Darius and Girėnas Stadium

About

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. 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. Darius and Girėnas Stadium belongs to Žalgiris Group, which operates the largest arena in the Baltic States (Žalgirio Arena) and the Kaunas Sports Hall.

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 died 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.

In July 2010, talks began that modernizing the stadium is the cheapest option for Lithuania to develop a football stadium that could host international matches. 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.

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. 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.

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 55,000 for concerts and other events. 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. The reconstruction cost 43 million euros. After reconstruction, the stadium had Desso GrassMaster surface and is completely covered with a roof over the stands.

The stadium has 9 VIP boxes with a capacity of more than 300 people, 3 VIP lounge areas with a capacity of about 900 people, 3 conference rooms and more than 180 parking spaces.

5 modern outdoor tennis courts with artificial grass have been installed near the stadium.

In January 2025, new construction for the pitch surface bagan. During the first year of operation under Žalgiris Arena management, it was found out that that there was too much black soil and clay in the layers below it. This prevented the grass from taking root more firmly in depth and interfered with high-quality drainage - water stagnated on the surface. Also, the top layer of the coating became too soft, slippery and easily damaged. A new "Mixto" hybrid grass "Lay&Play" technology surface was chosen to be used instead of Desso GrassMaster surface. On 12 March 2025, the new surface installation was finished. In accordance with UEFA recommendations, before the new pitch surface was installed, the automatic irrigation system was also upgraded to 24 nozzles.

See also: Lithuanian Athletics Championships Lithuanian Athletics Championships is the national Lithuanian championship in athletics, organized by the Lithuanian Athletics Federation. The first competition was held in 1921 at the location where Darius and Girėnas Stadium was built. It is the oldest sporting event in Lithuania. The competition was held in Kaunas a total of 36 times. The 89th 2014 Lithuanian Athletics Championships was the last time competition was held in Kaunas.

XVIII European Athletics U20 Championships

- See also: 2005 European Athletics Junior Championships The 2005 European Athletics Junior Championships was the 18th edition of the biennial athletics competition for European under-20 athletes, which was held in Kaunas, Lithuania on 21–24 July.

- See also: 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships The 7th European Athletics U23 Championships were held between 16 and 19 July 2009 in the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania.

- See also: World Athletics Continental Tour On 18 June 2025, The World Athletics Continental Tour competition (Bronze level) "Cosma Cup" was held at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium – the first athletics event of this level in the history of Lithuania. The Cosma Cup competition was attended by Lithuanian Olympians Andrius Gudžius, Diana Zagainova, Modesta Justė Morauskaitė, Gediminas Truskauskas, Liveta Jasiūnaitė, Martynas Alekna, Lithuanian record holder Simas Bertašius, rising sprint star Adas Dambrauskas, and world-class foreign track and field athletes: 2021 Tokyo Olympics champion, 2019 and 2023 world champion Swedish Daniel Ståhl, World and European champion from Britain Adam Gemili, African vice-champions from South Africa Rivaldo Roberts and Mafori Ryan Mphahlele, world vice-champion with the French 4×400 m team Loïc Prévot, South American champion from Tatiane Raquel da Silva. These competitions were combined with the Lithuanian Athletics Cup competitions.

- See also: 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship The 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship was the 12th edition of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, since its reclassification from an under-18 tournament in 2002, and the 62nd since the tournament was created in 1948. It was hosted in Lithuania from 20 July to 1 August 2013, in three cities.

Lithuanian national football team games (since 2022)

- See also: Lithuanian national football team The following is a list of Lithuanian national football team matches since 2022.

Lithuanian Football Cup finals (since 2022)

- See also: Lithuanian Football Cup The Lithuanian Football Federation Cup (Lithuanian: Lietuvos futbolo federacijos taurė) is a Lithuanian football cup competition contested in a knockout tournament format. The winner of the cup gains entitlement to participate in the Lithuanian Supercup as well as the UEFA Europa Conference League.