Yerevan Circus

{{update|date=October 2018}}

File:Yerevan Circus (2).jpg

File:Yerevan Circus 2009.jpg

The Yerevan Circus ({{langx|hy|Երևանի կրկես}} {{lang|hy-Latn|Yerevani krkes}}) is a circus founded in the 1930s. It was completely renovated in 1962 and was finally demolished in September 2012. The new building of the circus was planned to be opened in October 2017.{{Cite web |title=Պանորամա {{!}} Հայաստանի նորություններ |url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2018/11/22/Yerevan-Circus/2036891 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.panorama.am}}

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| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71N0YTgYMs8 Demolition of the roof, 21 July 2012]

| video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8F7J7AXTDg Complete demolition, 8 September 2012]

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The original building of the circus was wooden and was built in the 1930s. In 1939, a new building was constructed in its location for 800 spectators designed by Nikoghayos Buniatian. That building was completely renovated in 1962 by Vagharshak Belubekian's project. Its capacity decreased to 700.{{cite web|title=Երեւանի կրկեսը' կենդանի պատմություն (Living history of the Yerevan Circus)|url=http://www.mediamax.am/am/news/yerevan-XX-century/4955/|publisher=Mediamax|access-date=9 November 2012|date=10 May 2012|language=hy}} The building has not been renovated since then.{{cite news|last=Barseghyan|first=Anna|title=2014-ին մայրաքաղաքը կունենա ժամանակակից կրկես (Yerevan will have a modern circus by 2012)|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24714310.html|access-date=9 November 2012|date=20 September 2012|agency=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|language=hy}}

Yerevan Circus was privatized in August 2005 and was bought by the circus staff led by Sos Petrosyan for AMD 150 million In 2011, Moscow-based Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan's announced that his Tashir Group would invest $10 million in the renovation of the Yerevan Circus.

The repair works were started in August 2011 by Tashir Group. Later it was decided to demolish the building and construct a new one, because the old building was not eligible for renovation.{{cite news|last=Gyozalyan|first=Hasmik|title=Կրկեսը կդառնա լավագույն մշակութային օջախներից մեկը (Yerevan Circus will become one of the best cultural centers)|url=http://www.avangard.am/?page=news&cal_date=&news_id=10111|access-date=9 November 2012|date=8 September 2012|agency=Avangard|language=hy}} The roof of the circus building was demolished on July 21, 2012.{{cite news|title=Yerevan circus roof blasted (PHOTO, VIDEO)|url=http://news.am/eng/news/114338.html|access-date=9 November 2012|date=21 July 2012|agency=News.am}}{{cite news|title=Yerevan circus dome detonated|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/116730/|access-date=9 November 2012|date=21 July 2012|agency=PanARMENIAN.Net}} Few months later on September 8, 2012 the whole building was demolished.{{cite news|title=Yerevan circus building demounted (video)|url=http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/09/08/circus2/|access-date=9 November 2012|date=8 September 2012|agency=Tert.am|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133017/http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/09/08/circus2/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Circus building blown up in Yerevan - VIDEO and PHOTO|url=http://news.am/eng/news/120252.html|access-date=9 November 2012|date=8 September 2012|agency=News.am}} The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations supervised the demolition process.

The circus animals are now temporarily located at the Yerevan Zoo.

The new building can house 1,700 to 2,000 spectators. A new underground parking lot is also being built. The construction is planned to be finished in 2014.

File:50 Years of Armenian Circus.jpg