Arena Burgas
 Interactive map of Arena Burgas | |
| Address | zh.k. Izgrev, bul. "Stefan Stambolov" 79, 8008 |
|---|---|
| Location | Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Owner | Municipal Council of Burgas |
| Capacity |
|
| Parking | 800 spaces |
| Construction | |
| Groundbreaking | 20 October 2014 |
| Opened | 18 May 2023 |
| Cost | BGN 64 million EUR 32.7 million[2] |
| Architect | Ivaylo Petkov |
| Tenant | |
| BC Chernomorets (NBL) (2023–2024) | |
Arena Burgas (Bulgarian: Арена Бургас) is a multifunctional indoor arena located in Burgas, Bulgaria. After several years of delay, the arena opened on 18 May 2023.[3] It has a fixed capacity of 4,100 for sports events, which is expandable up to 6,100 with telescopic stands, and can reach up to 15,000 for concerts when additional floor seating is combined with a standing audience.[1]
The arena was briefly home to BC Chernomorets, who play in the NBL, the top flight of Bulgarian basketball. Arena Burgas will host the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2027.
History
[edit]Construction for the arena took over eight years. After breaking ground in late 2014 with a planned budget of 38 million Bulgarian lev and a completion date of January 2017, the project was met with multiple delays and funding issues,[4][5] with the final official budget figure ballooning to 64 million.[2]
In 2022, under then-Minister of Youth and Sports Radostin Vassilev, a proposal was made to grant an additional 15 million lev in funding to finish the arena, but was unsuccessful.[1] Following more than five years of delays, the venue was officially opened on 18 May 2023, in the presence of Bulgarian president Rumen Radev, Burgas mayor Dimitar Nikolov, and other government officials,[6] with a playoffs match between BC Chernomorets and BC Rilski Sportist of the NBL.[7] For this first game, due to the lack of yet installed sports equipment, the basketball hoops and flooring were borrowed from another hall in the city, the Boytcho Brantzov Hall.[8]
The long delays, alongside the string of both successful and failed budget increases, have turned the multipurpose arena into a symbol of corruption in Burgas[9] and Bulgaria as a whole,[2][10] with Hristo Ivanov, leader of the opposition coalition Democratic Bulgaria, describing it in 2021 as the "crown jewel of corruption" under Boyko Borisov and GERB.[11]
In 2024, the total amount disbursed by the state is estimated at approximately 52.5 million leva, in addition to an extra 6 million leva approved in 2022 by an interim government for "finishing work"; upon opening, several originally planned facilities—including a gym, a spa center, and a restaurant—remain unfinished.[12] In April 2025, the state-owned management company Akademika 2011 EAD launched a new tender worth approximately 4.4 million leva (excluding VAT); this tender, which included provisions for an LED screen, a sports scoreboard, and volleyball and basketball equipment, was ultimately cancelled in early June 2025 due to a lack of submitted bids.[13][14]
Construction and facilities
[edit]It is the largest sports arena in Bulgaria, with a total floor area of approximately 50,000 m² and a playing field covering approximately 5,500 m². Its height ranges from 32 to 36 metres.[15][16] The main hall features a concrete base that allows for the installation of surfaces suitable for sports such as athletics, basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing. The facility is also equipped with storage areas and a tunnel that allows trucks carrying equipment to drive inside. The complex further includes three auxiliary halls, a three-level car park, and support facilities.[17]
Events
[edit]In 2023, the arena hosted Glory 89, a kickboxing event headlined by Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9 and David Mejia.[18] In March 2024, it hosted the 2024 Bulgarian Basketball Cup. In 2025, Arena Burgas also hosted pool 4 of the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League.
In August 2026, it was announced that Arena Burgas will host the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2027.[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Evtimov, Yavor (27 March 2023). "Има нова светлина в тунела на "Арена Бургас"" [There is a new light at the end of the tunnel for Arena Burgas] (in Bulgarian). Sega. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 Kumanov, Georgi (17 May 2020). ""Арена Бургас" е готова осем години след първата копка и при двойни разходи" [Arena Burgas finished eight years after breaking ground and at double cost]. Capital (in Bulgarian). Economedia. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ Raykov, Dimcho (18 May 2023). "'Арена Бургас' отвори с 5 години закъснение" [Arena Burgas opened after 5 years of delays] (in Bulgarian). 24 Chasa. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ Kartunov, Bozhidar (20 October 2021). "Седем години след първата копка завършването на 'Арена Бургас' отново се отлага" [Seven years after breaking ground, the completion of Arena Burgas is delayed once again]. Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Economedia. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ Atanasova, Stanimira (4 January 2022). "Недовършената 'Арена Бургас' ще бъде готова за Евроволей 2023" [The unfinished Arena Burgas will be ready for EuroVolley 2023]. bTV Sport (in Bulgarian). PPF Group. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ "След дълго чакане: Президентът Радев откри 'Арена Бургас'" [After a long wait: President Radev opened Arena Burgas]. Darik News (in Bulgarian). United Group. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ Nikolaev, Emil (12 May 2023). "След петгодишно забавяне 'Арена Бургас' ще бъде открита с баскетболен мач на 18 май" [After 5 years' delay, Arena Burgas will open with a basketball match on May 18]. Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Economedia. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ ""Само един декор" - Новооткритата зала „Арена Бургас" е негодна за домакинства на спортни състезания (допълнена)". Nov 15, 2023. Retrieved Aug 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Официално откриха един от символите на корупцията в областта – спортна зала 'Арена Бургас'" [Arena Burgas, a symbol of corruption in the province, was officially opened] (in Bulgarian). 18 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ "'Продължаваме промяната' осветли фрапиращи нередности при стоителството на 'Арена Бургас'" [We Continue the Change sheds light on striking irregularities in the construction of Arena Burgas] (in Bulgarian). 24 Chasa. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ "Христо Иванов: 'Арена Бургас' е корупционното бижу на Борисов" [Hristo Ivano: Arena Burgas is the corruption crown jewel of Borisov]. Club "Z" (in Bulgarian). 9 March 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ↑ България, Булевард (Nov 15, 2023). ""Арена Бургас": Кой стои за колективната безотговорност на един провален мегапроект за милиони". boulevardbulgaria.bg. Retrieved Aug 20, 2026.
- ↑ Иванова, Галя (Jun 29, 2025). "Скандалната поръчка за „Арена Бургас" е спряна тихомълком". A-specto.bg. Retrieved Aug 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Скандалът „Арена Бургас" продължава: Тихомълком прекратиха нова поръчка за милиони". Gospodari.com. Retrieved Aug 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Бургас е домакин на „Евровизия" 2027: Как ще бъде преустроена „Арена Бургас" за конкурса?" [Burgas to host Eurovision 2027: How will Arena Burgas be adapted for the contest?] (in Bulgarian). BTV Media Group. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "TANGRA Delivered and Installed 20 High-Temperature Fans Soler & Palau for the New Sports Hall "Arena Burgas"". TANGRA. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Държавният глава Румен Радев и министър Весела Лечева откриха официално "Арена Бургас" - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". Retrieved Aug 15, 2026.
- ↑ Zouiten, Sara (7 October 2023). "Badr Hari Loses to Uku Jurjenda in Glory 89 Grand Prix Qualifier". Morocco World News. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ↑ European Broadcasting Union (EBU) (2026-08-13). "Burgas to host Eurovision Song Contest 2027". www.ebu.ch. Retrieved 2026-08-13.