Darius and Girėnas stadium (Lithuanian: Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas) is a multi-use stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania. With a seating capacity of 15,026, it is the largest stadium in Lithuania and the Baltic states.[4] Located in the Ąžuolynas park in Žaliakalnis district, it serves as a venue for football matches, athletic competitions, and other events. In 1998, the stadium was renovated according to UEFA regulations, and in 2005, it was modernised with the installation of the biggest stadium television screen in the Baltic states. The latest renovation started in 2018 and ended in 2022. During the sporting season, at least 50 events are held here annually.
Ąžuolynas stadium | |
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| Full name | Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas |
|---|---|
| Former names | Valstybinis stadionas Stepono Dariaus ir Stasio Girėno stadionas |
| Address | Perkūno al. 5 Kaunas |
| Location | Kaunas, Lithuania |
| Coordinates | 54°53′50″N 23°56′13″E / 54.89722°N 23.93694°E |
| Owner | Kaunas City Municipality |
| Operator | Kauno arena |
| Capacity | |
| Record attendance |
|
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster hybrid grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1923–1925 |
| Opened | 1925 |
| Renovated | 1998, 2005 |
| Expanded | 1935–1936, 1969–1979, 2018–2022 |
| Architect | Steponas Darius, Kęstutis Bulota (1936) Algimantas Alekna, Jonas Putna, Boleslovas Zabulionis (1979) Gintaras Čepurna, Tomas Kuleša, Mantas Navalinskas, Deivydas Pauža (2022) |
| Tenants | |
| FK Kauno Žalgiris (2013–2018, 2022–present) Lithuanian national football team (1936–2013; 2022–present) Athletics Federation of Lithuania FBK Kaunas (?–2015) FC Stumbras (2015–2018) | |
| Website | |
| stadionas | |
History
edit
The first stadium in this place was designed and established by Steponas Darius and Kęstutis Bulota in 1923, and completed in 1925. In 1935–1936, the stadium was renovated and named the State Stadium (Lithuanian: Valstybinis stadionas). Starting in 1969 the stadium underwent another reconstruction that lasted for 10 years until August 1979. Wooden tribunes were replaced with reinforced concrete structures and placed in a half circle.
After Lithuania regained independence, in 1993 the stadium was named after the Lithuanian pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas, who perished in a crash near the end of an attempted non-stop flight from New York to Lithuania. The site is currently the home ground of the football club FK Kauno Žalgiris. It is a part of the S. Darius and S. Girėnas sport center, which also includes the nearby Kaunas Sports Hall, built in 1939.
On 23 November 2021, the informal shortening Darius and Girėnas Stadium officially replaced the former name, eliminating the pilots' first names from the label.[5]
Reconstruction
editIn July 2010, talks began that modernizing the stadium is the cheapest option for Lithuania to develop a football stadium that could host international matches.[6] Two thirds of the renovation costs were proposed to be provided by Lithuanian Football Federation. Despite many initiatives to launch the renovation from various groups no actual actions were started, as an agreement for funding and project specifications could not be achieved.[7]
Another attempt to revitalize the stadium was started in February 2016 by the newly elected Kaunas City Municipality which adopted a plan to revamp major sport infrastructure in Kaunas.[8] Early proposals suggested that the seating capacity should be expanded to 12,500–20,000 roof-covered seats, under-soil heating installed, and stadium should reach Category 4 of UEFA stadium classification.[9][10][11]
On 18 August 2017, the reconstruction project was officially presented to the public. After the reconstruction, the stadium will have seating capacity of 15,026 for sport events and up to 30,000 for concerts and other events.[12] On 15 June 2018, Kayı Construction and Kaunas City Municipality signed the reconstruction contract. The stadium was re-opened with the 2022 Lithuanian Football Cup final on 16 October 2022.[13] The reconstruction cost 43 million euros.[14] The stadium now has Desso GrassMaster surface and is completely covered with a roof over the stands.[15]
In August 2024, British singer Ed Sheeran held two concerts at the stadium that attracted more than 80,000 spectators, while the first date set record attendance of about 50,000 spectators.[16]
