30 Forgotten Stadiums Where the Crowd Never Came Back

8. The Overgrown Courts of Croatia's Stadion Kantrida

Perched on the picturesque Adriatic coast, Stadion Kantrida in Rijeka, Croatia, was once a beloved venue for local football matches. Its unique location, nestled between cliffs and the sea, made it a favorite among fans. However, plans to modernize the stadium and develop the surrounding area led to its closure in 2015. Today, the once-vibrant stands are overgrown with vegetation, and the pitch lies abandoned. The fate of Stadion Kantrida reflects broader trends in sports infrastructure, where modernization often comes at the cost of nostalgia and local identity, sparking debates about the balance between progress and preservation.