By Alexander Krassimirov
March 12 – Botev Plovdiv owner Tsvetan Vassilev (pictured) has said he wants to buy the land on which the club’s Hristo Botev Stadium stands, according to the mayor of Plovdiv Ivan Totev. If the deal goes through, Botev will become the first Bulgarian club to own its stadium.
Vassilev is willing to pay seven-figure sum for the property. The tradition to date in Bulgaria has been for clubs to be granted the facilities on a long-term concession by local councils.
“We have been notified by the management of the football club investment plan to purchase a plot of 42 acres within the stadium (grounds). The deal will be for a seven-digit sum. The first stage will be voted on Thursday when the City Council has a session. Then it will be passed to terminate the concession and another vote will be held (for Botev) to purchase the land beneath the stadium,” said Totev.
Last year the club signed a concession agreement for the stadium for 35 years.
“Botev’s investment will exceed the repeatedly pledged investment (in the facility) of 14 million leva ($10 million). This will lead to increased costs for the Plovdiv Municipality as at the time the facility is public municipal property. So we are in agreement for Botev to purchase the land,” added the mayor of Plovdiv.
A few days ago the club unveiled a new plan for the reconstruction of the Hristo Botev Stadium.
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