The procedure for completing the renovation of the Darius and Girenas Stadium in Lithuania’s Kaunas has been finalised, the Construction Inspectorate reports.
“Lithuania has lived without a decent stadium for too long. Finally, that shame will be washed away, and today we can rejoice, as we will no longer have to blush in front of the world’s football elite,” Kaunas City Municipality said in a press release on September 19.
According to the municipality, the opening of the Darius and Girenas Stadium will take place in mid-October.
The Kaunas stadium will be the largest and most modern in Lithuania. It will also meet the highest UEFA requirements. This means that Kaunas will not only be able to host matches of the Lithuanian national football team but also other UEFA tournaments.
Moreover, the stadium features a running track, so Lithuania’s second city will also be able to host top-level athletic competitions.
Darius and Girenas Stadium now has a capacity of 15,000 spectators, up from 9,000 before the renovation that began in the summer of 2018 and cost 43 million euros.
The Lithuanian capital Vilnius is currently demolishing its unfinished National Stadium. It expects to build a new stadium until late 2024. (LRT/Business World Magazine)