Rajko Mitić Stadium
Belgrade, Serbia
Štark Arena
Belgrade Serbia
Belgrade Arena is a world-class multi-purpose indoor venue located in Belgrade, Serbia, featuring an official fixed seating capacity of 18,386. As the iconic home court for rival Serbian basketball powerhouses KK Partizan and KK Crvena zvezda, this legendary facility represents the absolute pinnacle of European basketball culture and intensive indoor sports entertainment.
Par Štark arena — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Lien
Capacity
18.386
Stadium History
The ambitious construction process began with an initial groundbreaking ceremony in 1991, following a strategic decision to build a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting major international tournaments in Yugoslavia. Progress was frequently halted due to complex macroeconomic factors and regional conflicts throughout the 1990s before building works successfully resumed at full scale. The building formally opened its doors on July 31, 2004, under its native designation as the Belgrade Arena. The municipal asset signed its first commercial naming rights deal in 2012 to become Kombank Arena, followed by a rebranding to Štark Arena in 2017. In April 2024, the city government officially terminated the practice of commercial renaming, permanently restoring the historic Belgrade Arena brand to preserve its local identity.
Architecture
The immense structural complex was designed by prominent Serbian architect Vlada Slavica and covers a total indoor floor space of 48,000 square meters. The exterior architecture features a massive modern shell characterized by expansive glass panelling and heavy concrete pillars that support a complex roof system. Inside, the main hall is configured with a versatile concrete bowl layout consisting of multiple vertical tiers, retractable lower stands, and 70 luxury corporate loges. The architectural engineering of the roof structure and soundproofed walls functions as a highly reactive acoustic box, creating a closed environment that traps sound waves and dramatically amplifies the noise generated by spectator chants.
Club Identity
The official name reflects its status as a premium public asset owned by the City of Belgrade. During its initial planning and construction phases in the 1990s, the uncompleted shell was provisionally referred to by engineers and locals as Hala Limes, a name that remains a nostalgic piece of local trivia. Past commercial titles include Kombank Arena, tied to a financial institution, and Štark Arena, derived from a popular local confectionery brand. Locally, because it stands as the prominent giant of the New Belgrade urban skyline, it is simply referred to as the Arena by sports fans, symbolizing its unique dominance over the regional basketball landscape.
Major Renovations
While the core structural envelope has remained intact since 2004, the indoor configuration underwent substantial technological upgrades to maintain compliance with modern EuroLeague basketball standards. The venue features an official seating baseline of 18,386 fixed chairs, which dynamically expands toward 20,000 to 24,000 spectators depending on the specific assembly of retractable lower tiers and standing floor tickets. The interior layout features a dedicated press tribune, an adjacent smaller training hall, 720 premium upholstered club chairs, and a centralized high-definition media screen hanging over the playing court. Fully compliant accessible ramps and seating platforms are situated at key concourse entry points.
Iconic matches
The arena stands as a legendary monument in international basketball history, having successfully hosted major tournaments including EuroBasket 2005 and the prestigious EuroLeague Final Four in 2018 and 2022. It holds historic attendance records for European club basketball, notably during the 2013-2014 Eurocup quarterfinal between Crvena Zvezda and Budivelnyk Kyiv, which drew an unprecedented record crowd of 24,232 fans. Beyond basketball, the building has served as the final battleground for the Davis Cup tennis finals in 2010 and 2013, the 2016 European Men’s Water Polo Championship final, and has welcomed globally renowned musical artists for massive arena concert productions.
Location Neighborhood
The facility occupies a prominent urban plot within the New Belgrade municipality, positioned on the left bank of the Sava River approximately three miles west of the historical old town center. Developed as a planned modernist district, the surrounding neighborhood features a unique mixture of wide multi-lane boulevards, corporate office blocks, and residential housing blocks. On match days, the immediate neighborhood fills with thousands of local supporters who gather at the open-air concrete plazas surrounding the north and south entrances, transforming the commercial sector into a dense hub of athletic anticipation well before the doors swing open.
