A. Tapinas: about lightning-fast poured beer, a scoreboard, and disappeared queues

2026-01-30 13:20 © fkzalgiris.lt

The president of Vilnius "Žalgiris" team, Andrius Tapinas, shared news about the capital's club on social media.

"A month and a half ago, I wrote about the rather sad state of the Vilnius "Žalgiris" stadium - from tired advertising boards to a not very functional scoreboard.

And I asked to document when this was written - on December 20, and to come back to this issue after two months. Two months were not needed.

The material advertising boards are being replaced by the latest LED perimeter advertising boards not only along the entire side line but also in the corners. This is the second largest planned investment by the club in infrastructure, and Vilnius "Žalgiris" (together with Marijampolė "Sūduva", we congratulate them too) becomes the first football clubs to acquire their own LED boards.

The opportunities for sponsors and advertisers have just significantly expanded, especially considering that very good news may come soon regarding the A league broadcasts on television. The old, functioning or not functioning 4x3 size scoreboard is being replaced by a modern 7.5m x 4m LED screen, which will greatly contribute to the match day atmosphere. This screen is being acquired by the company "Vexo projektai," which manages the stadium - I want to sincerely thank them for contributing to "Žalgiris's" desire to create a special match day for Vilnius residents.

The old barely functioning speakers are also being replaced by a modern sound system. Evaluating the stadium's acoustics, the company will install 24 audio speakers. "Vexo projektai" is also purchasing this, so their investment in the stadium is indeed substantial.

There may be another significant project initiated by the club, but since everything started from a utopian idea, I will not rush to celebrate while negotiations and adjustments are still ongoing.

The VIP zone will be updated by "Žalgiris's" sponsor, UAB "Naresta." A new food and beverage supplier that works at large events promises to ensure that beer and other drinks are served promptly, and on match days, there will be hot snacks and warm beverages.

In anticipation of a large number of people, as many mobile toilets as possible will be set up, and the maximum number of ticket checkers will be employed to avoid queues, although we invite everyone to come to the stadium as early as possible, as there will be activities for both adults and children in two fan zones in the North and South.

At every match, you will be able to purchase match day programs, and in wet weather, we will ensure that disposable raincoats are available at a small cost.

Other issues - such as parking and more convenient public transport access to matches, a wider range of merchandise, and so on - are still being resolved.

What there definitely won't be - is a roof over the East stand, as that would be a very serious reconstruction that would cost huge money.

Of course, the season will start for "Žalgiris" at "Sportima," where there won't be everything yet, but we hope that spring-like weather will allow us to return to the stadium in early April and see the first sold-out match with our own eyes.

And about all these matters, as well as "Žalgiris's" finances, the thoughts we go to sleep and wake up with, how one of the richest people in Lithuania recorded Christmas greetings, whether we are short of a million or not, player salaries, how one person's crowdfunding and money injection into "Žalgiris" is going - I discuss this with Tadas Burgaila and Mindaugas Kasperūnas in the second podcast "Three in the Boat" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEsx0LeS9Dc

Enjoy watching, and I remind you that tomorrow at 18:30, "Žalgiris" plays a friendly match with "Šiauliai." The live broadcast will be on Laisvės TV, but don’t focus on the score; rather, watch how the game looks and especially the new team players, including the new right-back Saba Mamatsashvili.