The Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau has been officially tasked with assessing the extent of damage to the movable metal roof of the Black Sea Arena, one of Georgia’s largest and most high-profile concert venues.
According to a government decree issued on June 24, the Bureau will carry out structural analysis, assess the damage, and prepare a technical restoration project for the venue’s transformable roof.
The service will be procured through a simplified procedure, with the total cost set at GEL 69,375. Of this amount, GEL 59,375 will cover services that the bureau cannot perform with its own internal resources. The scope of the work is defined in an agreement between LLC “Staring Georgia” and the Samkharauli Bureau.
The Black Sea Arena was originally initiated in 2008 by the Cartu Foundation, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and involved an investment exceeding $115 million. The venue officially opened in 2016 with a high-profile concert by Christina Aguilera.
In 2019, the arena’s management was transferred to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia. Despite initial financial struggles, the arena reported its first net profit in 2023, totaling GEL 8.3 million, according to a consolidated audit report.
At the end of 2024, the Black Sea Arena, together with Tbilisi Concert Hall (Philharmonic), was merged into a single state-owned entity—LLC Staring Georgia. The company is currently managed by Tamar Chkhaidze.
