#SBS22 Guest Spotlight: National Stadium Complex, Vilnius

Ahead of TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2022, Sarunas Stepukonis, partner at BaltCap Infrastructure Fund, discusses the new National Stadium Complex that is being developed in Vilnius, Lithuania.

In January, work commenced to deliver a new National Stadium for Lithuania through the demolition of a previously aborted project. Vilnius City Municipality in October hailed a “new start” in the process to deliver a new National Stadium after agreement was reached on a revised concession deal having addressed comments from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

Located on the Šeškinė Hill site, the multi-functional complex will be anchored by a 15,000-seat stadium, with 15 other sports facilities provided including an athletics track, six basketball courts, three football training grounds, handball, gymnastics and boxing halls.

The new complex will include a sports museum, cultural and educational centre, library, as well as a kindergarten, which has been identified as a pressing need for Vilnius. BaltCap is the financial investor in the project.

TheStadiumBusiness: How has the National Stadium project progressed since the agreement on a revised concession deal in October?

Sarunas Stepukonis: “The two most important changes since the autumn are firstly demolishing the existing stadium construction. The work is challenging due to unexpected solutions found under the ground. We plan to finalise this soon.

“Secondly, we have been mastering the stadium design of the Stadium City area, including many multifunctional buildings. As a result, new visualisations were made available this month.”

TSB: What’s on the roadmap for the project over the next six to 12 months?

SS: “We plan to proceed with the selection process for the construction company and other suppliers. On the other hand, we will launch the stadium commercialisation part of the project, firstly with naming rights and then the acquisition of exclusive partners.”

TSB: What are you looking forward to most about the Summit?

SS: “I’m looking for ideas on how to maximise revenues on non-matchdays and what technologies will be commercially viable in five or more years.”

JOIN SARUNAS STEPUKONIS – AND HUNDREDS OF COLLEAGUES FROM THE SECTOR – AT THESTADIUMBUSINESS SUMMIT 2022 IN MANCHESTER ON 5-6 JULY. SIGN UP HERE.