source: StadiumDB.com; Author: Kuba Kowalski
Even though we write and talk about the world’s most spectacular stadiums every week, sometimes it’s necessary to look deeper. Today we will focus on Serbia. The southern European country recently commissioned three stadiums and more venues are on the verge of opening.
There are as many as 29 stadiums in Serbia in our database, and we have recently added three new sites. These are Gradski Dubočica Stadium, Fudbalski Lagator Stadium And Kraljevica Stadium. How was their construction carried out, when were they opened and what sets them apart? Furthermore, which arenas will be built in the future? See for yourself!
Three new stadiums in Serbia
Gradski Dubočica Stadium was inaugurated on August 21. However, plans for the construction of a new stadium in Leskovac had already been drawn up in 2018. The facility was to be built on the site of the existing municipal stadium (stadion pod Hisarom), with a slightly offset pitch. to the east. The new arena is an incomparably more modern facility than its predecessor.
From the outside, the stands are protected by a distinctive golden facade, the shape of which is somewhat reminiscent of the National Stadium in Warsaw. It meets UEFA Category 4 requirements and is suitable for hosting matches at the highest national level, as well as European Cup and national team matches.
© BATPAVA
Fudbalski Lagator Stadium, on the other hand, opened less than three months after the one in Leskovac. The concept for the new football stadium in Loznica was created in 2019. Its construction was scheduled to be completed in February 2023. There were some problems during the work, including flooding of the stadium rooms under construction and bacteria infesting the pitch.
Architecturally, the row of columns supporting the upper tier of the stands attracts attention. Also interesting is the division of relatively low stands into two levels. The roof, on the other hand, although symmetrical, is not up to standard. The new facilities are expected to serve the local club for years to come, although the challenge will certainly be getting the most out of them. A few months before its opening, FK Loznica was relegated to third place in the championship competition.
© Kraljevica Stadium is the last stop on our short tour in Serbia. The facility was inaugurated the day after the opening of the Loznica stadium, and among those present at the ceremony were many well-known figures from the world of sports and politics, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
Stadion Kraljevica has a rectangular layout specific to football, with a pitch oriented north-south. Lighting poles stand in the four corners of the stadium. The building is topped with a glossy white facade which blends with the roof into a single unit and gives the stadium an elegant appearance. The facility was built on slightly sloping land, which is why the northern part of the entrance promenade is on an elevation. On a daily basis the stadium is used by local club FK Timok, although they play in the fourth tier competition.
© More stadium projects in Serbia
During a tour of the newly built stadiums, accompanied by UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin, the Serbian president said: one of the main projects for the future is the Belgrade national stadium, which will be completed by December 1, 2026. Vucic also said that once this facility is built, the European Cup final could be hosted there. He added that the facilities in Niš and Kragujevac remain to be redeveloped, as well as the Belgrade district Partizan And Red Star of Zvezda stadiums which, according to him, “must be more modern”. A Vranje stadium is also in the plans.
Construction of the arena at the latter location was scheduled to begin in April 2021, but was postponed due to the pandemic. The authorities stressed that the Stadion Vranje project had not been abandoned, but that the start of work had been postponed to another date. In recent years there have been conflicts with localswho was concerned that the planned development would significantly reduce the area’s green space.
In terms of stadiums, Serbia is certainly one of the leaders among the Balkan countries. The designs, although often modest, are nonetheless impressive and make Serbian football even more developed. We shared a video about Serbian stadium projects on our YouTube channel some time ago. Tell us in the comments which project you prefer!
