The European Men's Volleyball Championship will accelerate a significant change in the area of "Arena 8888 Sofia". Preparations for the major forum in September will initiate the first real activities for the future Green Ring of the capital. This was officially announced by Sofia Municipality.
On the eve of the European Championship, part of the future "East" section near "Tsarigradsko Shose" Blvd. will be transformed, with the main goal of ensuring more convenient and safe pedestrian access for spectators to "Arena 8888 Sofia".

The route is planned to be cleared and prepared, a temporary pedestrian alley to be built, and new lighting to be installed.
A significant change will also occur at the old railway tunnel under "Tsarigradsko Shose" Blvd. It will be cleaned, renovated, and illuminated.
New pedestrian access with stairs to the Green Ring route will also be built from the local lane of the boulevard. This will facilitate movement between public transport, the local lane of "Tsarigradsko Shose", and the hall.
The interesting thing is that part of what is done for the European Championship will not be only temporary.
The new pedestrian access from the local lane of "Tsarigradsko Shose", in the area of East Plaza Hotel Sofia, will remain available to residents and guests of Sofia even after the end of the championship.
It is precisely the preparation for the European Volleyball Championship that is becoming a catalyst for the first visible transformation of the large-scale project "Green Ring Sofia".

The future linear park is expected to cover nearly 30 kilometers of abandoned and underutilized areas around the wider center of the capital. It is planned to connect more than 30 neighborhoods through pedestrian and cycling routes, green spaces, and connections to sports, cultural, and educational facilities.
The first section planned for implementation is precisely "East", which passes through former railway territories. A detailed development plan has already been adopted for the route between the area of "Pioner" railway station and "Shipchenski Prohod" Blvd.
Thus, the European Volleyball Championship will not only leave behind the results of the matches in "Arena 8888" in Sofia, but will also become an occasion for real infrastructure change around the hall.

photos:council.sofia.bg