April the 24th, 2025 – Some enormous and costly projects for Croatian sport infrastructure are on the horizon, particularly in the case of new football stadiums.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Croatian sport infrastructure is undergoing a major overhaul, with a particular focus on football stadiums. New and renovated sporting facilities have been announced or are already underway across the country, signalling a new era of projects in Croatian sport infrastructure.
investments and projects in croatian sport infrastructure span the country
From the long-awaited solution for Maksimir, to the renovation of Split’s famous Poljud, to brand-new buildings in smaller towns and the national camp, the future of this country’s football infrastructure looks brighter than ever before.
The Croatian capital is leading the way in terms of investment, with two key stadium projects set to transform Zagreb’s football landscape.
a brand new Maksimir: A Four-Decade Dream
The issue of Maksimir Stadium, home to GNK Dinamo and the Croatian national football team, has been a problem that has stretched for 40 long years. The stadium was initially built back in 1912 and renovated several times. It was severely damaged in the March 2020 earthquake, seeing its capacity reduced from its former 35,000 to a significantly less 20,000. The solution to this issue is now finally in sight, and it will come in the form of the construction of a brand-new, modern football stadium on the very same site.
The historic agreement between the City of Zagreb and the Croatian Government has secured the necessary funds for this capital project. The new Maksimir stadium will boast a capacity of 35,000 covered seats and will meet the highest and most stringent of UEFA’s standards. The estimated value of the investment stands at around 175 million euros, and the cost will be shared equally between the City of Zagreb and the state. The completion of the works is expected in late 2028 or early 2029. A prerequisite for the demolition of the existing Maksimir stadium and the construction of the new complex is the completion of the renovation of the stadium in Kranjčevićeva Street.
Mayor Tomislav Tomašević recently pointed out that the resolution of property and legal relations, which took 27 years, paved the way for this project. He added that around fifty different European stadiums were studied as part of the preparation. The plan is to entrust the maintenance of the new stadium to a private operator through a public tender, and GNK Dinamo has already expressed interest.
While waiting for the new stadium, Dinamo and the national team will play their home games at the renovated stadium in Kranjčevićeva Street, otherwise the home of NK Lokomotiva. The project, simply called “Zagreb Stadium”, will see this facility, which opened in 1921, undergo a complete transformation. This massive investment in Croatian sport infrastructure is worth almost 44 million euros. It is financed entirely from the budget of the City of Zagreb, and it will more than double that stadium’s capacity – from 5,350 to 11,163 seats.
The new stadium will meet the requirements of UEFA’s fourth category, will have fully covered stands, a heated hybrid pitch, a solar power plant on the roof and vertical gardens. The project also includes the construction of a 6,300 square metre public square in front of the stadium. The works began in March 2025, and completion is expected in September 2026.
“After 50 years, by September 2026, Zagreb will get a new, modern football stadium in Kranjčevićeva Street,” said Mayor Tomašević, while Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet added that the stadium’s architecture will improve the quality of the whole of the Trešnjevka district.
heritage and revitalisation for poljud
Split’s legendary Poljud Stadium, known for its shell-like structure designed by architect Boris Magaš and opened for the 1979 Mediterranean Games, is also undergoing extensive renovation. The first phase of the project for Croatian sport infrastructure down in Split is worth around 20 million euros and will last 31 months. The works include key structural improvements such as the remediation of concrete and steel corrosion, roof replacement and improved drainage systems.
The modernisation of this stadium will also include lighting and sound systems to bring it fully up to international standards. Special attention will be paid to accessibility for people with disabilities. It’s important to note that the stadium will remain operational during the works, although visibility in some areas will be limited.
the croatian football federation camp
The construction site of the future Croatian Football Federation camp was recently officially opened in Velika Gorica near Zagreb. This modern sport complex will become the brand new home of Croatian football. It will include four football pitches, a smaller stadium suitable for matches played by younger age groups and women’s teams, and an administrative building that will be the new headquarters of the Federation.
This Croatian sport infrastructure project is a strategic priority for the Croatian Football Federation, with President Marijan Kustić referring to it as “the foundation of the vision” and the most important investment in the future of Croatian football. The Croatian Government is co-financing the project with 15 million euros over the next three years, to which the value of the land itself should be added (4.2 million euros). The location right next to Zagreb’s Franjo Tuđman International Airport is considered ideal.
Small towns, big plans: Bjelovar, Varaždin and more…
The investment cycle in Croatian sport infrastructure hasn’t bypassed smaller towns. The construction of a completely new, modern stadium with a capacity of 3,800 seats, worth around 8 million euros, has been announced for Bjelovar. Interestingly, the first indoor shooting range for small arms in all of Croatia will be located under the stands, inspired by the success of Bjelovar Olympian Miran Maričić. The actual construction is scheduled to begin in autumn this year.
As part of the NK Varteks training centre in Hrašćica near Varaždin, the construction of a brand new stadium stand with a capacity of 550 seats is now nearing completion. It will boast the possibility of expanding to 800. Plans also exist for Slavonski Brod, where a UEFA III category stadium is being targeted. For Sesvete near Zagreb, another new stadium with a capacity of 7,000 spectators is planned to replace the existing one. Possible investments in Croatian sport infrastructure in Koprivnica and all the way down in Dubrovnik are also circulating.
