Žalgiris Arena

Žalgirio Arena
Location Kaunas, Lithuania
Owner Kaunas City Municipality
Capacity Basketball 15,688
Concerts 22,000
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 168.8M litas
50 million
Architect Eugenijus Miliūnas
Tenants
BC Žalgiris
Website
zalgirioarena.lt

Žalgirio 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 15,688, and up to 22,000 spectators for concerts (when the stage is in the middle, and 17,500 when stage is in the side of the arena). The Žalgiris Arena replaced the Kaunas Sports Hall as a major venue in the city.

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 attendance rate in Euroleague for 2 consecutive seasons (2011-2012 and 2012-2013).

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

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.

On 2014 December 6th Lithuanian group SEL sets Zalgirio arena attendance record - 20,024 spectators.

Arena information

The Žalgiris Arena is the largest in the Baltic states and covers 39,684 m2 (427,160 sq ft). It holds almost 22,000 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.[1] Advanced audio equipment (amplifiers, digital mixing engines and stage boxes) by Yamaha is installed in the Žalgiris Arena.[2] 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 concerts

Since the opening in 2011 Zalgiris Arena hosted many concerts. The main stars, who held concerts in Kaunas were: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Rammstein, Slash, Marilyn Manson, Katie Melua, Prodigy, James Blunt, Hurts, Jean Michel Jarre, Zucchero, Sarah Brightman and others. Australian singer Kylie Minogue has performed at the Zalgiris Arena on October 31, 2014 as part of her Kiss Me Once Tour. And Robbie Williams has announced to be performing on 5th of April, 2015 as part of his Let Me Entertain You Tour.

Freestyle Motocross event NIGHT of the JUMPs also took place in Zalgiris Arena in March, 2013. This event was part of NIGHT of the JUMPs world tour.

Euroleague attendances

This is a list of Euroleague games attendances of Žalgiris at Žalgiris Arena.

Season Total High Low Average
2011–12 Top 16 105,307 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
2014–15 121,835 14,382 4,795 10,153

References

  1. "Žalgirio arenos langai bus su varikliais" (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/story/Yamaha-amplification-for-the-381-algiris-Arena/58NC00 Thirty-One Yamaha Amplifiers Score Maximum Points at Žalgiris Arena

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Žalgirio Arena.
Preceded by
Spodek
Katowice
FIBA EuroBasket
Final Venue

2011
Succeeded by
Arena Stožice
Ljubljana

Coordinates: 54°53′24″N 23°54′52″E / 54.89000°N 23.91444°E