Zagreb is on its feet because of Marko Perković Thompson’s concert at the Hippodrome, where a staggering half a million people are expected! Yes, you read that right – 500,000 people! So many that city authorities had to impose special traffic regulations, close streets, and adjust store hours. Some small businesses near the Hippodrome even decided to close or shorten their hours, while some stores like Studenac extended their hours to handle the flood of customers and concert-goers.
But that’s not all! Cafes in nearby neighborhoods like Kajzerica are already gearing up for the crowd. Fridges are being stocked with drinks, tables set up, and trucks with equipment are still arriving. Although traffic jams aren’t heavy yet, the situation is expected to change drastically once the concert starts.
Organizers urged attendees to arrive on time to avoid crowds and advised against wearing flip-flops – apparently, this isn’t the time for summer footwear! Thompson and his band are at a secret location, and security protocols are at the highest level. Everything is ready for the spectacle, but also for the chaos that will follow.
To make things even crazier, Austria issued a warning to its citizens about potential dangers related to the concert. Austrian media report that people celebrating controversial nationalist motifs will be present, and Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises its citizens not to travel to Zagreb due to risks.
Morning hours in Croatia have already brought massive traffic jams, and trains are overcrowded. Croatian Railways sold five times more tickets for the Osijek-Zagreb route than there are seats in the carriages! People are literally falling out of the wagons, waiting hours for the bathroom, all to attend a concert many call a Ustaša gathering.
At the concert, people wear black clothes, berets, Croatian flags, and shirts with national motifs, and songs often start with the Ustaša salute “Za dom spremni.” The lyrics glorify the history of the NDH and Operation Storm, which has sparked numerous controversies and condemnations. Slobodna Dalmacija described last year’s concert as a Ustaša party, and now the situation is repeating on an even larger scale.
Marko Perković Thompson posted on his Facebook profile inviting fans to the Hippodrome, saying: “See you at the Hippodrome. Let’s take care of each other.” But will everyone really be safe? Austrian warnings and Serbian MFA advice clearly show this event stirs divided opinions and tensions.
Zagreb is ready for the biggest concert of the year, but also for the chaos that will follow. Are you ready for a crowd of half a million people, traffic jams that will paralyze the city, and controversies that will be talked about for a long time? If you have a funny comment or think this is too much, feel free to drop a line below – maybe together we’ll figure out how to survive this spectacle without losing our minds!
