CSKA Sofia has officially taken possession of the redeveloped Bulgarian Army Stadium in the Bulgarian capital, marking the completion of a major reconstruction project.
CSKA said the handover marked an important milestone for the club, which has been playing its home matches at the Vasil Levski National Stadium while its traditional ground was being rebuilt.
The club is preparing to return to the venue, with its first home match scheduled for 31 October 2026 against Slavia Sofia, following final preparations and testing of the stadium.
CSKA Sofia is a Bulgarian professional association football club based in Sofia and currently competing in the country’s premier football competition, the First League. CSKA is an abbreviation for Central Sports Club of the Army.
The Bulgarian Army Stadium is the home ground of the Bulgarian football club CSKA Sofia. It’s situated in the Borisova gradina park in the center of Sofia, Bulgaria.
The redevelopment has created a modern, football-specific stadium with a capacity of 18,540 for domestic league matches and 16,819 under its UEFA Category 4 configuration.
The last match was played at the old stadium in December 2023 and it was then demolished. Construction on the new stadium kicked off in September 2024 and it was completed two years later.
The new venue has no athletics track, bringing spectators closer to the pitch. All stands are now covered with a roof, with seating arranged to provide clear views of the pitch. The stadium incorporates updated entrance and exit arrangements designed to improve crowd movement and safety.
New facilities include VIP boxes, a restaurant, food and beverage kiosks, a club shop, a museum, media facilities and multifunctional spaces for events beyond football. Some hospitality and commercial areas are intended to operate throughout the year.
The project includes pitch heating, drainage and irrigation with water recirculation, modern LED lighting and energy-efficiency measures. The design also incorporates solar panels and a façade intended to help limit noise reaching nearby areas.
The stadium footprint has been reduced by approximately 3,800 square meters and includes 300 new trees and publicly accessible green spaces and pathways.
CSKA said in a statement, “A great deal of effort, hard work and professionalism has gone into achieving this exceptional goal.
“First and foremost, we would like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports and all state institutions for their excellent cooperation and active support.
“Their assistance played an important role in successfully completing the procedures and fulfilling the dream of generations of CSKA supporters. Through our joint efforts, we have brought the process to a successful conclusion and returned to our renovated home.
Minister of Youth and Sports Encho Keryazov added, “This is an important step towards developing sports infrastructure in Bulgaria and creating modern facilities for hosting football matches.”
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