Apfel Arena opened in Makarska – a unique sports and cultural center worth 100 million kunas

The company Apfel is distributor in hospitality and tourism and today is one of the leading business systems in Dalmatia and one of the most successful distributors in Croatia. Socially responsible business has been rooted in the foundations of the company's operations since 1996, when Mr Mijo Pašalić founded it with the intentions of improving the quality of life in the area, and he is supported in this by the executive director, his son Mr Matko Pašalić and his daughter Ms Mija Rizvan, director of catering equipment.

"I am proud because we have been together for 27 years, because I know that a person cannot do anything alone in life. It is a big thing for a family to have a clear vision and mission in life and to succeed in achieving set business goals, and we believe that we have largely succeeded in this. Apfel Arena is your and our shared home where everyone is welcome, and it is our wish, in cooperation with the city of Makarska, hoteliers and entrepreneurs, associations and individuals, to extend the tourist season and enrich the offer of the entire Makarska Riviera," he said at the official opening of Apfel Arena. Mr Mijo Pašalić, owner of Apfel d.o.o. has been promoting cultural and sports content in the local community for almost three decades, and was represented at the opening by delegations from the City of Makarska headed by Mayor Zoran Paunović, the Split-Dalmatia County led by Deputy Prefect Anto Šošić, and the mayors of the Makarska Riviera municipalities.

From the contribution to the reconstruction of the house damaged by the earthquake in Petrinja to the construction of 16 apartments for its employees, the company is continuously and actively involved in the life of the local population, as well as the population from other parts of Croatia, taking care of their well-being. The construction of the Apfel Arena Sports and Cultural Center is the latest in a series of investments by the Pašalić family, which invested 100 million kunas in the entire CSR project over the two years of its construction.

"From the very beginning, we strive for Apfel to be a strong pillar of support for the citizens of the Makarska Riviera, and this Center is proof of our dedication to building a better and more meaningful future for our children and young people and the entire local population, as well as proof of investment in the development of tourism. In Makarska, restaurateurs and hoteliers continuously invest in the quality of their services, and the Center will excellently support this concept of strategic development with numerous contents. In addition, sport has always been a part of our family identity and we are happy and proud that by building the Center we are providing the opportunity for new victories to numerous sports clubs from our area, as well as schools that do not have gyms and various associations with commendable activities", he said at the ceremonial opening of the center Matko Pašalić, executive director of Apfel.

The official opening was attended by the delegation of the Croatian Football Association and the selector of the Croatian national football team Zlatko Dalić, the Board of HNK Hajduk led by club president Lukša Jakobušić and Board member Marinka Akrap, the delegation of the Croatian Boxing Association headed by President Bono Bošnjak and the delegation of the Croatian Volleyball Association headed by Miro Pavlović. Along with them, the opening was greeted by Barbara Matić, the world champion in judo, Andrej Vištica, the best Croatian and one of the world's best triathletes, recognized Olympians - sisters Lucija and Ana Zaninović, the national champion at 1500 meters Klara Andrijašević, Dina Levačić, one of the best distance runners today's swimmer who swam almost all the world's most challenging routes and channels, Toni Vujčić, world chess champion, representatives of KK Split, as well as the management and players of MNK Novo vrijeme, the current champions of Croatia.

Combining sports, cultural, health and congress facilities, this unique Center in Dalmatia is aiming to encourage cultural and sports content in the Makarska littoral, which the Apfel company has been doing for years through sponsoring and organizing important events.