The stadium in the sports park under Golovec, which has been named by sponsor Z'dežele since 2005, is one of the most modern football and sports facilities in Slovenia. The beginning of the construction of the stadium in the former abandoned Opekarniška cave dates back to 1999. The construction of the eastern stand was completed on September 9, 2003, when a friendly match between the youth national teams of Slovenia and France was played there (0:0). The official opening of the stadium was three days later, in the championship match between then CMC Publikum and Ljubljana (3:1), when Simon Sešlar also scored the first goal at the new stadium.
The stadium in the sports park under Golovec was then gradually upgraded in the following years and took its final shape in February 2008, when the last - northern stand - was built. The final capacity of the stadium is now 13,059 seats. Since 2004, the Slovenian national team has played many matches there. The grass surface is made to follow the most modern standards, similar to the one they prepared for their football field at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The most modern technology of this kind allows the grass to be heated on cold and winter days, which prevents the field from freezing. The surface also has a built-in computer-controlled watering system, which allows moisture to be measured with special sensors and added automatically if necessary. A feature of the new football stadium in Celje is also the modern floodlights with a power of 1400 lux, which enable economical, multi-level illumination depending on different occasions (matches, trainings, concerts, etc.).
EAST STAND
The East Stand is the main part of the stadium, which offers 3,600 seats, is also the so-called business tribune, because behind the VIP sector there are around 3,000 square meters of business and office space, part of which is also used by the home club NK Celje. The most modern changing rooms and all the necessary accompanying spaces for playing matches at the highest level and which also meet the standards of the Champions League are arranged under the main stand: a room for doping control, a modern press center, a space for separate television interviews, a space for medical assistance, etc. The main stand also offers an attractive VIP area, which is a social space during non-match periods with an attractive view of the football field and the stadium, which can also be used for conferences and other business purposes.
WEST STAND
The West Stand of the stadium in the sports park under Golovec. Like the southern tribune, it is located in one of the embankments that are part of the natural amphitheater environment of the former Opekarniška Cave. Its capacity is 4,850 seats, and in this part of the stadium there is also space for television teams preparing live broadcasts or recordings of matches. The West stand was used for the first time in a friendly match against Italy on October 9, 2004, when it was also sold out.
SOUTH STAND
This grandstand, which holds 1,500 spectators, is intended for fan groups and fans of the away team. The South Stand saw its premiere in the qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup in Germany against Norway, on September 3, 2005 (2:3), when a record attendance at the Stadion Z'dežele was also reached, 10,055 spectators. This stand is also home to the scoreboard with one of the largest video screens in football stadiums in the country.
NORTH STAND
North Stand with a capacity of 3,000 seats and the architecturally striking glass connecting part between the northern and eastern stand were the last parts of the stadium built giving the football stadium in the sports park Golovec a complete look. In the complex of the glass building and underneath the North stand, a total of 8,400 square meters of space is available for business, trade and catering activities. The North stand was opened to spectators for the first time on March 2, 2008, in the league match against Nafta.
STADION Z’DEŽELE V ŠTEVILKAH
Stadion z'dežele in numbers: Total capacity of the stadium: 13,059 seats
Start of construction: 1999
Completion of construction: 2008
Designer: EAST Stand - Bojan Purg,
SOUTH Stand - Dragan Stevovič,
WEST and NORTH Stand - Reichenberg architecture
Contractor: CM Celje, d.d.
Investment value: EUR 16.5 million.
Size of the field: 105 x 68 meters
Total capacity of business premises: 11,400 square meters
Headlight power: 1400 lux
First match at the stadium: 9/9/2003, U21 Slovenia - U21 France (0:0)
First goal at the stadium: Simon Sešlar, September 12, 2003, CMC Publikum – Ljubljana 3:1
Stadium record: 10,055 spectators, 3/9/2005, Slovenia - Norway (2:3)