 Render of the new stadium | |
 Interactive map of Stadion u Kranjčevićevoj | |
| Full name | Stadion u Kranjčevićevoj ulici |
|---|---|
| Former names | Stadion Concordia (1921–1945) |
| Location | Zagreb,Croatia |
| Coordinates | 45°48′17″N15°57′39″E / 45.80472°N 15.96083°E /45.80472; 15.96083 |
| Owner | City of Zagreb |
| Capacity | 11,163[4] |
| Record attendance | 18,000 (Yugoslavia v.Germany, 15 October 1939)[5] |
| Field size | 105 m x 68 m (115 yd x 74 yd) |
| Surface | Hybrid grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1914, 1918–1921 |
| Opened | 1921 |
| Renovated | 1977, 1987, 2008, 2018, 2025 |
| Construction cost | €47 million[1] |
| Tenants | |
| HŠK Concordia (1921–1945) NK Zagreb (1946–2018)[2] NK Lokomotiva (2014–present)[3] NK Rudeš (2017–present; licensed club)[3] 1987 Summer Universiade | |
Stadion u Kranjčevićevoj ulici (Kranjčević Street Stadium), also known asStadion Concordia between 1921 and 1945, is amulti-purpose stadium located inTrešnjevka neighbourhood, in the Croatian capital ofZagreb.
As of 2025, the stadium is undergoing a complete reconstruction, with plans to give it an increased capacity of approximately 12,000 seats. Once completed, it will temporarily serve as the primary home ground forDinamo Zagreb during the demolition and construction of the newStadion Maksimir. In addition to hostingNK Lokomotiva, the revamped stadium will feature covered stands and improved spectator facilities.
The stadium's final match before demolition and rebuilding occurred on April 22, 2025, withHNK Šibenik defeating hostLokomotiva Zagreb.[6]
It was historically the home ground ofNK Zagreb until their eviction from the ground in 2018.[2] More recently the stadium has been the home ground forCroatian First League sideNK Lokomotiva.[3] Other local teams, includingNK Rudeš,Hrvatski Dragovoljac, and Sesvete have used the stadium for selected matches, particularly Croatian First League games.[3][6]
First opened in 1921, it has undergone many renovations and facelifts, with its current layout dating back to the1987 Summer Universiade renovation.
TheCroatia national football team played only once at the stadium in a 3–0friendly game win againstSouth Korea on 13 March 1996.
Since its capacity was reduced in 2008, Stadion Kranjčevićeva can accommodate up to 8,850 spectators,[7] making it the second-largest stadium in Zagreb afterStadion Maksimir. In 2018, the stadium underwent renovations, which included the installation of seats in the eastern grandstand and a new hybrid grass pitch.[8] These upgrades reduced the seating capacity to 5,350.[8]
The stadium at what was then calledTratinska cesta (English:Tratinska road) began construction in 1910s and was completed in 1921. At the time of its completion it was the biggest stadium inZagreb and was owned byConcordia, one of the three prominentZagreb-based football clubs in theinterwar period (the other two beingGrađanski andHAŠK). In 1931 the firstfloodlit match held inZagreb was played at the stadium, in which Zagreb XI beatReal Madrid 2–1, with two goals fromIco Hitrec and a consolation goal forMadrid scored byEugenio.
AfterWorld War II,Concordia was disbanded for political reasons and the stadium was handed over to the newly formedFiskulturno društvo Zagreb (English:Zagreb Sports Society), whose football section later evolved into today'sNK Zagreb football club.NK Zagreb's third jersey is green in honour ofConcordia, whose old stadium is now their own.
In November 1977 a large fire destroyed the west stand and in the following years the stadium went through several reconstructions and modifications. The most significant of these was an extensive overhaul and the construction of the adjoining facilities in preparation for the1987 Summer Universiade. Later that year a lightning strike destroyed thefloodlights during a match betweenNK Zagreb andNK Osijek and the stadium was without anyfloodlight capabilities for 20 years, until 2008, when the new ones were re-installed by theCity of Zagreb.
One of the most significant dates in the history of the stadium occurred during the onset of theCroatian War of Independence. On 28 May 1991, the first public lineup of theCroatian National Guard (Croatian:Zbor narodne Garde) took place at the stadium. This unit, formed in April 1991, consisted of members of the police and parts of theCroatian army.
TheCroatian National Guard was the first professional military unit inCroatia and later evolved into theCroatian Ground Army (Croatian:Hrvatska kopnena vojska). This event marked the beginning of the creation of theCroatian Armed Forces.
