Stadion Kraljevica – stadium description

How did the new stadium in Zaječar come about?

Plans for a new stadium in Zaječar were presented in 2019 (the same year the local club, FK Timok, celebrated its 100th anniversary). The construction of the stadium was made possible by funding from the government's sports infrastructure improvement programme. At the end of October 2020, the tender for the construction was announced. In parallel with the stadium in Zaječar, similar investments were also to be made in Loznica and Leskovac.

The tender was awarded in December 2020 and the contractor for the new stadium in Zaječar was a consortium of WD Concord West, DBS doo, Elektrozapad doo, Premer Savković doo Lazarevac, Modulor doo Beograd, Hidro-Tan doo Beograd, Kapa Projekt doo Niš, Preduzeće za proizvodnju, promet i usluge Frenki-alarm doo Valjevo, Dabicom CO doo Beograd and ECO Construction doo Beograd.

The architectural concept of Kraljevica Stadium can be viewed on a separate subpage

When was Kraljevica stadium built?

A report on the construction of Kraljevica Stadium can be viewed on a separate subpage

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on December 29, 2020, at which the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Vanja Udovičić, and the mayor of the city, Boško Ničić, performed the symbolic act of laying the foundation stone. The construction of the stadium, according to the original assumptions, was to be completed at the end of 2022, with a contract value of approximately 3.38 billion Serbian dinars. The design of the facility was prepared by Centar za planiranje urbanog razvoja and Sintezis inženjering.

Construction stalled somewhat and the facility was not ready until autumn 2023. The grand opening of the new stadium took place on November 19, 2023. Many well-known personalities from the world of sport and politics were present at the opening, including the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, the President of UEFA, Aleksander Čeferin, the President of the Serbian Football Association, Dragan Džajić, the President of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik or the Mayor of Zaječar, Boško Ničić.

What does the Kraljevica stadium look like?

The new stadium in Zaječar was built in the southern part of the city, on the site of the former hippodrome, not far from the municipal stadium, where the players of the FK Timok Zaječar team used to play their matches. After the opening of the new facility, the old stadium will be used mainly for athletics. There are plans to build a new tartan running track, making it one of the most important athletics facilities in eastern Serbia.

Kraljevica stadium has a rectangular, football-specific layout, with the pitch laid out on a north-south axis. Single-level, covered stands have been built at each sideline and end line, with a total capacity of 8,186 spectators. The main stand with boxes and facilities is located to the west. Folding chairs have been installed in the auditorium to form a blue and turquoise mosaic. In two of the corners there are video screens.

Four floodlighting masts stand in the corners of the stadium. The building is topped with a white, glossy façade that blends with the roof to give the stadium an elegant appearance. The facility was built on a slightly sloping site, hence the northern part of the entrance promenade is elevated. New car parks and access roads were built in the surrounding area.

Who does Kraljevica stadium serve?

The stadium meets the requirements of UEFA Category 4 and is prepared to host top-level matches, including those with national teams or European cup competitions. It can also host major cultural events. When it was inaugurated, the venue became one of the most modern stadiums in Serbia. On a day-to-day basis, the stadium is to be used by local club FK Timok, although the team was playing in the fourth division when the facility opened.