Stadion Maksimir


Maksimir Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Zagreb, Croatia. Named after the surrounding neighbourhood of Maksimir, it is one of the largest stadiums in the country with a current seating capacity of 25,912 and a maximum possible capacity of 35,423. It is the home stadium of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb and has been used since 1990 by the Croatia national football team for the majority of international competitions.
Built in 1912, the stadium underwent renovations in 1948, 1998, and 2011. Its facilities can be converted into a concert stage which has been used to host musical acts.
Maksimir Stadium has four stands: north, east, west, and south, with all seats seated, and no standing places for spectators in the stadium.
A major renovation of the stadium in June 2011 saw new seats installed, and a greater distance created between seats.
Due to the strong earthquake that struck Zagreb on March 22, 2020, the east stand has not been open to spectators.

History

The construction and the early years

With the rising popularity of the sport in Zagreb, the local football club HAŠK, which was one of the first multi-sports club in Croatia, decided to build a new stadium for their club. They bought the ground in the Svetice neighbourhood in Zagreb, which lies on the opposite side of the Maksimir Park, from the Archdiocese of Zagreb. HAŠK built a wooden stand with a capacity of 6,000, which was also the first ground with a proper stand in Zagreb at that time. The stadium was opened on 5 May 1912, and at the opening ceremony of the new stadium, HAŠK and their city rival, HŠK Građanski Zagreb, played several friendly matches to commemorate the opening. Due to the close relationship and alliance of HAŠK and HŠK Građanski Zagreb and the latter one playing at the Stadion Koturaška, which was in a poor state, Građanski also started playing their home matches at the new Stadium Maksimir.
On 26 May 1941, a representative of the Ustashe fascist government of the Independent State of Croatia addressed young Zagreb students at their meeting at the Maksimir Stadium, and at one point ordered the Serbian and Jewish students to be segregated, but the children disobeyed. Soon afterwards, in June 1941, rebel youths burned the stadium down. The 1977 film Operation Stadium was made to commemorate the segregation incident.

After World War II and the development

After World War II, Građanski got dissolved by the newly established communist regime of Yugoslavia and a new club, FD Dinamo Zagreb, inherited the clubs' colours, honours and the ground and is, therefore, the direct successor of HŠK Građanski Zagreb. When the UEFA Euro 1976 final tournament was held in Yugoslavia, Maksimir hosted the Netherlands v. Czechoslovakia semi-final match and the Netherlands v. Yugoslavia third place match. Maksimir was the central venue for the 1987 Summer Universiade hosted by the city of Zagreb.
In 1990, several events happened at Maksimir. On 13 May, the Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot took place, an infamous riot involving Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade supporters. The last match of the Yugoslavia national football team was hosted at Maksimir on 3 June. On 17 October of the same year, Croatia played the United States in what was Croatia's first match in the modern era.

In modern times

In 1998, plans were made for a massive renovation, and the first phase started the same year. The old northern stand was demolished and a new one built within a year. This renovation increased Maksimir's seating capacity to 38,079. After 1992, for 16 years the Croatian football team had a proud unbeaten record at this stadium in any competitive match, however, on 10 September 2008 England became the first team to beat Croatia in Zagreb, winning 4–1, ending a thirty match undefeated streak.
In the summer of 2011, a little, but much needed "facelifting" was made on the stadium. All seats were replaced, a new drainage system, under-soil heating and automatic watering were installed along with a new turf, the athletic track was covered with blue artificial grass and all brick surfaces were covered in blue cloth.

2020 earthquake

The earthquake, which happened on the morning of 22 March 2020, damaged the structural stability of the stadium. After an inspection by a structural engineer, the Maksimir stadium was deemed "temporarily unusable". The eastern stand, which is also the biggest single stand by capacity, took the most damage and is awaiting the final decision following a detailed building inspection. While waiting, the club is allowed to host matches on the Maksimir stadium, but with the eastern stand being closed for viewers.
In August 2023, Maksimir was ranked the third ugliest football stadium in Europe according to research carried out by the Money agency based on reviews on platforms such as Google, TripAdvisor and Football Ground.

Capacity per sector

Four stands contribute to the total seating capacity of 35,423: 25,912 with the East stand closed.
File:U2 Zagreb 10082009 012P.jpg|thumb|500px|right| Irish rock band U2 sold 2 shows in two consecutive nights with their 360° Tour in front of 124,012 people
  • North stand : 4,510
  • North stand : 4,950
  • North stand : 300
  • West stand : 5,101
  • West stand : 6,369
  • West stand : 748
  • East stand: 9,514 – temporarily closed due to earthquake damage
  • South stand: 3,931

    International matches

DateResultCompetition
25 June 19524–1International friendly
18 October 19533–1International friendly
9 May 19540–2International friendly
17 June 19561–11955–60 Central European International Cup
12 September 19565–2Unofficial friendly
12 May 19576–11955–60 Central European International Cup
5 October 19584–4International friendly
19 November 19612–1International friendly
30 September 19622–3International friendly
3 November 19632–0International friendly
8 May 19662–0International friendly
18 November 19702–0International friendly
21 October 19730–01974 FIFA World Cup qualification
28 September 19741–0International friendly
15 October 19753–0UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying
24 April 19762–0UEFA Euro 1976 quarter-final
16 June 19763–1
UEFA Euro 1976 semi-final
19 June 19763–2
UEFA Euro 1976 third place play-off
8 May 19770–21978 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 October 19781–2UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
13 June 19794–1International friendly
12 November 19830–0International friendly
6 September 19893–11990 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 June 19900–2International friendly
17 October 19902–1Unofficial friendly
22 October 19923–0International friendly
25 June 19933–1International friendly
4 June 19940–0International friendly
9 October 19942–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
25 March 19954–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
26 April 19952–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
3 September 19957–1UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
10 November 19961–11998 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 September 19973–21998 FIFA World Cup qualification
29 October 19972–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off
6 June 19987–0International friendly
14 October 19983–2UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
28 April 19990–0International friendly
21 August 19992–1UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
4 September 19991–0UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
9 October 19992–2UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
29 March 20001–1International friendly
28 May 20000–2International friendly
11 October 20001–12002 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 October 20011–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
27 March 20020–0International friendly
17 April 20022–0International friendly
29 March 20034–0UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
11 October 20031–0UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
15 November 20031–1UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying play-off
31 March 20042–2International friendly
4 September 20043–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 October 20042–22006 FIFA World Cup qualification
26 March 20054–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
30 March 20053–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 October 20051–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 October 20067–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
11 October 20062–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
24 March 20072–1UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
6 June 20070–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
8 September 20072–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
13 October 20071–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
6 September 20083–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 September 20081–42010 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 October 20084–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 June 20092–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 September 20091–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 September 20100–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
12 October 20102–1International friendly
17 November 20103–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
6 September 20113–1UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
15 November 20110–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-off
29 February 20121–3International friendly
7 September 20121–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
22 March 20132–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 June 20130–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 October 20131–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
19 November 20132–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off
9 September 20142–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
28 March 20155–1UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
10 October 20153–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
5 September 20161–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
12 November 20162–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
24 March 20171–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 September 20171–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 November 20174–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off
15 November 20183–22018–19 UEFA Nations League A
21 March 20192–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
11 October 20202–12020–21 UEFA Nations League A
14 October 20201–22020–21 UEFA Nations League A
22 September 20222–12022–23 UEFA Nations League A
21 November 20231–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
12 October 20242–12024–25 UEFA Nations League A
8 September 20254–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification