Stadion Hristo Botev

Updated: 11.02.2024

Target capacity18 788
Country Bulgaria
CityPlovdiv
ClubsBotev Plovdiv
CategoryConstruction in progress
Construction 2012–?
Cost 43.6 mln BGN (29 mln $)
Design Vamos Architecture & Design
Contractor PIMK, Valmex
Design time 2012–2014

Advertisement

Stadion Hristo Botev – construction description

First conceptual renditions of this stadium were presented back in 2012. But with the club not having the 35-year ownership of the ground secured back then (only approved in Feb 2014) and final design being worked on, the progress was symbolic at first.

Real demolition of the old stands began in early 2014 as the club presented its final vision of Bulgaria’s best stadium, or so it was called upon presentation. After the late launch construction was announced to be done in April 2015, with opening scheduled for May.

The modified design by local office Vamos includes 75% of the 18,788 seats covered by enclosed roof (initial vision had uncovered corners) with all spectators located on one tier. Dominated by yellow and black colours of the club, the stands will have a typical layout: north end will belong to the fanatic fans, signaled by the big number 12 (for ‘12th man’) written with seats. Away fans will have 1,500-1,600 seats in the south.

The new stadium will retain only one element of the old one – historical stairs leading to the main grandstand. Even the name will be changed, but this is expected to be preceded by thorough consultation.

The investment was able to get off the ground thanks to private funding from the club's owner, Tsvetan Vasilyev, one of the richest men in Bulgaria. For the duration of the project, Botev moved to a training stadium at his football academy, also built with funds from the billionaire.

In the summer of 2014, however, work was halted as Tsvetan Vasilyev was arrested and his bank closed. The city authorities tried to rescue the situation by allocating some funds to continue the work, but in 2015 the construction was definitely stopped. By this time the reinforced concrete structure of the eastern and southern stands was ready, as well as part of the skeleton in the north. The least amount of work was done on the west side.

Work resumed in 2019, but at that time it was mainly limited to the removal of trees and bushes that had grown on the site of the halted construction. It was not until the end of 2020, thanks to a transfer of 25 million leva from the central budget, that work began to finalize the project. The contractor was given two years to complete the construction, although the stadium was finally able to be inaugurated on April 29, 2023.

Work continues after the opening, with the finishing of the roof over the east stand underway in the summer of 2023 and placing the roof over the stands behind the goals starting in September 2023.

Advertisement

Pictures

    

11.02.2024

02.02.2024

18.01.2024

09.12.2023

01.12.2023

10.11.2023

27.10.2023

13.10.2023

03.10.2023

02.10.2023

14.09.2023

11.08.2023

14.04.2023

07.04.2023

31.03.2023

30.03.2023

26.03.2023

12.03.2023

17.02.2023

09.02.2023

22.12.2022

07.12.2022

25.11.2022

28.10.2022

14.10.2022

19.09.2022

09.09.2022

18.08.2022

10.08.2022

26.07.2022

06.07.2022

18.06.2022

07.06.2022

31.05.2022

13.04.2022

12.03.2022

19.02.2022

13.02.2022

23.12.2021

21.11.2021

15.09.2021

30.07.2021

15.06.2021

17.05.2021

20.04.2021

02.04.2021

06.03.2021

10.02.2021

01.02.2021

22.01.2021

08.01.2021

28.12.2020

14.12.2020

04.11.2019

09.03.2019

11.01.2017

08.10.2016

18.02.2015

08.01.2015

29.11.2014

02.11.2014

24.09.2014

08.08.2014

01.06.2014

04.05.2014

23.03.2014

18.02.2014

18.01.2014

04.01.2014

18.12.2013

14.07.2013

Related news

2020

2019

2014