Stadion Poljud Explained

Stadium Name:Stadion Poljud
Fullname:Gradski stadion u Poljudu
Nickname:"The Poljud beauty"
(Croatian: Poljudska ljepotica)
Location:Spinut, Split, Croatia
Built:1977–1979
Owner:City of Split
Operator:Hajduk Split
Seating Capacity:33,987
Nrhp:
Embed:yes
Designation1:Croatia Cultural
Designation1 Number:Z-6644[1]
Designation1 Type:Protected cultural good
Dimensions:105 m × 68 m (115 yd × 74 yd)
Surface:Grass
Architect:Boris Magaš
Structural Engineer:Boženko Jelić

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

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.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]

International fixtures

DateCompetitionOpponentScoreAtt.Ref
Yugoslavia (1979–1991)
1979 Mediterranean Games50,000https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/medgames79.html
1982 FIFA World Cup qualification45,000http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php/utakmice/1980-1989/322
UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying29,331http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php/utakmice/1980-1989/303
UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying12,270http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php/utakmice/1980-1989/278
Friendly12,000http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php/utakmice/1980-1989/268
Croatia (1991–present)
UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying35,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=42
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification35,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=58
20,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=59
Friendly7,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=82
Friendly10,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=95
2003 Marjan Trophy1,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=125
Friendly9,212http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=136
Friendly27,256http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=153
Friendly30,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=185
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying28,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=220
Friendly10,000http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=234
UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying0http://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=265
UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying32,110https://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=319
2020–21 UEFA Nations League0https://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=330
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification16,237https://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=342
30,257https://www.hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=346
2022–23 UEFA Nations League30,000https://hns-cff.hr/news/24236/hrvatska-remizirala-s-francuskom-modric-proslavio-jubilej/
UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying33,474https://rezultati.hns.team/utakmice/73058728/hrvatska-wales-1-1/

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gradski stadion Poljud . 2023-06-02 . Registar kulturnih dobara.
  2. Web site: Stadion Poljud. The Stadium Guide. 15 August 2010.
  3. Web site: O Poljudu. HNK Hajduk Split. 26 April 2011. hr.
  4. https://budgetairlinefootball.wordpress.com/croatia/ Budget Airline Football – Football in Split
  5. Web site: Na Ultru dolazi oko 150 tisuća ljudi, a ove godine, kako tvrdi organizator Joe Bašić, došlo ih je još i više . 24sata . 13 June 2024.
  6. Web site: Stadion Poljud - kulturno dobro Republike Hrvatske . hajduk.hr. 19 May 2016 . 1 December 2015. hr.
  7. Web site: New seating boxes in Poljud stadium coming soon . split2010cc.com . 15 August 2010 . 20 May 2010 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20140829185910/http://www.split2010cc.com/News/tabid/59/ID/38/language/en-GB/New-seating-boxes-in-Poljud-stadium-coming-soon.aspx . August 29, 2014 .
  8. Web site: Obnova poljudskog travnjaka najjeftinija u regiji . nogometplus.net. 19 May 2016 . 23 October 2014. hr.
  9. Web site: Stadion Poljud proglašen zaštićenim kulturnim dobrom . tportal.hr. 19 May 2016 . 1 December 2015. hr.