Žalgiris representatives visited the Vilnius National Stadium construction site as work continued on the second phase of the 18,000-seat arena, with contractors targeting the first match at the venue in autumn 2027.
Main contractor Naresta said a second crane had now been brought in to accelerate the assembly of the stadium’s reinforced concrete structure. The company’s chief executive Tadas Grincevičius said the first installation phase had been completed in a little over three months, in line with schedule, and that the current stage is due to be finished at the start of summer.
According to Naresta, 1,670 of more than 5,000 prefabricated reinforced concrete elements have already been installed, including columns, walls, floor slabs, staircases, terraces and beams beneath the stands. Concrete works are continuing in parallel, while around two kilometres of pipeline have been laid across the site, with most of the sewage network and 30 per cent of the water supply infrastructure already in place.
Žalgiris president Andrius Tapinas, club director Mindaugas Kasperūnas and other club representatives were among those to inspect the progress on Friday. On the day of the visit, Kasperūnas also scored what the club described as the first goal on the future National Stadium pitch, putting the ball past Grincevičius into makeshift goals.
“Seeing the stands rise after so many decades of waiting is an indescribable feeling,” Tapinas said. “For Žalgiris and for the whole Vilnius football community, this stadium is a promise of a real new home. We are delighted to see the pace and professionalism of Naresta and the other partners, and we are waiting eagerly for the day when we can step on to the pitch here and thousands of people from Vilnius fill the stands.”
Kasperūnas said a modern stadium would be vital for the club, but added that the long-term aim also centred on building a strong community and attracting larger crowds. He pointed to the turnout at Sportima last week and said the club now wanted full stands for its first home game, with the broader ambition of one day filling the new National Stadium as well.
Hanner chairman Arvydas Avulis, whose company has taken over the concession for the wider National Stadium complex, said work on all parts of the development would proceed in parallel so the full project could be completed at the same time. He said that by spring next year the roof and facade-supporting structures for the stadium, kindergarten, cultural centre and arena should all be rising, with structural works across the complex scheduled to be completed by February 2027.
Finishing work and landscaping for the stadium, arena, kindergarten and cultural centre are planned during 2027. The wider development will also include a new park, museum premises in the stadium basement, areas for players and media, spectator zones and food and drink spaces on the first and second floors, and administrative facilities on the third floor.
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Source: https://fkzalgiris.lt/sparciai-kylanciam-nacionaliniam-stadionui-zalgirieciu-vertinimas-ir-pirmasis-m-kasperuno-ivartis/
