Split is about to get a serious sports facelift. Croatia's government has signed off on €54.5 million to renovate three of the city's key venues — the Gripe Sports Centre, Spaladium Arena and the Park Mladeži Sports Centre — in a programme worth an estimated €72.7 million in total. The money comes through the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, with the remainder of the bill covered by other financing arrangements.
The timing isn't accidental. Split is preparing to host the European Universities Games in 2028, and the upgrades are meant to get its ageing infrastructure up to standard before thousands of student athletes arrive. The investment is also framed with a longer horizon: better venues mean local clubs get decent training conditions, residents get better recreational facilities, and the city can bid for domestic and international competitions well beyond 2028.
Each venue gets a different treatment. Gripe Sports Centre, a long-standing multi-sport hub in the city, is in line for a full reconstruction plus energy renovation, with its technical, safety and operational systems brought up to date. Spaladium Arena — the large indoor hall by the waterfront that has struggled to return to full operation — will get structural repairs and upgrades to key technical and safety systems, work intended to restore it as a major indoor venue capable of hosting big events again. And at Park Mladeži, the football and athletics stadium will be rebuilt to international standards, pairing the two sports in one modern complex.
Tourism and Sport Minister Tonči Glavina has pitched the package as a win for athletes, clubs and everyday users alike, with the added benefit of letting Split attract tournaments that bring visitors and spending into the city.
So why should a traveller care? Split already leans heavily on its sporting identity — it's the home city of basketball legend Toni Kukoč and football club Hajduk Split, and it has hosted major international events across several disciplines. Right now, catching a game or event here can be a mixed experience depending on the venue. If the works land on schedule, visitors arriving for the 2028 Universities Games — or just for a summer trip — will find a waterfront city that pairs its Roman-era old town and beach clubs with genuinely modern arenas. Expect some construction disruption around Gripe and Park Mladeži in the meantime, so check what's open before planning a visit around a specific event.
For sports-mad travellers, the takeaway is simple: Split is positioning itself as one of the Adriatic's best all-round city breaks — history, sea, and soon, top-tier venues to match. Details on exact timelines will emerge as the individual projects move through procurement and construction phases over the next couple of years.
