In 2024, the Croatian national football team will face a crucial qualifying match against Armenia at Maksimir Stadium. The stadium, which is in dire need of renovation, has been the subject of much discussion for many years. Talks of building a completely new stadium have been ongoing, and it appears that the City of Zagreb, the state, and the Zagreb Archdiocese have finally reached an agreement. According to Sportske novosti, an agreement on the necessary land for the stadium’s construction in Maksimir is set to be signed in December. In exchange, the Archdiocese will receive new land in the city for building new churches.
However, it is not just Maksimir Stadium that needs attention. The stadium in Kranjčevićeva street is also in need of renovation. Currently home to HNL matches between Lokomotive and Rudeš, the stadium has a little over 5,000 seats. However, it is planned that after the renovation, which is set to begin in the spring, the stadium will have between 10,000 and 12,000 seats. The newly renovated stadium in Kranjčevićeva would serve as Dinamo’s home during the construction of the new stadium in Maksimir. The budget for the City of Zagreb for 2024 only includes three million euros for the renovation of the stadium in Kranjčevićeva, which may not be enough for such a large-scale project.
There are several options open for potential investors interested in building a new stadium in Maksimir. French construction company Bouygues, known for building Stade de France and Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb, is one of them. Bouygues has experience constructing large-scale sports facilities and could be a suitable candidate for this project