Dinamo Zagreb president Zvonimir Boban issued an open letter to club members and the Bad Blue Boys supporters group responding to widespread backlash over the winning conceptual design for the club’s new stadium at Maksimir. Published on the club’s official website, Boban’s statement addresses fan anger while defending the unanimous decision reached by an international architectural jury that selected a proposal from Milan-based studio VG13 Architects.
Public Backlash Against the Maksimir Stadium Design
The unveiling of the winning design for the new Maksimir stadium on September 24 triggered immediate negative reactions across digital platforms and among local supporters. A public survey conducted by Index, which drew nearly 140,000 participant responses, showed that 79 percent of participating readers disliked the proposed aesthetic. The primary points of contention center on the stadium’s open corners between the stands, the roof configuration, and whether the architectural guidelines mandated fully enclosed seating bowls.
The international architectural contest drew 88 submissions from around the globe. The evaluation jury unanimously awarded first place to VG13 Architects, concluding that the Milanese firm’s concept best addressed urban, architectural, and historical identity criteria. Alongside Boban, the scoring panel included Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević and Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina, with Toma Plejić serving as jury president.
Zvonimir Boban Defends Jury Process While Acknowledging Fan Discontent
In his open letter, Boban acknowledged the deep division between the expert panel’s verdict and the overwhelming sentiment of the club’s fanbase, while detailing the cooperative efforts of municipal and state authorities to resolve long-standing property and legal hurdles.
“Drage dinamovke i dinamovci, dragi naši članovi, poštovana grupo BBB! Desetljećima smo se svi zajedno nadali da ćemo sagraditi novi plavi dom, naš novi Maksimir,” Boban wrote in his address to supporters, translated from the official club release.
Boban defended his vote on the jury, stating that he acted with the future interests of Dinamo Zagreb in mind. At the same time, he conceded that the architectural choice does not align with what the majority of supporters want for their new home.
“Duboko ostajem pri tom uvjerenju, ali to je samo jedno dinamovsko mišljenje i nebitno je s koje funkcije dolazi. Ono što je neupitna istina jest da velika većina vas, Dinamovih navijača, smatra da to nije dobra odluka ni pravo rješenje za naš klub,” Boban stated in the published communication.
Next Steps for the Zagreb Stadium Project
Despite the resistance from supporters and widespread public criticism regarding the open-corner layout and structural geometry, Boban asserted that the club must respect fan opinions during the subsequent phases of development. He expressed confidence that project investors, the City of Zagreb, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and the evaluation jury will work to incorporate supporter feedback and refine the design before construction commences.
