Žalgiris Stadium

Žalgiris Stadium (Lithuanian: Žalgirio stadionas) was a multi-purpose stadium in Žirmūnai elderate of Vilnius, Lithuania. The stadium held 15,029 and was the largest in Lithuania until its demolition. It had been built on the desecrated graves of Jews interred in the Old Jewish Cemetery under the stadium.

The opening ceremony of the stadium after the reconstruction on June 15, 1929.
For the stadium in Klaipėda formerly known as Žalgiris Stadiums, see Klaipėda Central Stadium.
Žalgiris Stadium
Full nameŽalgiris Stadium
LocationVilnius, Lithuania
Coordinates54°41′36″N 25°17′25″E
OwnerHanner
Capacity15,029
Construction
Opened1951
Renovated1949–1950
Closed2011
Demolished2016

It was named after the Battle of Grunwald and was rebuilt by the German POWs after World War II and finished in 1950 (the stadium existed already before World War II and was used by Pogoń Wilno; in 1936 the Polish athletics championships were held at the stadium).

After independence it was used by the Lithuania national football team, but later it lost its meaning as the national stadium and all the international football matches were played either at Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas or at the renovated LFF Stadium in Vilnius.

In 2015, the stadium was sold to Lithuanian real estate company Hanner who planned to demolish it and make way for apartments, hotel and offices.[1]

The demolition of Žalgiris stadium was started on 5 July 2016.[2][3]

References
  1. "Arvydas Avulis perka Žalgirio stadioną, jo vietoje statys namų už 200 mln. eurų". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). May 4, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  2. "Vilniuje pradėtas griauti legendinis "Žalgirio" stadionas". lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  3. Razmaitė, Inga (July 7, 2016). "Griaunamas Žalgirio stadionas – atlaisvinama vieta viešbučiui". vz.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved July 19, 2016.
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