The decision to this effect was made after the Split city authorities applied for a grant in order to prepare the documentation necessary for drawing up the project of rebuilding this landmark of Croatia's biggest coastal city.
At its meeting on 6 July 2023, the government declared Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium and Split's Poljud Stadium sports facilities of national interest, as provided for under the Sports Act.
The stadiums in Zagreb and Split are the only stadiums in Croatia with a capacity of 20,000 and 30,000 seats respectively, and they are classified as UEFA category four stadiums.
In 2022 Split Deputy Mayor Antonio Kuzmanić said that the reconstruction of the Poljud stadium would cost €20 million and that the city, as its majority owner, had applied for funding for its reconstruction under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
In 2023, Split Mayor Ivica Puljak announced the possible reconstruction of the city stadium, estimating the project cost at between €30-40 million.
The stadium, which has a seating capacity of 34,198, was built in 1979 as one of the venues for the 1979 Mediterranean Games, hosted by Split.
Minister Glavina was quoted as stating today that since the first term of the Andrej Plenković government state budget investments into sports had risen from €28 million to €120 million this year.