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. 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 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. 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, 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.
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. 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. Advanced audio equipment by Yamaha is installed in the Žalgiris Arena. 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, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Rammstein, Slash, Marilyn Manson, Katie Melua, Prodigy, James Blunt, Hurts, Jean Michel Jarre, Zucchero, Sarah Brightman, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Iron Maiden, Mariah Carey, Muse,. 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, On April 18, 2017, Queen played at the venue on November 17, 2017, as a part of the Queen + Adam Lambert Tour. On 11 March 2018, it hosted the final of the Eurovizija 2018.
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.

EuroLeague attendance

This is a list of EuroLeague games attendance of Žalgiris at Žalgiris Arena.
Season
2011–12105,30715,0009,15013,163
2012–13161,10315,42010,19013,475
2013–14118,43312,0008,1509,869
2014–15117,04014,3828,67010,640
2015–16131,99814,7908,70211,000
2016–17171,26615,2318,62111,418
2017–18230,51815,52510,19513,560
2018–19251,74215,51713,56914,808
2019–20199,08815,3429,40514,221