Discover Zalgirio Arena

Start of construction

On 26 September 2008, a capsule symbolizing the start of the construction of the Kaunas Sports Arena was ceremoniously buried on Nemunas Island. After the burial of the capsule and the parchment, an additional copy of the parchment was given to the Kaunas City Museum for safekeeping.

The arena was named after Zalgiris

On 18 March 2010, the Kaunas City Municipal Council decided to give the name “Zalgirio” to the under-construction Kaunas Entertainment and Sports Palace.

Opening of Zalgirio Arena

On 18 August 2011, the opening ceremony of Zalgirio Arena was held. Afterwards, the first basketball game took place at the arena, where the Lithuanian national men’s team defeated the reigning European champions, Spain.

The versatility of Zalgirio Arena

On 23 October 2012, Kaunas was thrilled by a spectacular event - the Monster X Tour show - which showcased the versatility of Zalgirio Arena. Instead of a basketball court, 1,200 tonnes of earth, clay, and peat were brought into the arena to create mountains and springboards.

Ice Hockey Championship

In April 2018, Zalgirio Arena hosted the World Ice Hockey Championship Division 1B. During the championship’s off days, the ice was covered with basketball flooring, allowing Zalgiris Kaunas to celebrate two victories and qualify for the EuroLeague Final Four. This achievement was further highlighted by the Lithuanian hockey team's victory and promotion to the World 1A division.

EuroLeague Final Four

In May 2023, Zalgirio Arena hosted a historic EuroLeague Final Four tournament for the country and the city of Kaunas. Four of the strongest teams in the EuroLeague gathered in Kaunas, attracting thousands of international fans to the event.