July 19, 2019 - After three historic days at the new location of Park Mladeži in Split, the Ultra Europe festival sailed to the Dalmatian islands. Brač, Hvar and Vis fulfilled the many expectations of the festival-goers who, apart from mega spectacle at the Split football stadium, feel that this Croatian version of the world's most famous festivals is unique to the international music industry.

Record figures, which welcomed the millionth visitor at the new location, marked the seventh year of Ultra. And although the festival just ended on the islands, the organizers announced the 8th edition next year at Park Mladeži, which will be held from 10 to 12 July, 2020. 

The first contingent of early bird tickets for 139 euros has already been released. VIP ticket sales have also already begun, which begin at 369 euros for the 3-day festival. There is also a group offer, which grants you the sixth ticket free after five are purchased. All ticket information is available on the official website of www.ultraeurope.com. 

The Destination Ultra adventure went off to the island of Brač on Monday at one of the most beautiful outdoor clubs in the Mediterranean, 585 Club. On Tuesday, the festival moved to the sunniest Croatian island - Hvar. At 1 pm, the music program began in front of the cascading pools of the Amfora Grand Beach Resort, led by Sigma, Jax Jones and Martin Solveig. The party continued at Carpe Diem Beach Club with a fantastic underground program. 

The last station of this year's Ultra Europe adventure was Vis island, where the RESISTANCE Closing Party was held in an intimate and exclusive atmosphere. The 200-year-old fort Fort George, better known as Fortica, presented house and dance rhythms to one thousand visitors to close out the 7th edition. 

Tickets for the 8th edition of the Ultra Europe Festival can be purchased on the official website. All other information about the festival can be found on the official Facebook page, the Twitter profile, the Instagram profile, and through the iTunes application.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

July 13, 2019 - "Croatia Make Some Noise! We Love You Split!” Ultra Europe officially opened its 7th edition on Friday at this year’s new location, Park Mladeži stadium in Split. Although the new location brought out quite a few skeptics, Ultra Europe once again demonstrated why it is a top event in Europe and why it is worshipped by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. 

Stijn DeGrauwe 

Another historical night of Croatian music and entertainment was written on Friday, and judging by the reactions of the many international DJ names and their beloved fans, the future and the development the only Ultra event in Europe is looking even brighter. 

The 7th edition of Ultra Europe was even enjoyed by Split mayor Andro Krustolivić-Opara and the director of the Split Tourist Board, Alijana Vukšić.

"We will see what the figures are on Monday, as well as the income for tourism workers, for Split and Croatian tourism. This is a big success tonight, that's the main reason for my happiness,  which will continue as long as the festival is fun. All the conditions have already shown that we are going to go to the top,” the mayor said for Splitski Dnevnik.

“These positive young people say it best. One hundred forty countries are here, and we'll talk about the final numbers after Ultra. If everything is as good as it started tonight, it will be one of the most successful Ultra festivals ever,” said Alijana Vukšić for Dalmacija Danas and also commented on the current tourism figures in Split.

Fabian Leitner

“Hotels and the high category of private accommodation have so far been full. We hope that the arrival of these young Ultra guests will fill the rest of the private accommodation.”

Joško Stella, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, repeated the organizer's words that this year's festival sold the most tickets yet.

“You can really see it. Somewhere in the middle of David Guetta’s performance, I saw that the entire terrain and its surroundings were full. The first night is very successful. We have beautiful weather, a great atmosphere, and attendance - it’s a full hit!” Stella said.

"I have to admit I was skeptical at first, but now that I've seen it, I think this is a perfect location and that everything is well organized. All the towns around Split feel the positive effects of this festival. We must not forget that all these DJs like Guetta and others have many followers and is important to them where their concerts are held, and this gives a great marketing effect to Split and the County.”

Before, during and after the first day of Ultra Europe, no significant security incidents have been reported to the Split-Dalmatia County Police by Saturday morning, in the sense of disturbing public order and peace to a greater extent, injuring visitors, or damaging property.

Niclas Ruehl

Nine property crimes were reported, while a total of 119 persons, including Croatian and foreign nationals, were arrested, mainly due to the violation of the Drug Abuse Act.

The opening night of Ultra featured David Guetta, The Chainsmokers, and Armin van Buuren. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

The wait is over - the 7th edition of Ultra Europe officially begins on Friday at Park Mladeži in Split. The organizers announced on Thursday that everything is ready for the most important international event in Croatia, and this year, there are even new records! 

