Arena Armeec is an multi-purpose indoor arena located in Sofia, Bulgaria. It has a seating capacity of 12,373. For concerts it can grow to 17,000. It was originally called Arena Sofia before the Bulgarian insurance company Armeec purchased the naming rights until 2017. There are 887 parking lots, 614 of them placed in a central exterior parking, 231 placed in near streets and 42 designated for disabled people.
Designed as an universal hall for cultural events and sports, the arena could host up to 30 types of sports, including basketball, volleyball, handball, futsal, boxing, tennis, wrestling, weightlifting, fencing and gymnastics competitions as well as concerts. The first major concert in the arena was held by Jean Michel Jarre, followed by artists Sade and Amorphis.
Major events and notable firsts
The arena has hosted the 2012 European Taekwon-do ITF championship in May, followed by the 2012 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships in the first three days of June. The city was previously awarded the 2004 edition of the event.
During three days in February 2012 the arena hosted the Cirque du Soleil show Saltimbanco for the first time in Bulgaria. Between 9 and 11 November 2012 it also hosted the travelling ice show Disney on Ice, another debut for the country.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 was held in the arena on 21 November 2015, the first time a Eurovision event was held in Bulgaria.
Arena Armeec recorded its first sold-out game on 9 June 2012, when 12,501 fans (128 more than the official capacity) came to see the Olympic qualification volleyball match between France and Bulgaria.
Jean Michel Jarre – 9 October 2011
Sade – 29 October 2011
Amorphis – 10 November 2011
Tom Jones – 18 November 2011
Lepa Brena – 3 December 2011
Mark Knight – 25 December 2011
Tarja Turunen – 27 January 2012
Solar Easter: Marco Carola and Victor Calderone – 13 April 2012
Ceca – 22 May 2012
Julio Iglesias – 13 June 2012
Lady Gaga – 14 August 2012
Red Hot Chili Peppers – 1 September 2012
Jennifer Lopez – 18 November 2012
Lili Ivanova – 22 November 2012
Goran Bregović – 29 November 2012
Giorgos Mazonakis – 12 December 2012
Solar Christmas 2012: Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Fedde le Grand, Sophie Ellis-Bextor – 21 December 2012
Armin van Buuren – 8 March 2013 – A State of Trance 600, with Dash Berlin, Ferry Corsten, Myon & Shane 54, Dennis Sheperd and Ruben de Ronde
Helloween and Gamma Ray – 15 March 2013
We Will Rock You (musical) – 15–19 May 2013
Jamiroquai – 28 June 2013
Jessie J – 29 June 2013
Snoop Dogg – 8 July 2013
Signal – 27 November 2013
Ennio Morricone – 10 December 2013
Scorpions – 16 December 2013
Armin van Buuren – Armin Only: Intense – 7 February 2014
Iron Maiden – 16 June 2014
Ceca - 7 November 2014
Slavi Trifonov & Ku-Ku Band - 25 April 2015
OneRepublic – 2 June 2015
Skrillex – 5 June 2015
Roxette – 17 June 2015
Toto - 28 June 2015
Judas Priest - 30 June 2015
Lepa Brena – 22 October 2015
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 – 21 November 2015
Violetta - 6 November 2015
Whitesnake - 24 November 2015
Enrique Iglesias – 14 December 2015
Al Bano – 16 December 2015
Ricchi e Poveri – 16 April 2016
Enrique Iglesias – 14 May 2016
Tiësto – 5 June 2016
Nightwish - 14 September 2016
Bryan Adams - 11 October 2016
Ceca – 16-17 March 2016
Mile Kitić – 20 October 2016
European qualification tournament for Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics – April 2012
European qualification for the 2012 Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament – 8–13 May 2012
2012 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships – 1–3 June 2012
World qualification for the 2012 Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament – 8–10 June 2012
2012 FIVB World League Final Round – 4–8 July 2012
2012 WTA Tournament of Champions – 30 October – 4 November 2012
2013 Summer Deaflympics – 26 July – 4 August 2013
2013 WTA Tournament of Champions – 29 October – 3 November 2013
2014 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships – 12–18 May 2014
2014 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships – 19–25 May 2014
2014 WTA Tournament of Champions – 28 October – 2 November 2014
2015 Men's European Volleyball Championship - 9–18 October 2015
2016 Garanti Koza Sofia Open - 1–7 February 2016
2017 Garanti Koza Sofia Open - 5–12 February 2017
