Kaunas Sports Hall
Encyclopedia
Kaunas Sports Hall also known as the S. Darius
and S. Girėnas
Hall is the second largest arena of Kaunas
, Lithuania
. It is the first arena built in the residential Žaliakalnis
neighbourhood of Kaunas specially for basketball in Europe and is referred to as a "Mecca
of the Lithuanian basketball". The arena's seating capacity
is 5,000. Initial seating capacity was 3,500 and the other spectators (up to 11,000) used to have standing room. Its length is 62.8 meters and its width is 61 meters. It is part of the S. Darius and S. Girėnas sport center, which also includes the nearby national stadium.
The arena generally hosts basketball
games and concerts. It has served as the home court for Žalgiris
basketball club, competing in the Euroleague
and the LKL League
till the middle of 2011. It was also used by the Granitas Kaunas
team handball
club.
and the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, adjacent to the Ąžuolynas
Park. The arena was completed before the 3rd European Basketball Championship
in 1939. The foundation was laid in December of 1938. All the steel constructions were finished by April 1939 and masonry work on May 10th of the same year. In December 2005, it underwent a minor reconstruction and added some 525 additional seats to reach the current capacity of 5,000. Until the year 2009 it fit the criteria of the Euroleague relations for minimum seating requirements, but not after that when the minimum league's requirement to accommodate fans increased to 10,000.
In August of 2011 a larger and much more modern Žalgiris Arena has been opened in Kaunas, as Lithuania is hosting the 37th European Basketball Championship
. The Kaunas Sports Hall will long be remembered as the arena where the Lithuanian national basketball team
won their consecutive Gold medal
at the Eurobasket 1939
. The Kaunas Sports Hall was included into the Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage Sites of the Republic of Lithuania in 1993.
Steponas Darius
Steponas Darius was a Lithuanian-American pilot....
and S. Girėnas
Stasys Girenas
Stasys Girėnas was a Lithuanian-American pilot....
Hall is the second largest arena of Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It is the first arena built in the residential Žaliakalnis
Žaliakalnis
Žaliakalnis is an elderate in Lithuania's second largest city, Kaunas. Žaliakalnis is located north of the old town and the downtown area, between the Neris and Girstupis rivers...
neighbourhood of Kaunas specially for basketball in Europe and is referred to as a "Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
of the Lithuanian basketball". The arena's seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
is 5,000. Initial seating capacity was 3,500 and the other spectators (up to 11,000) used to have standing room. Its length is 62.8 meters and its width is 61 meters. It is part of the S. Darius and S. Girėnas sport center, which also includes the nearby national stadium.
The arena generally hosts basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
games and concerts. It has served as the home court for Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is one of the oldest teams in the Euroleague and plays domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga , and regionally in the VTB United League...
basketball club, competing in the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
and the LKL League
Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga
The Lietuvos krepšinio lyga is Lithuania's premier professional men's basketball league, composed of 12 teams.- History :...
till the middle of 2011. It was also used by the Granitas Kaunas
Granitas Kaunas
Granitas Kaunas is a team handball club from Kaunas, Lithuania. Currently, Granitas Kaunas competes in the Lithuanian First League of Handball....
team handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
club.
History
Since its establishment, the Kaunas Sports Hall is situated in close proximity to the Lithuanian Academy of Physical EducationLithuanian Academy of Physical Education
The Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education is the only state-supported institution of tertiary physical education in Kaunas, Lithuania. It has the university status. Since its establishment, the academy is headquartered in Žaliakalnis neighbourhood of Kaunas, in close proximity to the Kaunas...
and the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, adjacent to the Ąžuolynas
Ažuolynas
Ąžuolynas is a public park in Lithuania's second largest city, Kaunas, in the Žaliakalnis neighbourhood. The park covers about 63 hectares and is the largest urban stand of mature oaks in Europe. Vydūnas Alley serves as the park's northern border. It is a popular recreational destination for the...
Park. The arena was completed before the 3rd European Basketball Championship
Eurobasket 1939
The 1939 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1939, was the third regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
in 1939. The foundation was laid in December of 1938. All the steel constructions were finished by April 1939 and masonry work on May 10th of the same year. In December 2005, it underwent a minor reconstruction and added some 525 additional seats to reach the current capacity of 5,000. Until the year 2009 it fit the criteria of the Euroleague relations for minimum seating requirements, but not after that when the minimum league's requirement to accommodate fans increased to 10,000.
In August of 2011 a larger and much more modern Žalgiris Arena has been opened in Kaunas, as Lithuania is hosting the 37th European Basketball Championship
Eurobasket 2011
EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's European Basketball Championship, held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Lithuania. This was the second time Eurobasket had been held in Lithuania, the country having also hosted the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to...
. The Kaunas Sports Hall will long be remembered as the arena where the Lithuanian national basketball team
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
won their consecutive Gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the Eurobasket 1939
Eurobasket 1939
The 1939 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1939, was the third regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
. The Kaunas Sports Hall was included into the Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage Sites of the Republic of Lithuania in 1993.