Croatian capital's earthquake-damaged stadium to be rebuilt

The Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, home of the Croatian national football team and Dinamo Zagreb, is being completely rebuilt. The arena was built in 1912 and has been renovated several times since then. For a time it had a capacity of 35,000, but it was damaged by the 2020 earthquake and has since had a capacity of only 20,000.

The new Maksimir Stadium is expected to be completed by 2029, will have 35,000 seats and will meet the highest standards of the European Football Association. The investment cost of around €175 million (around HUF 70 billion - editor's note) will be shared equally between the capital municipality and the state.

Treating a problem that has existed for more than forty years

The development was made possible by a landmark agreement between the Croatian capital and the government, signed at a public press event at the stadium. At the event, Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic said that they had managed to solve a problem that had existed for more than 40 years.

He also pointed out that it is exactly one year since the 27-year-long land dispute ended, paving the way for the stadium announcement. The politician also revealed that fifty European stadiums had been studied in preparation.

The first to be renovated is the temporary home

The stadium's maintenance costs will be covered by a private operator, selected through a public tender. The local football club Dinamo Zagreb has already indicated its willingness to take on the task.

During the reconstruction of the Maksimir Stadium, Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatian national team will play their home matches at the Kranjceviceva Stadium in Zagreb. However, the latter arena will also be renovated: this project will start in a month's time and is scheduled to end in 2026.