Zagreb to build largest new sports complex in 40 years

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

ZAGREB, 20 May 2025 – Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević, along with Deputy Mayors Danijela Dolenec and Luka Korlaet, today presented the proposed programme for the urban planning and architectural competition for the new Maksimir Stadium and the broader SRC Svetice sports complex.

The proposal will soon be submitted to the joint commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the City of Zagreb for further consideration.

The new Maksimir Stadium, designed to meet the highest UEFA and FIFA standards, is planned to have a capacity of around 35,000 seated and fully covered places, making it suitable for top-level club and national team matches.

Importantly, the proposal is part of a publicly funded investment, which, according to Mayor Tomašević, means that the wider Svetice area will be dedicated entirely to sports and recreational use.

“There will be no commercial facilities such as shopping centres, which is good news in terms of reducing traffic congestion and preserving the space for citizens to enjoy recreational activities,” the mayor said.

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

In addition to the football stadium, the programme outlines the development of several key sporting facilities, including:

• An athletics stadium with around 2,000 covered seats

• A multifunctional indoor arena for futsal and basketball with approximately 3,000 seats

• A handball arena accommodating between 4,500 and 5,000 spectators, including an additional smaller training hall

• Outdoor exercise and recreation areas open to the public

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

“This will be the largest new sports complex built in Zagreb since the Universiade nearly 40 years ago,” Mayor Tomašević added. “Our vision is to create a unified location that offers sports infrastructure for football, athletics, swimming, handball, basketball, and futsal.”

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

The architectural competition will be both public and invitational, and conducted on an international level. It will take place in two stages: the first stage will select the most promising entries, while the second will involve detailed development of those concepts based on feedback from a jury and specialist consultants.

(Photo: Grad Zagreb)

The revitalisation of Maksimir and the wider Svetice complex is poised to become a landmark project in the development of Croatian sport and urban planning.