Balgarska Armia Stadium or The Bulgarian Army Stadium is the most recent name given to the stadium located within Borisova Gradina, Sofia. Capable of seating 22,995, it is currently home to PFC CSKA Sofia.
CSKA Sofia Stadium Guide
Stadium Facts
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Team: | CSKA Sofia |
| Opened: | 1967 |
| Capacity: | 22,995 |
| Address: | Sofia |
| Pitch Size: | 105 m x 68 m |
| Stadium Owner: | Ministry of Physical Education and Sport |
| Operator: | CSKA Sofia |
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadion_Balgarska_Armia |
| Stadium Names | |
| Names: | Стадион „Българска Армия (Bulgarian), Bulgarian Army Stadium (English) |
| Former Names: | Atletik Park (1923–1944), Stadion Chavdar (1944–1948), Narodna Armia (1948–1990), Balgarska Armia (1990–) |
| Construction Details | |
| Broke Ground: | 1965 |
| Built: | 1965-1967 |
| Architect: | Anton Karavelov, Simeon Ivanov |
| Renovated: | 1982, 1997, 2001, 2015-2016 |
Balgarska Armiya Stadium History
Balgarska Armia Stadium is the name of the 1967 built football ground located within Borisova Gradina (King Boris’ Garden). Designed by architect Anton Karavelov, the stadium took approximately two years to build, and it replaced the original version known as Athletic Park which first opened in 1923.
Essentially a municipally owned stadium, the Bulgarian Army Stadium has been used primarily for football since opening, however it still retains a running track around the perimeter of the pitch so that it can be used to host athletics events.
The stadium has undergone several name changes throughout its history, however it has only been restructured twice: firstly when it opened in 1923, and again in 1967.
Originally home to AS 23 Sofia, it was known as Athletics Park between 1923 – 1944, then Chavdar Stadium after the resident side FC Chavdar Sofia(1944-1948), and then Narodina Armia Stadium between 1948 and 1990.
The most recent renovations at the stadium have generally been minor. For example in 2000, the stadium’s sound system was upgraded, and the latest generation of floodlights capable of glowing at 2100 lux were installed.
More recently in 2013, some of the sun-worn seating was replaced with modern plastic seating in order to give the ground a more vibrant look.
As for the future of the Balgarska Armia stadium it appears that if given the opportunity CSKA Sofia will push for the demolition of the ground in order to once again rebuild it.
After the club qualified for the group stages of the Europa League in 2009/2010 it appeared as if the 30,000 capacity purpose built stadium would be green-lighted, however negotiations between the club and the ministry of sport fell through.
CSKA Sofia Info
| Full Name: | Professional Football Club CSKA Sofia |
|---|---|
| Rivals: | Levski Sofia |
| Founded: | 1948 |
| Team Colours: | Red and White |
| Club Mascot: | Army the Lion |
| Nicknames: | Армейците (The Аrmy), Червените (The Reds) |
| Training Ground: | PFC CSKA Sofia Sports Complex |
| Former Stadiums: | Athletic Park |
| Famous Players: | Dimitar Berbatov, Ivan Ivanov, Emil Gargorov, Spas Delev, Aleksandar Branekov |
| Famous Managers: | Milen Radukanov, Hristo Yanev, Lyuboslav Penev |
| Team Goalscorer: | Emil Gargorov (53) |
| Most Appearances: | Todor Yanchev (339) |
| Official Website: | http://cska.bg/index.php |
| Team Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFC_CSKA_Sofia |
Balgarska Armiya Stadium Seating Plan
Below is a seating plan of CSKA Sofia's Balgarska Armiya Stadium:
Stand Photos
Bulgarian Army Stadium is comprised of four stands: North, East, South and West.
Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the Stadium.
How to get to Balgarska Armiya Stadium
Where is Balgarska Armiya Stadium?
The Bulgarian Army Stadium is situated in the Borisova Gradina park in Sofia city centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays at Balgarska Armiya Stadium?
Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia play their home matches at Balgarska Armiya Stadium.
What is the capacity of Balgarska Armiya Stadium?
As of 2024 Balgarska Armiya Stadium has an official seating capacity of 22,995 for Football matches.
When was Balgarska Armiya Stadium opened?
Balgarska Armiya Stadium officially opened in 1967 and is home to CSKA Sofia
Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?
Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit Balgarska Armiya Stadium in 2024. Please visit the official website of CSKA Sofia for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.
