Arena Zagreb

The Arena Zagreb is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Zagreb, Croatia. The site also includes a building complex, the Arena Complex (Arena Center), making it one of the largest shopping-entertainment centers in the city. The arena is used for hockey, futsal, handball, athletics, basketball, volleyball, numerous other sporting competitions, and various concerts, exhibitions, fairs, conventions, and congresses. Arena Zagreb is a former member of the European Arenas Association (EAA), and it is the biggest indoor and sports arena in Croatia and one of the biggest indoor arenas in Europe. The shopping center and Arena Zagreb share a series of services such as a joint parking lot, multiplex cinema, wellness center, numerous restaurants, cafes, and stores. History The Croatian Government and the Zagreb Assembly held a public tender for the construction of a sports hall in order to host games in the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, and later for numerous other sporting, cultural, and business events. They selected the consortium composed of property developers TriGránit (from Hungary) and Ingra (from Croatia). The TriGránit/Ingra offer was initially approved on 25 April 2007, but the signing of the final contract was delayed because of Mayor Milan Bandić expressing discontent with the conditions. The Consortium engaged studio UPI-2M from Zagreb as well as studio Decathlon from Athens as an international consultant, specially for this project to create and produce a unique design for Arena Zagreb. The construction of the sports hall finally started on 20 July 2007, and was completed as planned on 15 December 2008. The arena also hosted the 2018 European Men's Handball Championship with Split, Varaždin and Poreč. and the World Men's Handball Championship again in 2025 with the country, Denmark and Norway. Architecture and design The arena was built in a previously undeveloped part of Zagreb that had long been overlooked—marked by a mix of neglected fields and modest residential buildings. Before construction began, the area resembled an urban wasteland more than a future cultural and sports destination. Located in the southwestern part of Lanište district of (Novi Zagreb), Arena Zagreb is a modern indoor venue designed to accommodate up to 16,500 for sport events and 22,400 spectators for concerts. Originally constructed for the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, it quickly gained prominence not just for its functionality, but also for its striking architectural presence. Situated near one of the city's major gateways, it stands as a recognizable symbol of the city. Eighty-six massive curved concrete columns create the venue's signature ribbed exterior, wrapping the building like a white oval shell. These are linked by a translucent, double-layered polycarbonate façade that allows for lighting displays. The suspended roof system, supported by these columns, eliminates the need for extensive internal roof structures, creating an open space inside. Features like retractable seating, movable partitions, and multiple configurable zones give it the flexibility needed to host different types of users and gatherings. Additional considerations — such as backstage areas, visitor flow, catering facilities, and acoustics — were all incorporated to ensure a high-quality experience for both performers and attendees. Natural light is excluded from the main hall except when the light-blocking roof domes are opened, a feature that enhances the lighting quality for both live events and television broadcasts. To support its function as a major event venue, surrounding infrastructure was significantly upgraded. New roadways and public utilities were installed, along with bus connections to other parts of the city. The facility itself spans six levels—one underground and five above—covering a gross built area of 90,340 square meters, all situated on a 29,540-square-meter site. The construction cost averaged €850 per square meter, which includes associated project expenses. Parking includes 926 spaces for cars and 38 for buses or broadcast vans, spread across an underground garage and the adjacent surface level. High groundwater levels prevented deeper underground construction, and the limited footprint of the site didn't allow for surface parking. Biggest shopping Center in Zagreb - Arena Centar was built next to the Arena Zagreb in 2010. The unveiling of the Arena's design triggered a wave of development in the neighborhood. Even before construction finished, new projects began taking shape around the site. Today, the Arena stands as a focal point within a broader urban plan that includes a major shopping and entertainment complex, as well as new residential communities. Developing spatial and functional characteristics to enable maximum flexibility of the venue was vital during the schematic design stage. The telescopic system of 4,550 seats was a critical element in allowing different configurations and quick turnaround between events. The singular vision also led to provision of spacious facilities for athletes, other performers and event managers, a concept for simple and fluid visitor circulation, a mix of catering facilities and designing in smaller, mutually independent zones that could all be used at the same time. Getting the acoustics right was important too. The steel roof structure had sufficient bearing capacity to enable the suspension of additional stage equipment. The roof structure is close to the structure of a suspension bridge, which is an uncommon approach (in arena design) anywhere in the world. The roof's bearing structure is only 45 cm high, over a span of 110 m, because it is suspended from the upper side of the roof outside and can not be seen from the interior. This solution was made feasible by contemporary cable production technology – the span is suspended on cables that have a diameter of just 66 mm. Each cable can carry 400 tons. Arena Zagreb won the Structural Design of the Year award at the 2009 World Architecture Festival, and Grand spectacle award at Global BBR 2010. Concerts and events Mark Knopfler had a concert promoting his album Privateering (5 May 2013) Iron Maiden held a full house concert as a part of their Maiden England World Tour (31 July 2013) We Will Rock You took place, performing in total of 3 shows (25–26 May 2013) Céline Dion was supposed to hold a concert on 16 March 2024, with her upcoming Courage World Tour but canceled due to her health problems. Gallery See also List of indoor arenas in Croatia List of European ice hockey arenas List of indoor arenas by capacity References External links Media related to Arena Zagreb at Wikimedia Commons Official website (in Croatian)