Namely, Ultra Europe boasts the biggest stage and production ever seen in the region, the largest number of visitors, the biggest music stars of today and an even more spectacular fireworks show, which the organizers promise will promote Split in the best light. 

Park Mladeži opens its doors every day at 7 pm, and on Monday, the musical journey continues to the islands of Brač, Hvar and Vis.

So, what do you need to know before coming to the festival? The main entrance for visitors is located along Ul. Hrvatske Mornarice, and the new location, due to its width and spaciousness, allows for a faster flow, which means it should be less crowded and offer a better experience with security measures that are at the highest possible level. Park Mladeži is said to be much larger than the previous location, and in its central area, which is the size of three football fields, an additional 20,000 people can be accommodated. This location will be the heart of the festival itself, linking all three stages and offering entertainment by many festival partners and a variety of food and drink. A better experience will also be had by the VIP guests who can expect a special entrance and entry to the lodges located on three floors.

The organizers are especially proud of the main stage, which is 16 meters tall and 80 meters wide, with over 150 square feet of LED display, to make it the greatest stage ever set in the region. And we must not forget that one of the trademarks of the festival is undoubtedly the 360 fireworks that will be even more vibrant this year!

On Friday, festival goers can enjoy the main stage acts Lucky Z, Plastik Funk, David Guetta, Gud Vibrations, Nicky Romero, The Chainsmokers and Armin van Buuren. On Saturday, the lineup reveals Justin Oh, Kryoman, Lost King, DJ Snake, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, No Redemption, Afrojack and Alesso, while Moe, Vanillaz, Cheat Codes, Rezz, Above & Beyond, Jeffrey Sotorius and megastars Swedish House Mafia will be in charge of closing the seventh edition of the festival on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

Most festival goers are eagerly awaiting the performance of DJ-trio Swedish House Mafia, which includes Split on the map of concerts as part of their comeback tour. The gigantic main stage will be completely redone for their performance, and the announced production and special effects will be a special surprise for all visitors. It will be a show the entire world will talk about and a music treat that should not be missed.

No less exciting is the ever spectacular RESISTANCE stage whose industrial designs look like Brodosplit cranes, linking the past and the future for the largest and most modern production underground stage in the world. On Friday, the stage will welcome Rory Lynam, Steve Fidelak, Patrice Baumel, Sasha b2b Nic Fanciulli, Maceo Plex, and Adam Beyer, DanceElecricPhilipe will open Saturday with I Elio Riso, Art Department, Jamie Jones, Richie Hawtin, and Marco Carola, while Sunday is booked for Sk! Y, Peru Fullhouse, Jon Rundell, Dubfire, Joseph Capriati, and Carl Cox.

The UMF Stage will host numerous new faces of the international electronic scene. Electro House, main room house, deep underground, and progressive house styles will be played by Richard Lowe, Miss Faith, Kosta Radman, Mike & Me, Iris Santo, Lorenzo, Drumelody, while local pop-rock group Vatra will debut at the festival.

On the official website you can find a detailed overview of all permitted and unauthorized items. To enter the stadium as simply and quickly as possible, and to keep the safety of all visitors at the highest level, follow the rules for the prescribed size and the type of bag for entry. Although the organizers advise not bringing a bag to the festival, if it is necessary, it must be plastic and transparent and not larger than 33x43 cm. Small clutch bags and fanny packs will be allowed. Professional photos and video cameras are banned, but can be taken with GoPro and other action cameras. Any kind of flammable substances, sprays, alcoholic drinks and foods, lasers, large chains, water pistols, face masks, and any other kind of illegal substances are strictly prohibited on the festival grounds.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

June 29, 2019 - Ultra Europe, as you already know, will leave Poljud and move to the Park Mladeži stadium this year. Since it’s been the talk of Split this week, Ultra Europe’s main man Joe Bašić, the owner of MPG Live, has finally sat down for an interview to discuss the new chapter for the massive electronic music festival in Split. 

Namely, Bašić sat down with Slobodna Dalmacija to run through the stadium and auxiliary grounds, answer the concerns of Split citizens, discuss security, and address how adequate the new space is for such a manifestation. 

So, why is the public concerned that the new location isn’t suitable for this event?

