Žalgiris Arena

Žalgiris Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New Town of Kaunas, Lithuania. The arena is located on an island of the Nemunas River. It is the largest indoor arena in the Baltics. The arena's maximum possible seating capacity for basketball games is 15,450, and 20,000 spectators for concerts (when the stage is in the middle, and 17,000 when stage is in the side of the arena). The Žalgiris Arena replaced the Kaunas Sports Hall as a major venue in the city.

Žalgirio arena

Address	Karaliaus Mindaugo pr. 50
Location	Kaunas, Lithuania
Coordinates	54°53′25″N 23°54′52″E
Owner	Kaunas City Municipality
Capacity	Basketball: 15,415 Concerts: 20,000 Ice hockey: 13,762 Circus: 15,400 Boxing: 15,261 Volleyball: 13,666 Handball: 13,807
Construction
Broke ground	26 September 2008
Opened	18 August 2011
Construction cost	€50 million
Architect	Eugenijus Miliūnas
Tenants
Žalgiris Kaunas (LKL, Euroleague) (2011–present)
Website
zalgirioarena.lt

Žalgiris Arena interior in 2011

The Žalgiris Arena is used to host basketball games as well as concerts. The arena's namesake basketball club BC Žalgiris, which currently competes in the domestic LKL and the EuroLeague, uses the facility for all of its European and LKL home fixtures. BC Žalgiris and Žalgiris Arena has had the highest average attendance in the Euroleague in 2011-12, 2012-13, 2017-18, and 2018-19.

History

The construction of the arena started in September 2008; the main contractor of the arena is Lithuanian construction company Vėtrūna, chief architect – Eugenijus Miliūnas. The total cost of the arena is estimated to be 168.8 M litas (50 million euros). The arena was opened on 18 August 2011 with a basketball match between Lithuania and Spain.

The Žalgiris Arena has held the playoffs and finals of the 37th European Basketball Championship (EuroBasket 2011), which took place in September 2011.

On 2015 December 5 Lithuanian group SEL sets new attendance record of arena - 20,517 spectators with 360 stage concert.

On 2016 January 6, EuroLeague clubs general managers voted Žalgiris Arena as the tournament's best arena.[1][2]

The venue will host some matches of the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Arena information

The Žalgiris Arena is the largest in the Baltic states and covers 39,684 m² (427,160 sq ft). It holds 20,000 spectators for concerts . It is situated in the eastern part of the Nemunas river island and its shape has nine corners. The arena's facade is made of high-end and highly transparent glass. A part of the facade has a unique metal wall, which is already naturally encrusted with rust.

It is equipped with some unique technical solutions, such as power windows and modern ice-making installation.[3] Advanced audio equipment (amplifiers, digital mixing engines and stage boxes) by Yamaha is installed in the Žalgiris Arena.[4] The arena has 48 VIP suites, 21 suites for the Žalgiris basketball club and media, 9 suites for a single rent, an exhibition hall, and a fitness center. There are 8 halls in the Arena where more than 150 various events take place annually.

Major events

Since its opening in 2011, Žalgiris Arena hosted many concerts. The main stars, who held concerts in Kaunas were: Red Hot Chili Peppers,[5] Lenny Kravitz,[6] Sting,[7] Eric Clapton,[8] Elton John,[9] Rammstein,[10] Slash,[11] Marilyn Manson,[12] Katie Melua,[13] Prodigy,[14] James Blunt,[15] Hurts,[16] Jean Michel Jarre,[17] Zucchero,[18] Sarah Brightman,[19] Kylie Minogue,[20] Robbie Williams,[21] Iron Maiden,[22] Mariah Carey,[23] Muse,.[24] On May 5, 2017, Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado re-announced that she will be performing at the venue on October 24, 2017, instead of performing on October 13, 2017,[25] On April 18, 2017, Queen played at the venue on November 17, 2017, as a part of the Queen + Adam Lambert Tour.[26] On 11 March 2018, it hosted the final of the Eurovizija 2018.[27]

Motocross World Championship event Night of the Jumps also took place in Žalgiris Arena on March, 2013. This event was part of Night of the Jumps world tour.[28]

EuroLeague attendance

This is a list of EuroLeague games attendance of Žalgiris at Žalgiris Arena.