How to get to Štark Arena
The venue is easily accessible via the extensive transit network connecting Old Belgrade to the New Belgrade district. Spectators can board numerous municipal tram lines or take specific city bus routes, including lines 17, 18, 67, 74, and 88, which stop directly outside the perimeter gates (all transit lines should be verified before your visit). Additionally, the Novi Beograd railway station is located within a comfortable ten-minute walking distance of the south entrance. For visitors with limited mobility, dedicated step-free entry channels, public elevators, and designated wheelchair spaces are distributed within the concourse (accessible services to be verified before your visit).
Best seats, view and atmosphere
For groundhoppers and neutral spectators wanting to enjoy the tactical display with maximum comfort, the central sectors of the level 200 lower bowl offer peerless, unobstructed sightlines close to the team benches. The more economical level 400 upper tier provides an incredible panoramic view of the entire bowl, allowing visitors to appreciate the scale of the crowd choreographies. The hardcore local ultras claim the lower tiers directly behind the goals, creating a high-energy zone. For European club fixtures involving traveling away supporters, a strictly marshalled and secure seating block in the upper tier corner is reserved to manage fan separation safely.
Štark Arena Tour & Behind the Scenes
While the venue does not operate a daily, standalone public museum or standard walk-in stadium tour program, specialized group tours can occasionally be arranged through direct coordination with the arena administration office, depending entirely on the active sports and concert scheduling (to be verified before your visit). However, the vast interior concourses function as an open gallery of Serbian sporting triumph, decorated with massive historical photographs, tournament plaques, and commemorative displays that highlight the legendary events and world records established within the building since 2004.
Where to eat and drink near Štark Arena
Traditional stadium catering kiosks inside the concourses offer basic event refreshments, including popcorn, sunflower seeds, carbonated soft drinks, and local snacks. Surrounding the external perimeter of the New Belgrade neighborhood, fans can find a variety of fast-food outlets serving regional Balkan favorites such as Pljeskavica and Ćevapi. Local Serbian beer brands, such as Jelen or Lav, are commonly enjoyed by supporters at the casual local bars and cafes scattered throughout the nearby residential blocks before crowds filter through the main security checkpoints.
Good to know
Due to the unparalleled intensity of local sporting rivalries, high-risk matches feature exceptionally rigorous security measures. Comprehensive multi-layered body searches and electronic ticket checks are carried out at the external fence line before fans can reach the turnstiles. Large bags, backpacks, professional cameras, coins, lighters, and umbrellas are strictly prohibited under official arena security regulations and will be confiscated at the gates. The venue accepts credit cards and cash at major concession points, but carrying local currency notes is recommended for smaller external stalls. Gates typically open two hours before tip-off.
Fan Shop
On match days, both KK Partizan and KK Crvena zvezda operate specialized, highly populated official merchandise kiosks and mobile retail trailers positioned around the main external plazas and inner concourse loops. These outlets provide fans with an extensive array of official team jerseys, training gear, club scarves, and unique basketball memorabilia. For shopping on non-match days, groundhoppers can visit the permanent, dedicated flagship retail stores operated by both clubs in the historical center of downtown Belgrade or utilize their respective official online webshops (operating hours should be verified before your visit).
FAQ
What is the official name of the arena in 2026?
The venue is officially known as the Belgrade Arena, after the city government decided in April 2024 to permanently restore its original non-commercial name and end corporate sponsorship titles.
Which teams play their home games at the Belgrade Arena?
The arena serves as the official home court for both major Belgrade basketball clubs, KK Partizan and KK Crvena zvezda, for their high-profile EuroLeague and regional ABA League fixtures.
How do I reach the arena from downtown Belgrade using public transport?
You can easily cross the river from the old town by taking municipal bus lines such as 17, 67, or 88, or by utilizing the local train network to the nearby Novi Beograd railway station.
What is the maximum capacity for basketball games at the venue?
The arena has a fixed seating baseline of 18,386, but it can safely expand up to more than 24,000 spectators for major basketball matches using retractable courtside configurations.
Are there strict bag restrictions at the entrance gates?
Yes, the arena enforces a rigorous security policy that prohibits large backpacks, professional recording equipment, and any objects that could be thrown, such as coins or lighters.