“Because people have not experienced it yet. I brought the best foreign and local experts who worked with the world's greatest spectacles and they said that this space was ideal. And when we say space, we are talking about the main stadium, a few terrains around the stadium and a large lawn, as well as part of the Turkish Tower. This is a huge area in the city center that is not well utilized. We've been reviewing and analyzing all of this for weeks, and professionals who work on the biggest projects said that the space, with some modifications, is great for Ultra. That’s when we officially went out to the public with the news.” 

And what do the US owners of Ultra have to say?

"Everything was approved by the management from Ultra in Miami before we signed the contract. We had to document everything, explain it all to them, and then they checked everything. Do you think Americans would bless an inadequate ground? This is no joke to them, and if something weren’t right, they would tell us to look for another location. Believe me, this is an unused ground that we will, in a few days, with a little bit more effort, turn into a compact whole. You will all be surprised at how good it will look.”

How many people can fit in the stadium and the surrounding area?

“According to the estimates, about 55,000 people. All this together has about 60,000 square meters. The main stage is the same as Poljud, and this year it is even bigger, then we have the Ultra radio stage at the parking lot of the Turkish Tower, which will be open to the public, and then the Resistance stage in the meadow to the left and the UMF stage on the right, opposite the Joker Mall. We have about 25,000 square meters of pure green space, meadows that we did not have at Poljud. So people can sit and drink beer with each other and enjoy one of the three major stages in these three spaces, which are close to each other, and it does not take much time to travel between the Resistance stage to the Main Stage, for example, which was an issue when the festival was organized at Poljud.”

What's the price tag on renting the new location? 

"People think we wanted to move here because it was cheaper. That is not true; we will have the same costs as at Poljud.”

And will they be investing in the space?

“This area is segmented: football, athletics ... We, in agreement with our new partners, want to make it a unique place for sports and events, to make it more modern, more practical. But most importantly, this is the agreement of all partners . So, it's a new part of Split that will be used by both the city and the sports clubs, as well as Ultra. But we do not want to have the exclusive right to this space, and we should open it for other events as well.”

When will work begin for this year's festival?

“We already began. About 1500 people will work in the entire production. Part of it is easier than at Poljud because the whole area is already enclosed by fences and walls, while around Poljud we had to implement complicated fencing.”

The media raised the issue of security this week. 

“We had a meeting with the police. They walked the space with us and were surprised by the potential and size of it, as well as the number of emergency entries and exits, and the number of places that could be used for emergency services. The flow of people will be greater than at Poljud, and thus the safety. As I mentioned, the space is already fenced and it will be easier to secure it.”

And the issue of noise, since many residential buildings are nearby. 

“Many think that the noise was ideal at Poljud. But it will not be anything different here. We will turn to the north, and we have sound experts who will arrange it all. Of course, the music will be heard, but we will do everything to make the tenants of the surrounding buildings feel it the least.”

How are ticket sales going?

“For now, we have sold 15 percent more tickets than last year, which would mean about 45,000 visitors per day, and about 120,000 for those three days.”

Where will the main entrance be located?

“The main entrance will be from Ul. Hrvatske Mornarice and the crossroads leading to the Turkish Tower, and there will be a special entrance for VIPs, emergency services. In the parking lot of the Turkish Tower, there will be ticket booths and other accompanying facilities, and then there will be a large official entrance with security check and bracelet check.”

And the exit?

“The exit will be towards the Joker Mall. When the party ends, they will exit at that second exit, where there will be taxis, buses.”

What will happen with the other entrances, for example, those near Ul. Hrvatske Mornarice and the residential buildings that face the stadium?

"It will all be closed, secured, and no one will have access, so the visitors will not come close to the residential buildings. This will already reduce noise and pressure towards the buildings near the stadium.”

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

June 27,  2019 - After six unforgettable years, ULTRA Europe opens a four-year chapter at the Park Mladeži stadium in Split. The new site will record historic results already in its first year - the seventh edition will enlist its millionth visitor, and the record sales of tickets are expected to be even higher. These figures are the result of a year-long successful strategy and vision of organizers who have not given up on their goal to make this festival the biggest in Europe. With the most expensive line up ever on this stage of a record 1,500 square meters, Park Mladeži will host ULTRA Europe from July 12 to 14, 2019. 

