Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex Explained

See also: Stadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv).

Stadium Name:Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex
Location:Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Coordinates:42.1075°N 24.708°W
Broke Ground:13 June 2012
Built:2012–2013
Opened:18 September 2013
Renovated:2016
Operator:PFC Botev Plovdiv
Surface:Grass, Artificial turf
Construction Cost:13.3 million BGN[1]
6.8 million in 2013
Architect:Georgi Savov
Former Names:Botev 1912 Football Complex (2013–2023)
Tenants:Botev Plovdiv (2013–2023)
Botev Plovdiv II (2021–present)
Krumovgrad (2023–present)
Seating Capacity:3,500
Dimensions:105 m × 68 m

Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex (Bulgarian: Спортен комплекс „Никола Щерев - Старика“|Sporten Kompleks Nikola Shterev - Starika) or simply Starika is a football complex in Komatevo, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It serves as the training grounds of Botev Plovdiv and as a home to its reserve team and youth academy.

For nearly ten years, from late 2013 to April 2023, the first team used the venue for training sessions and official matches, while their stadium, the Hristo Botev Stadium, was being reconstructed.

Overview

The venue has a total of six fields, two of which have an artificial turf surface, the first one is standard size and the other is 40x long.[2] The surface of the remaining four terrains is made from grass. Three of them are standard size, the last one being 90x long.[3] A stand with a seating capacity of 1,998 spectators is situated next to one of the fields. The stand consists of two levels. The first one contains two built-in changing rooms, a gym, training rooms, referee rooms, a storage room, a doctor's office, a massage room and a press conferences room. The second level contains a fanshop and a cafeteria.[4] [5] The venue also consists of a hotel part.[6]

In July 2023, the venue's name was changed to Nikola Shterev - Starika Sports Complex, in honor of Botev's legend - Nikola Shterev.[7]

Renovations

2016

In order to meet the licensing criteria of the Bulgarian Football Union, the club bought four floodlight pylons, which were then situated around the official field.[8]

Tenants

In 2017, the football complex was leased to Maritsa Plovdiv, until their stadium was licensed for professional football matches.[9] In 2023, Krumovgrad announced they will play their home games on the venue during the 2023-24 season, as their stadium didn't cover Bulgarian First League standards.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ботев инвестира 13 млн. лева в Коматево . 13 November 2013 . Plovdiv24.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  2. Web site: Изкуствени игрища . 7 September 2013 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  3. Web site: Естествени игрища . 7 September 2013 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  4. Web site: Фитнес . 7 September 2013 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  5. Web site: Трибуна . 7 September 2013 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  6. Web site: Хотелска част . 7 September 2013 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  7. https://www.marica.bg/sport/futbol/preimenuvaha-bazata-v-komatevo-na-nikola-shterev-starika Преименуваха базата в Коматево на Никола Щерев (Старика)
  8. Web site: Стълбовете на осветлението се издигнаха над клубната база . 10 August 2016 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2017 . bg.
  9. Web site: Ботев и Марица ще си сътрудничат, пет "канарчета" ще играят под наем при маричани . 16 June 2017 . botevplovdiv.bg . 16 June 2017 . bg.
  10. https://rodopi24.blogspot.com/2023/05/blog-post_365.html Шефът в „Крумовград“: Неманя Миланович остава, ще играем на „Колежа“, ще строим стадион!