Concerts (since 2022)
edit| Date | Artist | Tour | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2023 |  Sel
|
SEL | Kaunas | 30,000+[17] | The first concert in the stadium after reconstruction. |
| 3 August 2024 |  Ed Sheeran
|
+–=÷× Tour | 80,000+ [3] | The first concert of a foreign artist in the stadium; The first 360-degree stage concert; A record stadium event - the concert was watched by about 50,000 spectators; All tickets were sold out. |
| 4 August 2024 | Extra date added due to demand. | |||
| 30 August 2024[18] | Jessica Shy
|
Jessica Shy Kaunas | 38,000[19] | The Lithuanian music concert that sold the most tickets in 2024; The second most visited concert of Lithuanian music in the country's history. |
| 6 June 2025[20] |  Justin Timberlake
|
The Forget Tomorrow World Tour | — | Justin Timberlake's first concert in Lithuania; All tickets were sold out within 15 minutes on the day of general onsale.[21] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Atmintinė spaudos atstovams" (PDF). 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Apie stadioną - Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas". 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Dariaus ir Girėno stadione praūžė du Edo Sheerano koncertai: kokie įspūdingi skaičiai slypi už jų". Stadionas.lt (in Lithuanian). 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Atmintinė spaudos atstovams" (PDF). wu19.lt. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Šileikė, Edita (23 November 2021). "Pritarta: bus keičiamas S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadiono pavadinimas". Diena Media News (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Kaunui veriasi galimybė turėti nacionalinį futbolo stadioną". Vakarų Ekspresas (in Lithuanian). 2 July 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ Anilionytė, Jūratė (6 January 2012). "Nesutariama, kas rengs ir apmokės Kauno stadiono rekonstrukcijos projektą". DELFI (in Lithuanian). LTV „Panorama“. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Vasario 23-sios Kauno miesto savivaldybės tarybos posėdis" (in Lithuanian). Vieningas Kaunas. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ Garnienė, Aušra (23 March 2016). "Merdinčiam S.Dariaus ir S.Girėno stadionui – gaivinimo planas". Kauno diena (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Rekonstrukcijos laukiantis Kauno S.Dariaus ir S.Girėno stadionas turės šildomą dangą". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Kaunas stadium gets UEFA Category 4, ready to host top-level matches". lrt.lt. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Stažytė, Karolina (18 August 2017). "Pristatytas S.Dariaus ir S.Girėno stadiono rekonstrukcijos projektas: kalbos baigėsi, prasideda darbai". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "Kauno stadionas atidarytas švilpimu: LFF taurės finale kovoja "Žalgiris" ir "Hegelmann"". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Kulminacija: Kaune atidarytas Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas". Kauno diena (in Lithuanian). 16 October 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Stažytė, Karolina (15 June 2018). "Kauno stadiono rekonstrukcijos įdomybės: veja prilygs "Camp Nou" ar "Old Trafford"". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Stadium lawn falls victim to Ed Sheeran concerts in Kaunas". Lithuanian National Radio and Television. 8 August 2024.
- ^ DELFI.lt (27 August 2023). "Kauną sudrebino įspūdingiausias iki šiol "SEL" šou: pamatykite grandiozinio koncerto akimirkas". www.DELFI.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ DELFI.lt (4 March 2023). "Jessica Shy vienintelį šiemet koncertą surengs Dariaus ir Girėno stadione Kaune". www.DELFI.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ 15min.lt (31 August 2024). "Jessica Shy sudrebino Kauno Dariaus ir Girėno stadioną: parduotas rekordinis bilietų skaičius". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 31 August 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ DELFI.lt (23 September 2024). "Oficialu: Justinas Timberlake'as pirmą kartą atvyksta koncertuoti į Lietuvą". www.DELFI.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ DELFI.lt (27 September 2024). "Oficialu: išpirkti visi bilietai į Justino Timberlake'o koncertą Kaune". www.DELFI.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 27 September 2024.