"We are delighted to confirm that we have partnered with the City of Split and the Public Institution for Sports Facilities in Split for four-year cooperation and that together we will make Park Mladeži a leading sport and event location in the region. Poljud has made a big contribution to the development and attractiveness of the ULTRA Europe festival, which will continue to develop and grow in a new home, until at least 2022. We are proud to announce that we will record the millionth visitor, and according to the estimated tickets sold, we will host a record number of visitors this year,” said Joe Bašić, director of MPG Live, organizer of the ULTRA Europe festival and added:

“Park Mladeži is not news. We were serious about this location in 2012 before we chose Poljud. It's only a mile away, and because of its size, it opened up new possibilities in the production and organizational sense. This way, we will be able to reduce the time of entry into the stadium due to a better solution at the entrance, and also because of the greater number of exits, the safety of our visitors will be even higher this year. What we are particularly pleased about is the fact that the people of Split can now enjoy Hajduk from Poljud and watch top European football and enjoy the festival at the same time as one of the trademarks of their city.” 

Park Mladeži is 15,000 square meters bigger than Poljud, which represents football fields, giving new opportunities to the organizers. The new location is only a kilometer away from Poljud, close to the old city center, surrounded by numerous hotels, near the shopping center, a variety of restaurants, parking for cars and public transport. The central football pitch is of the same dimensions as the old location but is directly connected and surrounded by greenery, which ultimately opens the possibility of using 30,000 square meters and increasing the capacity to 55,000 visitors. The organizers have announced a never-before-seen stage that will extend to 1,500 square meters, and will be the largest stage ever set in the region. With additional production elements, such as 1000 square meter LED screens, numerous lighting fixtures, and special effects, visitors are expected to genuinely enjoy the seventh edition of the festival. The spectacular fireworks that became the trademark of the ULTRA Europe festival will light up the Split sky and its unique 360-degree design is one of the most exciting moments of every festival night. Due to the infrastructure of Park Mladeži, a better experience for VIP guests will be provided as there will be a special entry and direct access to the lodges.

In the next few days, all details of the contract between the Public Institution of Sports Facilities and MPG Live will be defined. "This top-class music experience places Split and the Adriatic coast onto the international map of festivals and will also affirm the new space in the city of Split, which surely adds value to Ultra. Good cooperation with the Public Institution of Sports Facilities in Split, which manages and maintains the Park Mladeži through contract, in cooperation with MPG and the ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL, will provide additional and necessary investment in the infrastructure of this sports facility. The city administration specifically requested it, and the organizer expressed this to understand that the needs of the surrounding population are also taken into account,” said the City of Split after the meeting.

The ULTRA Europe festival in Split started its story in 2013 at Poljud Stadium, home of HNK Hajduk. Since the club’s upcoming games have just been confirmed, the new solution was necessary. 

“At the end of last season, HNK Hajduk placed into the UEFA Europa League. They are scheduled to play on July 11th and 18th, and if they advance further, they will continue the second qualifying round on July 25th, while in the meantime, Hajduk will host their first game of the Croatian First League at Poljud. Until the end of May, it was not known which of UEFA Europa League’s first qualifying rounds were to be held at Poljud. Placing 4th in the Croatian League ensured that Hajduk would host two UEFA Europa League games in July, while the draw of the Croatian competition decided that Hajduk would play at Poljud on the 21st of July. Therefore, it was possible that from July 11th to 25th, HNK Hajduk would play at Poljud three times. The draw was just held on June 18 and 19 in Nyon, and until then, we did not know the schedule of our rivals or locations for the qualifying rounds. The Dugopolje stadium would not be adequate for this stage of the European competition, so the club did not have much choice for their obligations expected during July in Split,” said Hajduk’s Head of Public Relations, Ante Bilić.

The lineup for this year’s festival is already well known. Recall, the hard-hitters of the electronic music scene such as Swedish House Mafia, Above & Beyond, Adam Beyer, Afrojack, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, The Chainsmokers, David Guetta, DJ Snake, Dubfire, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Maceo Plex, Rezz, Rezz, Richie Hawtin, Sasha & Nic Fanciulli, Steve Aoki and Tchami X Malaa will be joined by Art Department, Cheat Codes, Jeffret Suttorius, Lost Kings, Nicky Romero, Patrice Baumel and Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano will grace the audience in Split. 

The lineup includes 50 names that will feature across the four stages.

DESTINATION ULTRA 2019 

11. July - RESISTANCE Opening Party / Hemingway Club, Split

12.- 14. July - ULTRA Europe / Park Mladeži, Split

15. July – Regatta Party / 585 Club, Bol, Brač

16. July - ULTRA Beach Hvar / Hotel Amfora Grand Beach Resort, Hvar

16. July - RESISTANCE Hvar, Carpe Diem Beach Club

17. July - RESISTANCE Vis Closing Party / Fort George, Vis

You can read more about Ultra Europe here. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

June 26, 2019 - Just two weeks before Ultra Europe comes to Split, we finally have official confirmation that the internationally popular music festival is leaving Poljud for Park Mladeži.

