Lithuanian champions FK Kauno Zalgiris are forced to play their historic Champions League second qualifying round home leg away from their usual stadium after renting it out for a concert by US rapper Pitbull. The team, which secured a 4-3 aggregate win over Kosovo's Dritam on Tuesday to advance, will likely host KI of the Faroe Islands at a 2,500-seat venue in Jonava, about 30 km from Kaunas, on 28 or 29 July.
Double booking causes scramble
The Darius and Girenas Stadium, Lithuania's largest with 15,000 seats, was booked for Pitbull's show on 31 July as part of his European tour. Zalgiris, best known as a basketball franchise, did not anticipate such European success. They attempted to swap the leg order to play at home first, but the Faroe Islands' national holidays (St Olav's Day on 28-29 July) and another Faroese club HB's Conference League match on 30 July strained local policing, making the swap unlikely.
Frustration and financial reality
Head coach Zeljko Sopic expressed frustration after the Kosovo match, saying the team must move “because of a concert by some dog or somebody,” adding, “It’s better I don’t say anything about that. It is what it is.” Club chair Mantas Kalnietis told the Guardian that concerts are a major revenue source, stating, “Ultimately the income generated strengthens our entire organisation, enabling us to build a better team and improve our chances of reaching the group stage.” He noted this is the only concert at the stadium this summer.
Impact on Lithuanian football
Edgaras Stankevicius, president of the Lithuanian football federation, called the double booking “really unfortunate,” adding, “Jonava stadium is nice and tidy as well, but it is still a big difference. Situations like these certainly do not do any good for the development of Lithuanian football as a whole.” The team earned approximately €1.7m in prize money from advancing. Pitbull's concert follows his Guinness world record for the “largest gathering of people wearing bald caps” at his London show last week.
