilities, said that is now focusing on seeking the best offer for a new general sponsor and keeping the arena's leading position as a venue for world-class sports and entertainment events.

The hall took a year and eight months to build and was inaugurated on July 30, 2011. It stands in a 48,711 sq m lot, on the site of the CSKA ice hockey rink, 4 km southeast of the city centre.

The building (designed by a team led by architect Zheko Tilev) is 124 m long, 108 m wide and 27 m high and has a footstep of 10,620 sq m and a gross floor area of 63,239 sq m.

The complex consists of a lower ferroconcrete structure, which contains three arenas, stands and auxiliary premises, and a steel roof structure which sits on the ferroconcrete part. On an approximate area of 11,800 sq m, the steel roof is the largest ever made in Bulgaria and is held together by 48,000 bolts.

The building consists of a basement level and five above-ground levels. The building's basement level includes a training arena, an auxiliary warm-up arena, underground car park, changing rooms and dressing rooms, a news conference room, a SPA centre, a doping test laboratory and a medical centre. The central arena is at the ground level. The VIP boxes and a media centre with commentator booths are on the second floor. The third floor has spectator seats and cafeterias. The fourth floor is for the administration, a large conference room, an education centre and a sports museum. Other facilities include a press centre, two interview rooms, one restaurant, a snack bar, a coffee bar, and a large fitness gym.

When used for sports events, the central arena can seat 12,500 visitors. The capacity for concerts ranges from 17,000 to 19,000 (seated and standing).

The playground size and headroom meet the standards of the international federations in rhythmic gymnastics, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, handball, weightlifting, wrestling and boxing. The facility, however, can host events in 35 types of sports, including badminton, archery, shooting, table tennis, curling, short track speed skating, figure skating and ice hockey. Only track and field athletics cannot be accommodated.