“At this point, I can confirm that the ULTRA Europe Festival will be held at the Park Mladeži stadium for the next four years. The new location is more spacious and larger and will allow for the further development of the festival and better visitor experience. The agreement was reached in cooperation with the City of Split and the Public Institution 'Split Sports Facilities', and I believe that we will jointly develop the Park Mladeži into a leading sport and event location in the region. We are opening a new chapter of the ULTRA Europe festival, which will continue to generate many positive changes in the music industry, Croatian tourism, and economy in the coming years,” said Joe Bašić, director of MPG Live, the official organizer of the ULTRA Europe festival.

Recall, since no agreement was signed between Ultra and Hajduk, the festival organizers turned to alternative solutions, and RNK Split’s stadium Park Mladeži (Youth Park) was the first location that came to mind. 

Hajduk often highlighted the destruction of their field after Ultra as one of the biggest problems brought by the festival, which is part of why the two sides couldn't agree. 

Hajduk was looking for Ultra to cover all the costs incurred by the club for holding the festival, and above all to financially cover and secure a new field in time as to not repeat, for example, last year’s catastrophe when the lawn was not brought in on time. The two sides never saw eye to eye. 

More information will be announced on Thursday.

The Ultra Europe festival will be held in Split from July 12 to 14, 2019.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

The beginning of the tourist season in Croatia is also the beginning of the festival season, and according to the already established tradition of Ultra Europe in Split, it couldn’t pass without a bit of drama. 

Whether Ultra will be organized this year at Poljud or the new location of Park Mladeži, is still unclear. The decision is expected by the end of the week, if not sooner, though some of Split’s citizens in the Skalice neighborhood have expressed their concerns, reports Splitski Dnevnik on June 26, 2019.

RNK Split’s stadium Park Mladeži is an ever more likely option; however it is not sitting well with residents of the area. 

"I'm genuinely shocked, and I do not believe this really will happen. I still have hope that it will agree on something else. Because our buildings will not endure the event and everything that comes with Ultra,” said Zdravko from Split.

"Of course it is dangerous; the houses themselves are old. I mean, even when there's a small game, we cannot stay in the house, let alone withstand this. This is madness, I do not know who controls this city; I do not understand it,” said Marija from Split.

Many wonder if Park Mladeži has the capacity for the number of people attending the festival, and on the other hand, how the residents of the surrounding buildings can handle the noise. According to the organizers, an official announcement that will reveal if Ultra will be held at Poljud or Park Mladeži will come sometime this week.

The City of Split is said to be in the process of holding a meeting with the top of the city administration headed by mayor Andro Krstulović Opara, and, among the delegations, Joe Bašić and director of the Public Institution of Sports Facilities Tomislav Borozan. Dalmatinski Portal reports that Ultra was nearly set to be held at Park Mladeži, though the Public Institution was asking for 1.5 million kuna, which the Ultra organizers considered unacceptable.

"The organizers will inform you of the latest news. We are doing everything in our power to maintain this successful festival that has changed the face of tourism not only in our city but Croatia,” said mayor Andro Krstulović Opara.

Recall, since no agreement was signed between Ultra and Hajduk, the festival organizers allegedly turned to alternative solutions, and Park Mladeži was the first location that came to mind. 

Hajduk often highlighted the destruction of their field after Ultra as one of the biggest problems brought by the festival, which is part of why the two sides couldn't agree. 

Hajduk was looking for Ultra to cover all the costs incurred by the club for holding the festival, and above all to financially cover and secure a new field in time as to not repeat, for example, last year’s catastrophe when the lawn was not brought in on time. 

For every unplayed European match at Poljud, Hajduk is forced to relocate (to the significantly smaller stadium capacity in Dugopolje), leaving them with estimated losses of around 1.5 to 2 million kuna, while the price of the new field is between 1.6 and 2.2 million kuna.

"I think that Park Mladeži is not at all suitable for such a big international event. My opinion is that Poljud was created for such events as it promotes our city and the whole of Croatia,” said Suzana from Split.

Maybe the location is still in question, but the festival will go on. Stay tuned. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Tonight, the project 'European Youth Park (Park Mladih) - from neglect to world attraction' will be presented.