Rugby may not have filled stands like in 1979, but it won over Split

Split, Croatia, recently hosted the finals of the European Rugby Sevens Championship, bringing together 12 of Europe's best men's and women's national teams. Although Croatian teams did not compete in the final stages, visiting guests praised the event.

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Honestly, I was afraid of how the pitch would look after Ultra, but it turned out more than well.

The rugby pitch at the NK Split stadium, Park Mladeži, held up well despite concerns about its condition after the Ultra festival. Većeslav Holjevac, secretary-general of the Croatian Rugby Union and vice-president of Rugby Europe, noted that while crowds would have been larger in rugby-mad nations like Ireland, England, or France, the Split event compensated with rich supporting content.

A concert by the Gipsy Kings, for instance, attracted individuals not typically interested in rugby. Holjevac expressed confidence that attendance would have been significantly higher if the Croatian national team, which includes many Split-based players, had been participating. This sentiment echoes the 1979 Mediterranean Games, also hosted in Split, where rugby was a popular tournament. Back then, the event featured six teams, with France dominating and Italy taking silver. A notable moment from those games was France's overwhelming 104-3 victory against Tunisia.

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Yes, we tried to attract as many people as possible with various content unrelated to sports. I am convinced that the stands would have been much fuller if the Croatian national team, which includes many players from Split, had been playing.

The 1979 games also saw athletes housed in the Mediterranean Village, similar to the rugby players this year. The accommodation at the Bruno Bušić student dormitory has been significantly upgraded since 1979, now resembling a hotel and attracting tourists during the summer months. Its proximity to attractions like Marjan Park-Forest, beaches, and the city center makes it an attractive location.

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Compared to 1979, the accommodation in the Bruno Bušić dormitory is much, much better. The dormitory was completely renovated a few years ago and today looks like a real hotel.