Burgas will build a small Eurotown for international teams and guests attending Eurovision 2027, as preparations for the contest continue in the seaside city.
Deputy Mayor for Construction Chanka Koralska told Bulgarian National Radio that a separate temporary structure will be erected near Arena Burgas to accommodate international teams involved in covering and organizing the contest. The city is also planning a broader program of events outside the main venue, making use of Burgas‘ coastline and other public spaces.
Arena Burgas will undergo changes ahead of the competition, including acoustic improvements designed to meet the requirements set by the Eurovision organizers. The venue can accommodate up to 15,000 people, while the contest’s criteria call for a capacity of around 12,000 spectators.
Koralska said the arena offers considerable flexibility for staging the event, including different stage configurations and space for large numbers of standing spectators.
“There are very large possibilities for arranging the stage in different variants and it allows for organizing a larger number of standing spectators when holding such concerts,” she said.
The hall currently has 4,200 fixed seats, while its telescopic stands can be adjusted depending on the event. When expanded, the seating capacity can reach 6,400, and there is also an option to add further telescopic seating. At the same time, the arena can accommodate around 10,000 standing spectators.
Energy security is another key requirement for Eurovision. Koralska said Arena Burgas has three levels of backup protection, making a complete loss of power during the event highly unlikely.
“It has two independent power supplies from two independent substations. In this case, if one substation with one power supply fails, the second substation with the second power supply immediately turns on, and apart from that, there is also a diesel generator, which, in the event of a complete failure, can also work and provide power supply to the hall,” she explained.
The venue’s roof structure is also capable of supporting significantly more equipment than the Eurovision requirements. According to Koralska, the ceiling can carry up to 300 tons of equipment and lighting, while the organizers require a load capacity of 150 tons.
“The roof structure of the Arena Burgas Hall can bear 300 tons of load,” she said.
Parking is another part of the preparations. Arena Burgas has around 1,200 parking spaces, while the city plans to distribute many of the Eurovision-related activities across Burgas rather than concentrating everything around the arena.
“As a candidate for Eurovision, we included the entire city, including the spaces that will show the sea and the beach, because that is what sets us apart,” Koralska said.
The approach means that Eurovision 2027 will extend beyond the main competition venue, with the city’s coastal setting expected to play an important role in the way Burgas presents itself to international visitors.
The temporary Eurotown near the arena will provide additional space for the international teams covering the contest, while improvements to the hall’s acoustics, staging arrangements and technical infrastructure are intended to ensure that Arena Burgas meets the demands of one of Europe’s largest television events.