Aside from straw-hat making, Domžale is also famous throughout Slovenia for the quality of its sports teams and athletes. The local basketball side, KK Helios, won the national title in 2006/07 and subsequently finished runners up the next two years. They also fell at the last hurdle in the cup in 2013. The town also has a strong history of athletics and it used to host a particularly strong Challenger tournament in Tennis.
Despite the inconsistency of the international team, football continues to dominate the sporting landscape in Slovenia. The quality of the domestic league tends to be rather hit and miss, and with the exception of current champions NK Maribor no club has made much of a dent in continental competition. Still, Slovenes take their clubs seriously, and since Slovenia gained independence only five different clubs have claimed the national title. One of these is NK Domžale, who are also one of the oldest clubs in the country. Established in 1921, Domžale’s golden era came in the mid 2000’s, with back-to-back league titles in 2006/07 and 07/08. They’ve flittered around mid-table since then, but have maintained a reputation as one of the top teams in the country. Nearby NK Dob and NK Radomlje compete in the next tier below, with Dob winning promotion to the top division and Radomlje about to take part in a play off for the same honor. NK Domžale play their home matches at the almost 3,000 capacity Sports Park, next to a Mercator with a huge chimney in the middle of the car park. The chimney once belonged to a straw-hat making factory, and has been left as a landmark of sorts. In Domžale, you are never far away from those straw-hats. Head to the ground on match day for a ticket, usually costing €5.