Bishkek Arena – design description

What is the project of the Bishkek Arena in a nutshell?

The construction of a modern, representative stadium in Kyrgyzstan was announced many times before work finally began in the spring of 2024. They are expected to be completed in 2026, with an investment cost of $60 million.

The facility is being built in the southwestern suburbs of the country's capital, Bishkek. It was originally planned to accommodate 45,000 spectators, but in early 2025 it was announced that the capacity would be revised and increased to 51,000.

It will be a football-specific stadium, without an athletics track. The facility will be characterized by original architecture, which is to refer to local traditions – the facade will be decorated with distinctive local patterns, and the whole structure has been designed to resemble a yurt.

How did the idea of building the Bishkek Arena come about?

The idea of a new, representative stadium on the outskirts of the country's capital, Bishkek, originated from the idea of building Kyrgyzstan's national stadium, which had been discussed since at least 2014.

So far, the role of the country's most important stadium is held by the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, located in the center of Bishkek. The facility opened in 1941, but is currently far from modern standards.

On July 20, 2015, the director of the government agency for physical education and sports, Sheyshenkul Bakirov, announced the construction of a multipurpose sports complex, along with a stadium, near Manas International Airport. However, nothing ultimately came of these plans.

The matter gained new momentum under President Sadyr Japarov. He first announced the construction of a new stadium in December 2021. Another declaration was made on June 14, 2022, after the match against Tajikistan ending the successful qualifiers for the 2023 Asian Cup.

A day later, the president's press secretary, Erbol Sultanbaev, released renderings of the new stadium. According to plans at the time, the facility was to have an athletics track, with an assumed capacity of 22,500 spectators.

Where will the Bishkek Arena be built?

The stadium is to be built in the village of Orok, in the southwestern suburbs of Bishkek, where a plot of 20.78 hectares has been selected. In July 2022, the government changed the status of the site, which previously had agricultural use. Construction was supposed to start as early as August 2022, but in the end work did not begin on the announced date.

When did construction of the Bishkek Arena begin?

In May 2023, Kyrgyzstan was visited by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended the opening of the new headquarters of the Kyrgyz Football Union. On the occasion, Infantino also spoke about the need for a new stadium in the country.

On August 30, 2023, a ceremony was held in Orok to inaugurate the construction. During the ceremony, the cornerstone was laid and a time capsule was buried. The event was attended, among others, by the country's president, Sadyr Japarov, as well as a delegation from FC Barcelona headed by its president, Joan Laporta, who were visiting Kyrgyzstan for the opening of the club's academy (and the start of construction of another one).

New plans for the future stadium were also given on the occasion. The facility was now expected to be a football-specific one, without an athletics track, and its capacity was to be 35,000 spectators. Despite the ceremony, no proper construction work began immediately afterwards.

New reports on the stadium emerged early the following year. On February 19, 2024, the newly elected president of the Kyrgyz Football Union, Kamchybek Tashiev, announced that construction would begin within 10-15 days.

On March 15, 2024, the head of the presidential administration, Kanybek Tumanbaev, presented brand new renderings of the future stadium. According to Tumanbaev, the concept was prepared in cooperation with renowned foreign architectural studios, and construction should begin in the coming days after the news was released.

On April 22, 2024, Kyrgyzstan's president, Sadyr Japarov, published additional renderings via his social media and announced the start of construction (at that time, ground work was already underway).

When will the Bishkek Arena be built?

Construction is expected to take two years, until 2026, and the investment cost of $60 million will be covered by government funds.

A report on the construction of the Bishkek Arena can be seen on a separate subpage

What will the Bishkek Arena be like?

The stadium will have a football-specific layout, although from the outside it will take on a circular shape. The arena is to combine features of a modern sports facility with traditional architecture. With its external appearance, the building is to resemble a yurt, and the facility will also be rich in typical local design.

The stadium is to meet all the necessary conditions for hosting high-level football matches and other world-class events. The facility will be equipped with a variety of amenities, VIP boxes and stores, while outside there will be recreational areas and 3,600 parking spaces.

Kyrgyzstan, along with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, has entered the race to host the 2031 Asian Cup, and the new Bishkek Arena is expected to be part of that bid. Kyrgyzstan is even trying its hand at possibly hosting the finals of the event, so an adjustment to the project was announced in early 2025, according to which the capacity of the new stadium is to be slightly higher than the 45,000 originally envisioned, and will be 51,000 spectators to meet the requirements.