Stadion Poljud

Stadion Poljud
"The Poljud beauty"
(Croatian: Poljudska ljepotica)
Panoramic view of the stadium in 2024
Map
Full nameGradski stadion u Poljudu
LocationSpinut, Split, Croatia
Coordinates43°31′10″N 16°25′54″E / 43.51944°N 16.43167°E / 43.51944; 16.43167
OwnerCity of Split
OperatorHajduk Split
Capacity33,987
Field size105 m × 68 m (115 yd × 74 yd)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1977–1979
Opened12 September 1979; 45 years ago (1979-09-12)
ArchitectBoris Magaš
Structural engineerBoženko Jelić
Tenants
TypeProtected cultural good
Reference no.Z-6644[1]

Gradski stadion u Poljudu (English: City Stadium in Poljud), better known as Stadion Poljud (English: Poljud Stadium) or simply Poljud, is a multi-use stadium in Split, Croatia, which has been the home ground of Hajduk Split football club since 1979. The stadium is located in the neighbourhood of Poljud, which belongs to city district of Spinut.[2] It was opened in September 1979, and has a seating capacity of 33,987.[3]

The venue was built to host the 1979 Mediterranean Games and was opened by then Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. It had an original capacity of 55,000, increased to 62,000 in the 1980s, before being equipped with seats in the 1990s thus reducing the capacity to 33.987[4]

Poljud Stadium was also the venue for the 1990 European Athletics Championships and 2010 IAAF Continental Cup. Ultra Music - world known Electronic festival Ultra Europe was held on Stadium Poljud from 2013 until 2019 when it moved to Park Mladeži. City of Split annually held the Electronic Festival which gathers more than 150.000 people each year.[5]

Design

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Poljud Stadium during the celebration of Hajduk Split's 100th birthday

Its trademark is a seashell-like design by Croatian architect Boris Magaš with a roof structure spanning at 206×47 meters. Its design offers views of nearby hills and forests from the stands, modelled after ancient Greek theaters. Suspended on the west roof "shell" are 19 cabins, 7 of them are used by TV reporters, with the others occupied by cameras, central referee station, photo finish, scoreboard, audio control, etc. All of these are interconnected via a catwalk that runs through a structure spanning the entire roof giving access to the cabins, as well as to the 630 Philips lights, placed along the brim and inner side of the roof.

Northern stand
Ultra Europe on Poljud Stadium

Stands are supported by a construction of reinforced concrete with entrances via 12 bridges placed 30–40 meters apart around the entire stadium as well as eight staircases. Underneath them is a trench holding office areas. The area around the stadium is composed of 60,000 square meters of designed landscape with greenery designated for pedestrians, with the stadium slightly beneath the grade level of surrounding traffic roads. Placed under the western stands are 11,000 square meters of sports facilities (three gyms, pool, sauna), official club offices and restaurants, while the eastern stands cover 9,100 square meters of business areas. The inner stadium ground is composed of 105x68 meters football pitch and 8 running tracks surrounding it.[6]

The stadium was refurbished before hosting the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup athletics competition. A new tartan track was constructed, including the introduction of new VIP boxes and seats.[7] In October 2014, following heavy damage from Ultra Europe, a new pitch and drainage system were constructed, replacing the original ones that lasted for 35 years.[8]

In November 2015 the stadium was officially recognized as culture heritage.[9]

VIP stands
Poljud Stadium; showing the Mero roof structure and the figure of the stadium's architect Boris Magaš seen to the bottom right

Stadium Today

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Reconstruction

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In October 2024, it was announced that the Poljud Stadium would undergo reconstruction. The roof of the stadium will be adapted, along with its reinforced concrete structure and electrical installations. The Split stadium will also receive a new video and audio system, as well as updated fire protection measures. The Government of Croatia has approved funds for all the necessary project documentation. This means that work on the stadium should begin in the spring of 2025, at the end of the current competitive season. Most importantly, the funds have been secured, and the project will be implemented in several stages.

The first section of the stadium to be renovated includes the southwest stand, where the visiting fans will be seated, and part of the west stand extending toward the south. In the second phase, reconstruction is planned for the southeast stand and part of the east stand extending southward, followed by the sections to the north. The plan initially involved using alpinists; however, scaffolding will still need to be utilized. The chairs will remain in place, and the entire concrete structure will be renovated. While the work is ongoing, some parts of Poljud will be closed, but Hajduk will still be able to play at the stadium.[10]

International fixtures

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Date Competition Opponent Score Att. Ref
Yugoslavia (1979–1991)
29 September 1979 1979 Mediterranean Games  France B 3–0 50,000 [1]
29 April 1981 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification  Greece 5–1 45,000 [2]
21 December 1983 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying  Bulgaria 3–2 29,331 [3]
29 October 1986 UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying  Turkey 4–0 12,270 [4]
31 March 1988 Friendly  Italy 1–1 12,000 [5]
Croatia (1991–present)
8 October 1995 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying  Italy 1–1 35,000 [6]
29 March 1997 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification  Denmark 1–1 35,000 [7]
2 April 1997  Slovenia 3–3 20,000 [8]
10 February 1999 Friendly  Denmark 0–1 7,000 [9]
23 February 2000 Friendly  Spain 0–0 10,000 [10]
12 February 2003 2003 Marjan Trophy  Poland 0–0 1,000 [11]
18 February 2004 Friendly  Germany 1–2 9,212 [12]
17 August 2005 Friendly  Brazil 1–1 27,256 [13]
6 February 2008 Friendly  Netherlands 0–3 30,000 [14]
4 June 2011 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying  Georgia 2–1 28,000 [15]
15 August 2012 Friendly   Switzerland 2–4 10,000 [16]
12 June 2015 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying  Italy 1–1 0 [17]
10 October 2019 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying  Hungary 3–0 32,110 [18]
17 November 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League  Portugal 2–3 0 [19]
7 September 2021 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification  Slovenia 3–0 16,237 [20]
14 November 2021  Russia 1–0 30,257 [21]
6 June 2022 2022–23 UEFA Nations League  France 1–1 30,000 [22]
25 March 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying  Wales 1–1 33,474 [23]
18 November 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League  Portugal 1–1 33,386 [24]
20 March 2025 2024–25 UEFA Nations League quarter-finals  France

References

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  1. ^ "Gradski stadion Poljud". Registar kulturnih dobara. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  2. ^ "Stadion Poljud". The Stadium Guide. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  3. ^ "O Poljudu" (in Croatian). HNK Hajduk Split. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  4. ^ Budget Airline Football – Football in Split
  5. ^ "Na Ultru dolazi oko 150 tisuća ljudi, a ove godine, kako tvrdi organizator Joe Bašić, došlo ih je još i više". 24sata. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  6. ^ hajduk.hr (1 December 2015). "Stadion Poljud - kulturno dobro Republike Hrvatske" (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. ^ "New seating boxes in Poljud stadium coming soon". split2010cc.com. 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ nogometplus.net (23 October 2014). "Obnova poljudskog travnjaka najjeftinija u regiji" (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. ^ tportal.hr (1 December 2015). "Stadion Poljud proglašen zaštićenim kulturnim dobrom" (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Poljud stadium is going under reconstruction". VecernjiList. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
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Preceded by European Athletics Championships
Main Venue
1990 		Succeeded by
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