Sretan Saric, Managing Director of Arena Zagreb: if you want to have fun and enjoy numerous diversify events - we are here for you!

“When you have a very creative, hard-working and experienced team - then there is no mountain you can’t climb.”

Arena Zagreb is the largest sports hall in Croatia. It was built in 2008 and official opened on 17th January 2009. Due to its beauty, functionality and importance, Arena Zagreb has become a new architectural symbol of the city of Zagreb. The project was developed in cooperation between the Republic of Croatia, City of Zagreb and the construction company INGRA. Since its opening, the event calendar has been quickly filled with scheduled concerts of world-renowned musicians and sport events.

Soon, Arena Zagreb will be ten years old. During this period, numerous sporting, cultural, and business events, have been held. For you, to be Managing Director is a profession or it is a mission?

Honestly… a bit of both! Primary it’s a profession, one is always trying to do his best in recognizing business opportunities and taken them on to the next level, but during certain period of time, as it’s bound to happen, one can identified himself with his work and it becomes his mission.

The calendar is full for months ahead, is it difficult to manage such a big project?

When you have a very creative, hard-working and experienced team around yourself … then there is no mountain you can’t climb.

What changes are you planning for the next 10 years?

Well, we are planning to do a split system in the main hall where we’ll be able to organize smaller type of events (i.e. for 8000, 6000… 2000 spectators) but without losing the esthetic charm and functionality of our beautiful Arena as well as great atmosphere given to the people on every event.

The project was developed in cooperation between the public and private sector. It is one of the min drivers of growth of cities and the implementation of capital projects worldwide. This concept has proven to be a highly successful model for funding key urban investments, does this also apply to Arena Zagreb?

Arena is something that was missing in Zagreb, something that every capital has to have, in this case only possible way to achieve it was through private-public agreement.

Due to its beauty, functionality and importance, Arena Zagreb has become a new architectural symbol of the City of Zagreb. What else is for the inhabitants of the capital, and for the country itself the beautiful Arena? 

Beside the fact that it is the only Arena capable to uphold the requirements for large, sports and concerts, events with big names of its trade, Arena Zagreb became the symbol of enjoyment! People come here to have fun and get rid of everyday stress, and we are trying our best to make that happen.

I was impressed how many awards the Arena Zagreb has received for less than 10 years. Which one is most valuable for you?

Needles to say that I’m proud on all awards that Arena has received, every one of them has its specific value, therefore it would be very inconsiderate of me to choose only one.

Which world-famous stars have been on the stage of the Arena? Which performance will you never forget? And who you want to be in your portfolio?

There were quite a lot actually, but the question is more of subjective nature because a world famous star for me is maybe not the same for a someone else, but… globally speaking, some of the performers that were here are: Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Shakira, Mark Knopfler, Iron Maiden, Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Roger Waters and so on … For me, the best performance was Lady Gaga, production wise, I’m not a big fan of her music, but production was breath taking.

For final, invite our audience to visit you. Why should they come?

Actually, this is the easy one … if you want to have fun and enjoy numerous diversify events in the most beautiful Arena in the region … we are here for you!