Acommemorative plaque honoring this historic event can be seen at the stadium entrance.[9]
Today's shape and form of the venue inKranjčevićeva Street is a result of another unfortunate event in its history. On 29 November 1977, a fire destroyed large sections of the old wooden western stand of the stadium. Since then, the stadium has undergone several modifications and reconstructions over the years.
Most of the current infrastructure was built in preparation for theUniversiade held inZagreb, the world'sStudent Games. This included an extensive overhaul of the venue and the construction of adjoining facilities.
Later in 1987, a lightning strike damaged the floodlights, leaving the stadium without floodlight capabilities for 20 years. New floodlights were finally installed by theCity of Zagreb in 2008.
The stadium now consists of two stands. The west stand is fully seated and has a capacity of 3,850 spectators. It also houses thepress box and the VIP area. The east stand has 5,000 standing places and is primarily used for traveling fans. Additionally, the stadium features acycling track around the pitch, used fortrack cycling events. It also includes awheelchair area.
In June 2008, aUEFA inspection visited the stadium to assess its licensing suitability. While the stadium received some praise for its central location inZagreb, the inspection highlighted several shortcomings, such as the lack offloodlights and inadequate facilities for journalists. Despite these issues, the stadium managed to receive a 3-star rating out of five, ranking it among the better stadiums inCroatia.
Following this inspection, theCity of Zagreb undertook significant renovations through June, July, and August 2008. Thefloodlights were reinstalled and became operational just three days before the 5th round match betweenNK Zagreb andNK Osijek on 24 August 2008.Zagreb secured a 2–1 victory in their first match under the new floodlights, with goals fromMario Čutura andDavor Vugrinec in the last minute, witnessed by 2,500 supporters. Since the installation of the newfloodlights, the stadium has been capable of hosting both daytime and nighttime matches.
In 2018, the stadium underwent further refurbishment. Chairs were installed in the eastern grandstand, and a new hybrid lawn was added.[8] The stadium's seating capacity was 5,350 seats after these refurbishments.[8]
The final confirmation for the reconstruction of the stadium inKranjčevićeva Street was announced byZagreb’s mayor, Tomislav Tomašević, in November 2024.[10] This followed an earlier announcement in October 2023 during a City Assembly session, where the need for the project was first outlined.[11] The reconstruction was deemed essential to provide a temporary home forDinamo Zagreb and theCroatia national football team during the planned demolition and redevelopment ofMaksimir Stadium, expected to be completed by 2028.[10]
The project started in April 2025 with the demolition of the old stadium. The reconstruction is expected to last 15 to 18 months, with completion scheduled for September 2026.[10]
The upgraded stadium will have a capacity of 11,163 seats, increasing from its current 5,350, and will meet UEFA’s Category 4 standards. This will enable it to host high-profile matches, includingUEFA Champions League andUEFA Europa League games up to the semifinal stage.[10]
Planned upgrades include fully covered stands, modern LED lighting to replace the outdated floodlights, and a hybrid heated pitch. Facilities for players, staff, and technical support will also be upgraded to comply with modern professional football standards.[10]
The surrounding area will also undergo significant redevelopment. A 6,300-square-meter plaza will be built in front of the stadium, replacing existing walls to create a more accessible and pedestrian-friendly environment. Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet highlighted that the project will transform the area by providing space for pedestrians and cyclists, while integrating the stadium into the urban landscape.[10]
The original conceptual design was developed by Sirrah projekt d.o.o., which is also responsible for designingNK Osijek’s state-of-the-artOpus Arena.[12] Mayor Tomašević described the project as the first major stadium development in Zagreb in nearly 50 years. While technically a reconstruction, the scale of the upgrades makes it comparable to building a completely new stadium.[10]
Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet emphasized the urban impact of the project, noting that the reconstruction is designed to address long-standing spatial challenges in the area. The removal of walls around the stadium and the creation of the plaza will enhance accessibility and contribute to a more pedestrian-friendly environment. "The stadium is designed as a single architectural body, beautifully integrated into the surrounding urban fabric," Korlaet explained.
