The build
Day by day
Official club films of the ground, 83 aerial films, then what was announced and what came of it.
From the club
Walkthroughs, lights, the roof going up — filmed by CSKA Sofia FC. Pick a film; it plays from YouTube.
2023
2024
2025
2026
From the air · 83 films
A different camera, a different channel. skyPoint filmed the site from above; a marked day opens that film.
The whole archive
83
Aerial films, from 31 October 2024 to 23 August 2026. Footage by skyPoint — a marked day opens that film. Busiest month: March 2026 (9).
2024
2025
2026
a day with a film
Two films were shot on some days; the marked day opens the first. The others: 1 May 2026 · 8 March 2026
What was announced, and what came of it
2026
- happened
Latest aerial film
Episode 83 from skyPoint shows the stadium from above.
skyPoint
- announced
The first event is a conference, not a match
The stadium is announced to open at the end of October — with Crossroads 2026 on 29 and 30 October. No date has been announced for CSKA's first official match; it is expected to be a Conference League tie, on 15 or 22 October.
Topsport; Novsport; Gol.bg; TribunaSofia
- happened
The structure nears completion
The first stage of the structure was planned to finish around August 2026.
Topsport, Tema Sport
- announced
Announced: the pitch is match-ready
The aim is for CSKA to play at home from the start of the 2026/27 season.
reporting on the project
- announced
Announced: an opening at the end of September
The club points the official opening at the national-team break in late September. The ground would be ready earlier, but there is no time to stage a real opening. The date passes without one.
Sportal; Спорта.бг
- happened
The pitch is laid
The turf goes down, laid by an Irish firm that has worked on other major grounds.
reporting on the project
2025
- announced
When the build actually started — the sources disagree
Some sources date the official start to January 2025, which with a 24-month timeframe lands in early 2027. The TribunaSofia chronicle, however, puts the first excavation at 26 September 2024 — from there the 24 months end in September 2026. The build so far matches the second reading.
reporting on the project; Wikipedia; TribunaSofia
2024
- happened
A contractor is chosen
The construction contract is signed with Glavbolgarstroy Holding. A week later, on 26 September, the excavation begins.
TribunaSofia
- happened
Demolition complete
The site is cleared for the new build. Sources differ on exactly when: the TribunaSofia chronicle points to the end of May, while the more widely repeated reading is August.
reporting on the project; TribunaSofia
- happened
Demolition of the old stadium begins
The old Armia and its 22,015 seats come down.
reporting on the project
2023
- happened
The last match at the old ground
CSKA – Ludogorets 0:1 in front of about 18,000 people.
Mediapool; Дневник; Topsport
- announced
A design for a new stadium is shown
A fully covered ground of about 16,000 seats with VIP boxes is presented. The figure changes later.
reporting on the project
More: the stadium through a fan’s eyes · what the stadium actually is