Arena Zenica

Zenica Arena
Full name	City Arena "Husejin Smajlović"; before May 25, 2017: City Arena Zenica
Location	Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates	44°12′08″N 17°54′49″E / 44.20222°N 17.91361°E
Owner	City of Zenica
Operator	JP "Za upravljanje i održavanje sportskih objekata" Zenica
Capacity	6,200 (10,000 for concerts)
Surface	versatile
Construction
Broke ground	February 2007
Built	2009
Opened	March 20, 2009
Construction cost	€16 million
Tenants
	Bosnia and Herzegovina basketball team; Bosnia and Herzegovina handball team; Bosnia and Herzegovina Davis Cup team
Website
	arenazenica.com

Arena "Husejin Smajlović" (before: Arena Zenica) is a multifunctional indoor sports venue located in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

Construction

The construction began in February 2007 and was completed on March 20, 2009. Total construction costs are estimated to be around 32 million convertible marks (€16 million) provided from the Zenica municipality budget.

Name change

In May 2017, local authorities outvoted to rename the arena from "City Arena Zenica" to the "City Arena Arena Husejin Smajlović", eponymous after former longtime (2004–2016) Mayor Husejin Smajlović [Wikidata].^[1] The decision made was controversial for a number of reasons, the most significant being the object is of secular purpose (including musical manifestations, alcohol, etc.) and Smajlovic was^[2] Muslim;^[1] new name has not got established yet, musicians continue to state that they perform at the Arena Zenica for managerial reasons of name simplicity and neutrality, and it is still mentioned by most citizens in free speech as the Zenica Arena (or Arena only).

Capacity

The total seating capacity of Arena Zenica is 6,200 for basketball or handball matches, and it can be increased up to 10,000 for concert events.^[3]

Tenants

Arena is the new homeground for Bosnia and Herzegovina basketball and handball national teams.

Activities

Notable concerts

Amar Jašarspahić – Gile held a concert on 21. December 2013.
Miligram (band) performed a sold out concert, promoting their Ludi petak album on 8. November 2014.
Šaban Šaulić performed a concert on 8. April 2015.
Seka Aleksić performed a sold-out show promoting her album Lek za spavanje on 19. September 2015.
Lepa Brena performed a sold-out show as part of her Začarani krug Tour on 18. November 2015.

2013 Men's Junior World Handball Championship

Arena Zenica has been the host to teams in Group D playing at the 2013 Men's Junior World Handball Championship, which was held in Bosnia and Herzegovina from July 14 to July 28, 2013.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b klix.ba
^ islamskazajednica.ba
^ "Arena Zenica - venue Information". RealGM. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
^ "Draw for Men's Junior World Championship to be held on 18 April". ihf.info. 2013-04-08. Archived from the original on 2013-12-14.

External links

[klix_name_change-1] x.ba

[2] slamskazajednica.ba

[3] "Arena Zenica - venue Information". RealGM. Retrieved July 2, 2013.

[4] "Draw for Men's Junior World Championship to be held on 18 April". ihf.info. 2013-04-08. Archived from the original on 2013-12-14.

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