The project is expected to cost €44 million, including VAT, and will be entirely funded by the city ofZagreb. The initial estimate of €20 million was revised due to rising construction costs over the past three years. Tomašević emphasized that the updated cost is reasonable and aligns with similar projects in Europe. He also highlighted the importance of the investment, noting that the reconstruction ofKranjčevićeva is a crucial step toward enabling the redevelopment ofMaksimir Stadium.[13]
The project marks a significant milestone for Zagreb’s sporting infrastructure. With its expanded capacity and modern facilities, the reconstructed stadium will be capable of hosting international sporting events, providing a vital resource for Croatian football and other events. Additionally, its timely completion will ensure that it serves as a temporary home forDinamo Zagreb and theCroatia national football team whileMaksimir Stadium undergoes redevelopment.[10]
The first international match at the stadium was held in June 1922, a friendly betweenKingdom of Yugoslavia andCzechoslovakia. The Yugoslavia team consisted almost entirely of players called up fromZagreb clubs (only the goalkeeper Rodoljub Malenčić was called up fromBelgrade'sSK Jugoslavija) and Yugoslavia went on to win the game 4–3, with some 6,000 people in attendance. Between 1922 and 1940 the stadium hosted a total of 11 Kingdom of Yugoslavia matches, most of them friendlies. During World War II, the Independent State of Croatia formed a national team which used the stadium for six games, all of them friendlies played with otherAxis powers' puppet states.
In 1947 Kranjčevićeva hosted their single international game in theSFR Yugoslavia period, a 2–1Balkan Cup win againstBulgaria, with both Yugoslavia's goals scored byPrvoslav Mihajlović. Following Croatia's independence in 1991, theCroatia national football team played at Kranjčevićeva only once, in a 1996 friendly againstSouth Korea which Croatia won 3–0 through ahat-trick fromGoran Vlaović.
| # | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score | Att. | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1920–41) | ||||||
| 1. | 28-06-1922 | Friendly |  Czechoslovakia | 4–3 | 6,000 | [14] |
| 2. | 10-02-1924 | Friendly |  Austria | 1–4 | 10,000 | [15] |
| 3. | 28-09-1924 | Friendly | Czechoslovakia | 0–2 | 8,000 | [16] |
| 4. | 28-06-1926 | Friendly | Czechoslovakia | 2–6 | 10,000 | [17] |
| 5. | 03-10-1926 | Friendship Cup |  Romania | 2–3 | 5,000 | [18] |
| 6. | 08-04-1928 | Friendly |  Turkey | 2–1 | 5,000 | [19] |
| 7. | 28-06-1929 | Friendly | Czechoslovakia | 3–3 | 8,000 | [20] |
| 8. | 06-08-1933 | Friendly | Czechoslovakia | 2–1 | 3,000 | [21] |
| 9. | 28-05-1938 | Friendship Cup | Czechoslovakia | 1–3 | 10,000 | [22] |
| 10. | 15-10-1939 | Friendly |  Germany | 1–5 | 18,000 | [23] |
| 11. | 03-11-1940 | Friendly | Germany | 2–0 | 15,000 | [24] |
| Independent State of Croatia (1941–45) | ||||||
| 12. | 28-09-1941 | Friendly |  Slovakia | 5–2 | 12,000 | [25] |
| 13. | 18-01-1942 | Friendly | Germany | 0–2 | 12,000 | [26] |
| 14. | 12-04-1942 | Friendly |  Bulgaria | 6–0 | 15,000 | [27] |
| 15. | 06-09-1942 | Friendly | Slovakia | 6–1 | 9,000 | [28] |
| 16. | 10-04-1943 | Friendly | Slovakia | 1–0 | 10,000 | [29] |
| 17. | 09-04-1944 | Friendly | Slovakia | 7–3 | 8,000 | [30] |
| SFR Yugoslavia (1946–92) | ||||||
| 18. | 12-10-1947 | Balkan Cup | Bulgaria | 2–1 | 15,000 | [31] |
| Croatia (1992–present) | ||||||
| 19. | 13-03-1996 | Friendly |  South Korea | 3–0 | 3,000 | [32] |
The average season attendances from league matches held at the Stadion u Kranjčevićevoj forNK Zagreb[33]
| Season | NK Zagreb |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 3,773 |
| 1992–93 | 5,467 |
| 1993–94 | 2,706 |
| 1994–95 | 3,100 |
| 1995–96 | 2,767 |
| 1996–97 | 1,633 |
| 1997–98 | 1,820 |
| 1998–99 | 1,547 |
| 1999–00 | 1,106 |
| 2000–01 | 1,831 |
| 2001–02 | 2,800 |
| 2002–03 | 1,830 |
| 2003–04 | 1,569 |
| 2004–05 | 1,831 |
| 2005–06 | 1,469 |
| 2006–07 | 1,965 |
| 2007–08 | 1,200 |
| 2008–09 | 867 |
| 2009–10 | 1,240 |
| 2010–11 | 1,121 |
| 2011–12 | 933 |
| 2012–13 | 1,263 |