Season	Total	High	Low	Average
2011–12[lower-alpha 1]	105,307	15,000	9,150	13,163
2012–13	161,103	15,420	10,190	13,475
2013–14	118,433	12,000	8,150	9,869
2014–15	117,040	14,382	8,670	10,640
2015–16	131,998	14,790	8,702	11,000
2016–17	171,266	15,231	8,621	11,418
2017–18	230,518	15,525	10,195	13,560
2018–19	251,742	15,517	13,569	14,808
2019–20	199,088	15,342	9,405	14,221

1. Only Top 16 marches were played.

References

1. "Eurolygos klubų vadovų apklausa: "Žalgirio" arena – geriausia Europoje". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
2. Urbonas, Donatas. "Magiška vieta Kaune, kurios pavydi visa Europa". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
3. "Žalgirio arenos langai bus su varikliais" (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 18 September 2011.
4. Thirty-One Yamaha Amplifiers Score Maximum Points at Žalgiris Arena
5. Maželytė, Edita (July 28, 2012). "Kauno "Žalgirio" arenoje siautė "Red Hot Chili Peppers" gerbėjai" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
6. Jurkevičius, Martynas (November 15, 2011). "Lenny Kravitzas Žalgirio Arenoje valdė gyvu rokenrolu" (in Lithuanian). Kultūrnamis. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
7. "Sting koncertas Kauno Žalgirio arenoje (video)" (in Lithuanian). Kas vyksta Kaune. July 31, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
8. Zilnys, Ramūnas (June 4, 2013). "E. Claptono koncertas Kaune: dvi valandos muzikos mokantiems klausytis" (in Lithuanian). lrytas.lt. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
9. "Kaune koncertavęs Eltonas Johnas atsiprašė dėl prikimusio balso, bet gerbėjų nenuvylė" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. December 19, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
10. Bulota, Šarūnas (February 6, 2012). "Kauno "Žalgirio" arenoje garso ir ugnies pragarą sukūrė "Rammstein"" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
11. Zilnys, Ramūnas (February 15, 2012). "Rokeris Slashas apie koncertą Kaune: "Sekso nebuvo, bet buvo gerai" (interviu)" (in Lithuanian). lrytas.lt. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
12. Maželytė, Edita (June 12, 2012). "Skandalingasis M.Mansonas Kaune paskleidė savo juoduosius kerus" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
13. Bulota, Ramūnas (November 25, 2012). "Kauno "Žalgirio" arenoje susirinkusią publiką užbūrė lyrinės dainininkės Katie Melua dainos" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
14. Bulota, Ramūnas (May 25, 2012). ""The Prodigy" Kaune nurovė stogą" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
15. Orieškaitė, Ainė (October 2, 2011). ""Žalgirio" arenoje – šėlsmas ir be krepšinio: J.Blunt sugrįžimas į Lietuvą" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
16. Paplekšnytė, Lolita (October 12, 2011). ""Hurts" lietuvaičius graudino teatrališkumu, baltomis rožėmis ir bučiniu trispalvei" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
17. Jurkevičius, Martynas (October 20, 2011). "Jean-Michel Jarre Kaune lazeriais grojo "Essential" gabalus" (in Lithuanian). Kultūrnamis. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
18. "Nemirtingo hito "Baila Morena" atlikėjas Zucchero Kauno senamiestyje kaitino moterų širdis" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. June 19, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
19. "Po 10 metų į Lietuvą sugrįžusi Sarah Brightman klausytojus nuskraidino į kosmosą" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. February 22, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
20. Svėrytė, Monika (October 31, 2014). "Seksualioji popmuzikos žvaigždė Kylie Minogue Kaune kurstė gerbėjų aistras" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
21. "Į Robbie Williamso koncertą Kaune suplūdo tūkstantinė gerbėjų minia" (in Lithuanian). 15min.lt. April 5, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
22. "Metalo milžinai "Iron Maiden" pirmą kartą atvyksta į Lietuvą" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. November 2, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
23. Pocytė, Kristina (April 9, 2016). "Blizgučiais ir žavesiu Kauną užbūrusi M. Carey ypatingai pamalonino žiūrovą Andrių" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
24. Achmedovas, Rafaelis. ""Muse" Kaune tūkstančiams gerbėjų "nunešė stogą"". DELFI. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
25. "Pasaulinė žvaigždė Nelly Furtado pirmąsyk koncertuos Lietuvoje" (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2017-04-18.
26. "Oficialu: legendinė roko grupė "Queen" surengs koncertą Lietuvoje". DELFI. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
27. Granger, Anthony (17 February 2018). "Lithuania: Eurovizija 2018 final held in Kaunas". p. eurovoix.com. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
28. "NIGHT of the JUMPs Kaunas 2013". Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. February 10, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2016.

External links

• Official website
• Žalgiris Arena on Facebook
• Construction progress