FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, AMERICAN CBS FILMED A SPORTS EVENT IN CROATIA.
Zadar, June 6, 2025 – In the impressive setting of Zadar’s St. Nicholas Center, the fourth Sunset Sports Festival officially opened last night, a three-day festival that unites sports, media, technology and the business world and transforms Zadar into a global meeting point for top names in the industry. This year’s opening was also special in that CBS Sports filmed a program for the American market for the first time in Croatia – on the occasion of the announcement of the winner of the Sofascore Player of the Season award, based on analysis of performance in as many as 48 world leagues. The ceremony was exclusively filmed by a CBS team led by multi-award-winning producer Pete Radovich, which once again confirmed Zadar as an attractive destination for major international events.
Along with Pete Radovich, Kate Scott and Peter Schmeichel from CBS and Ivan Bešlić, Zlatko Hrkač and Branimir Karačić from Sofascore, the memorable opening was attended by Stipe Miočić and his wife, Eva Murati, Šime Vrsaljko, Barbara Matić, Josip Pavić, Šime Erlić, Iva Bencun, Zlatko Mateša, Malik Scott, Nikola Stolnik, Dimitar Berbatov, Marco Messina, Gordan Giriček and Bojana Jovanović, who joined numerous guests from the world of sports, media and business.
“The Player of the Season Show is not only a celebration of the best football players this season, but also a confirmation of what we believe in – that the performance on the field, supported by statistical data, deserves global recognition. Our Sofascore Rating is already an indispensable standard in assessing individual quality, and the fact that the show was produced by CBS, with the creative baton of Pete Radovich, gives additional weight to the whole project,” said Branimir Karačić, Sofascore’s marketing director.
Radovich arrived in Zadar with the CBS Sports production team, including Kate Scott, a prominent TV host and commentator, and Peter Schmeichel, a legendary goalkeeper who has previously participated in the festival. CBS Sports Vice President of Production and Creative Director Pete Radovich emphasized during the opening that they managed to bring a number of top experts and famous athletes to Zadar this year, but also that the entire project also has a personal dimension: “We try to be proud of this city and its sports history, but also the role that sports play in Croatia’s growing global recognition. This festival is always accompanied by strong positive energy and emotions, but I won’t lie, for me there is also a certain amount of nervousness because the American sports audience has never watched a program filmed in Croatia before.”
Among the many distinguished guests at the opening, the arrival of Stipe Miočić, one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, who will participate in the festival activities over the next two days, including panels and exclusive interviews, attracted special attention. Sunset Sports Festival was opened by its director and former NBA player Damjan Rudež, emphasizing that Sunset Sports Festival grows organically every year, is filled with stories and legends, and brings extraordinary promotion to Zadar. “Every conversation, every panel, and every interaction at the festival has the power to start something new. I am convinced that the beautiful images of Zadar will once again travel the world,” said Rudež. Josip Pavić, on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, said that athletes are some of the best ambassadors of their homelands, which is especially important for Croatia, which is being built as both a sports and tourist destination. The festival was also supported by the City of Zadar and the Zadar Tourist Board, whose director Iva Bencun added that the St. Nicholas Center is the perfect backdrop from which this year we will send a message about the beauties of Zadar around the world.
The second day of the festival brings a rich program on three stages
By expanding the program to three thematic stages; Main Stage, Esports Stage and Performance Lab, this year’s Sunset Sports Festival presents its most ambitious edition to date. This strategic innovation not only expands the festival’s reach, but also further confirms Zadar as an innovative host that successfully unites top expertise from various spheres of sports, technology and science. The Main Stage on the second day of the festival will focus on a number of current topics, from sports branding and the media presence of athletes, through personal stories from the fighting arenas, to deeper insights into what sport means outside the courts and rings. One of the most anticipated festival guests is that of Stipe Miočić, who will openly talk about his career, challenges and personal identity outside the octagon.
The Esports Stage brings participants stories and insights from one of the fastest growing sectors today, and in addition to several interesting panels, Friday brings visitors a conversation with Luka Perković Perkz, the most decorated Croatian esports player, who, along with Damjan Rudež and Nikola Stolnik from Good Game Global, will share personal insights into the psychological challenges and legacy of professional gaming. The third stage, Performance Lab, is reserved for experts and coaches who work with top athletes, and will be opened by a lecture in which Marko Matušinskij, Head of Sports Science at Ultrax and Program Director of the Ultrax Science Hub, will present a modern scientific framework for the safe return of athletes after injuries, with an emphasis on a personalized approach and specific game requirements.
The second day of the Sunset Sports Festival continues in a recognizable tone, combining inspiration, knowledge and dialogue of top experts, and the detailed program is available on the official website of the festival, while you can follow all the news via FB and IG profiles.
