| Stadion Ljudski vrt | |
 Ljudski vrt in 2012 | |
 | |
| Location | Maribor, Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°33′44″N 15°38′25″E / 46.56222°N 15.64028°E |
| Owner | City Municipality of Maribor |
| Operator | Šport Maribor |
| Capacity | 11,709 |
| Record attendance | 20,000 (Maribor–Proleter, 8 July 1973) |
| Field size | 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yards)[2] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1952 |
| Opened | 12 July 1952 |
| Renovated | 1994, 1998, 1999, 2006–2008, 2011, 2020–2021 |
| Expanded | 1960–1962, 1999, 2006–2008 |
| Construction cost | €10 million (2008 reconstruction)[1] |
| Architect | Milan Černigoj and Boris Pipan (old stadium) OFIS Architects (2008 and 2021 reconstruction) |
| Tenants | |
| Branik Maribor (1952–1960) Maribor (1961–present) | |
Ljudski vrt (English: People's Garden[3]) is a football stadium in Maribor, the second-largest city of Slovenia. The stadium has a seating capacity of 11,709. It has been the home of NK Maribor since their formation in 1960, with the exception of a short period in early 1961. The stadium was originally the home of several other football teams based in Maribor, including Rapid and Branik. A prominent feature of the stadium is the main grandstand with a concrete arch, which is protected by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia as an architectural and historical landmark.
The stadium has four stands: South Stand, East Stand, North Stand, and Marcos Tavares Stand (formerly West Stand). The record attendance of 20,000 was set at a match between Maribor and Proleter in 1973, which was before the ground's conversion to an all-seater stadium in 1998. In addition to being the home of Maribor, the stadium is also occasionally used by the Slovenian men's national football team. Ljudski vrt was also one of the venues of the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Since its opening in 1952, the stadium has gone through various renovations and reconstructions. In 1994 the stadium received floodlights, and the wooden benches on the grandstand were replaced by plastic seats. In 1999, when Maribor qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stages for the first time, the stadium underwent further renovations and adjustments. However, the biggest renovation took place between 2006 and 2008, when three of the four stands (South, East and North) were demolished and completely rebuilt. The West Stand was renovated between 2020 and 2021.
- ^ "Ljudski vrt pričakuje 10 milijonov" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Stadion Ljudski vrt" (in Slovenian). Šport Maribor. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ Moffat, Colin (20 August 2014). "Maribor v Celtic as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 May 2022.