Showcase NK Osijek 2024
The event will take place on Thursday, September 19, and Friday, September 20, 2024, at the Opus Arena in Osijek, Croatia
About the SGL Showcase
With successful editions last year at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, the Estadi de la Cerámica at Villareal Cf in Spain, and the Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia. it’s now time for the SGL Showcase to be hosted at the Opus Arena, home of NK Osijek in Croatia.
During this two-day event, we’ll showcase innovative ways of pitch management, focusing on LED grow lighting and sustainable disease prevention. Highly-regarded (guest) speakers will share their knowledge and experience through practical examples. During the pitch visit and live demos, you will see the latest technology in action. And of course, there will be plenty of time to network with fellow pitch management professionals.
Opus Arena
The home of NK Osijek is the brand-new, state-of-the-art Opus Arena in the city of Osijek. Stadium construction began in 2017 and was completed in 2023. The Opus Arena has a maximum capacity of 13,005 spectators, making it the fourth-largest stadium in the country. Adjacent to the Opus Arena is NK Osijek’s training facility, featuring seven pitches. A modern stadium requires a top-quality pitch, and the Opus Arena has proven its excellence. It won the prize for the best pitch in the 2023/2024 season, as voted by 233 players and 30 trainers in the Croatian 1. HNL!
NK Osijek
NK Osijek, founded in 1947, is one of the few Croatian football clubs that has never been relegated from the top league. Known as the “Bijelo-plavi” (the White and Blues), they finished 4th in the 1. Hrvatska Nogometna Liga (HNL), Croatia’s highest football league, last season. This achievement earned them a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. Their manager, 39-year-old Italian Federico Coppitelli, leads the team. NK Osijek plays their home matches at the brand-new Opus Arena in Osijek.
City of Osijek
NK Osijek and the Opus Arena are located in the city of Osijek, which is the fourth-largest city in Croatia. The city is located in the north-east of Croatia and has a population of approximately 100.000 people. The city is known for its beautiful old fortress called Tvrđa and the impressive Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. Osijek is located on the Drava River and is close to the border with Hungary and Serbia.
Programme
On Thursday, September 19, and Friday, September 20, we will be guests at the Opus Arena, home of NK Osijek in Croatia. Interesting guest speakers share their experiences in pitch management, focusing on the importance of LED grow lighting and sustainable disease prevention.
Grow lighting is a necessity for stadiums to maintain a quality pitch year-round. So, why not do it in the most sustainable way possible with LED lighting? LED grow lighting allows for independent control of light and heat, enabling grounds teams to optimise the grass growth conditions and achieve a high-quality playing surface in the most sustainable way possible.
Every pitch deals with diseases, so it is important to work proactively. This includes treating the pitch with UV-C technology and adding wind to keep grass diseases out of your stadium. We will teach you about the possibilities in sustainable disease prevention.
You’ll learn all about this and more at the NK Osijek Showcase on Thursday, September 19, and Friday, September 20.
Day 1
| 11:30 | Coffee & kick-off presentation |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 13:15 | Presentation: History of SGL & LED transition by Paul Zwerus |
| 14:00 | Presentation: NK Osijek by Branimir Buček |
| 15:00 | Coffee break |
| 15:15 | Pitch visit with live demo LED/TurfPods |
| 16:15 | Presentation by guest speaker |
| 17:00 | Drinks |
| 17:30 | Transfer to hotel |
| 19:00 | Travel to restaurant |
| 19:30 | Dinner in Osijek |
Day 2
| 08:30 | Welcome & coffee |
| 09:00 | Presentation: FC Bayern München by Peter Sauer |
| 09:45 | Round table |
| 10:30 | Coffee break |
| 10:45 | Presentation: Sustainable disease management by Paul Zwerus |
| 11:30 | Training grounds visit: demo UVC180 |
| 12:15 | Closing presentation by Paul Zwerus |
| 12:30 | Individual sessions |
| 13:15 | Lunch |
| 14:30 | End programme |
Speakers
Peter Sauer – Head Groundsman at FC Bayern München
Peter Sauer is responsible for the pitch at F.C. Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. Since May 1, 2023, he has been employed by his favorite club, which recruited him from VfL Wolfsburg. He had worked at VfL Wolfsburg since 2015 and successfully so, winning multiple ‘Pitch of the Year’ awards in the Bundesliga. Before that, he was responsible for the pitches at TSG Hoffenheim.
Peter Sauer is known as one of the best groundsmen out there. Last season, Sauer achieved an excellent performance by maintaining a pitch quality of over 92% throughout the year. Additionally, they managed to save 39% energy at the Allianz Arena by using LED grow lighting! Peter Sauer is therefore rightly considered an expert in LED grow lighting, energy saving, and maintaining pitch quality.
This summer, all eyes in European football were on Germany for the European Championships 2024. Hosting such a significant event is a special occasion, bringing a unique kind of pressure. The Allianz Arena hosted six matches, including the opener Germany 5–1 Scotland and the semi-final Spain 2–1 France. Peter Sauer will share all about the European Championships from a groundsman’s perspective.
Paul Zwerus – Area Manager Scandinavia & Eastern Europe at SGL
Paul has been a highly valued area manager at SGL since joining the company in 2015. As the area manager for Scandinavia & Eastern Europe, Paul dedicates a significant amount of time to visiting customers, exploring new opportunities and working on future proof pitch management solutions to help our customers even better.
In recent years, sustainability has emerged as an increasingly significant topic in Paul’s area of responsibility. Whether driven by agronomical, financial, or environmental motives, more and more clubs are feeling the need to transition toward sustainable pitch management.
Paul takes pleasure in maintaining strong relationships with our customers and working together to find solutions that help them achieve their goals.
Branimir Buček – Head Groundsman at NK Osijek
Branimir Buček is the Head Groundsman at NK Osijek. With over two decades of experience in pitch management, Branimir is known for his expertise in maintaining high-quality playing surfaces. At NK Osijek, Branimir has played a key role in ensuring the Opus Arena’s pitch and surrounding training ground meets top standards. He and his team achieved a great result by winning the price for best pitch in the 1. HNL, the top Croatian league, for the 2023/2024 season.
Branimir will share his experience working with the LED grow lighting with you and also how he protects the pitch from grass diseases. This is all based on data monitoring, which he’ll also tell you all about. He will show you all his products in two live demonstrations on the pitch, one in the stadium and one on the training ground.
Delegates
Take the opportunity to network with industry peers, share knowledge, and learn from high-profile speakers. Below is a selection of renowned clubs and stadiums that are attending the event.
Registration information
SGL Showcases are free to attend, but we do have a maximum number of 3 people per club/location/company.
Registration form
Terms and Conditions
- Commercial parties are not allowed to participate in this event.
- A maximum of 3 people per club/venue/company is allowed to participate.
- Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Participation in the programme is free of charge.
- Transport to and from Osijek has to be arranged by yourself and are also at your own expense.
- Registration closing date: 11th of September 2024
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation must be notified by email. This should be sent to: f.vissers@sglsystem.com
- If cancellations are not reported in writing and/or later than the cancellation deadline, we will charge the costs incurred.
