Imagine this: nearly half a million people gathered in one place, at the Zagreb Hippodrome, waiting for Marko Perković Thompson to take the stage towering 36 meters high. Yes, you read that right, half a million! But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. As the biggest concert in independent Croatia’s history is about to happen, problems are piling up like crazy.
First, the weather. The predicted unbearable heat that could have turned this spectacle into a nightmare for attendees has somewhat eased. Meteorologists say the temperature will be around 31 degrees Celsius, still muggy but not catastrophic. Rain? Almost no chance. But the humidity will definitely make the crowd’s discomfort worse.
Second, security. The police are on high alert! At the concert itself, 44 people were arrested, 43 of them for illegal use of pyrotechnics. A total of 91 pyrotechnic devices were confiscated. One person was arrested for disturbing public order. To make things worse, one man collapsed, bleeding heavily, and doctors didn’t know why. Was it the crowd, the heat, or something else? A mystery.
Third, organization. Pedestrian access bans around the hippodrome and road closures in three Zagreb neighborhoods caused extra chaos. People will have to walk kilometers to get to the concert, which is no small feat in these conditions.
Meanwhile, Thompson and his band are setting the mood, the crowd is singing and lighting flares. Ustaša rhetoric and patriotic messages are at their peak, further dividing the public and stirring controversy.
This concert is not just a musical event but a drama on multiple fronts: weather, security, politics, and a crowd suffocating in heat and chaos. Was it worth it? You decide. And if you were there or have a wild story, feel free to drop a comment — maybe you’ll make us all laugh or shock us!
