On planning a trip to the Baltics I found as usual a host of sites inc Wikipedia / Europlan etc had a lot of wrong venues for the teams in Estonia , Latvia & Lithuania. Scoresway / Soccerway on this occasion were better than most !
I tend to use local sites and I’ve come up with the following version of stadiums used by teams , my first trip this season coincides with their cold season so I’m visiting a number of alternative venues to the norm , those used as an alternative to grass pitches . I’ve tried to list all venues and dates used for 2019 games.
My trip begun in Estonia and that’s where I’ll begin , on speaking to club officials at games they were of the opinion that clubs will move to smaller manageable grounds in the future. One of the main reasons being TV , most games nowadays are on TV and floodlighting lux required is easier to obtain at small compact grounds.
I’ll not list games seen yet as I’m still mid trip , that may be a future post.
Part 1.
ESTONIA. 2019.
Top flight ( Meistriliiga).
F C Flora Tallinn @ Sportland Arena, Asula 4 for their first 5 home games R1 on 10th 03 — R9 on 03rd 05 then remaining 13 home games from R 11 on 18th 05 at Le Coq Arena , Asula 4c.
Sportland and Le Coq are next to each other.
Kuressaare F C @ Kuressaare Artificial ( Taive 88a ) for their first 4 home games R2 on 16th 03 — R8 on 27th 04 then remaining 14 games from R10 on 10th 05 at Kuressaare Linnastadion ( Staadioni 6).
They are about a mile and a half from each other.
F C I Levadia Tallinn @ Sportland Arena for their first 4 home games R1 on 9th 04 — R 8 on 28th 04 then remaining 14 home games from R10 on 11th 05 at Le Coq Stadium.
Sportland and Le Coq are next to each other.
Maardu City (Linnameeskond) F C @ Maardu City Artificial (Kaaari 4) for their first 4 home games R2 on 17th 03 — R 8 27th 04 then 9 games at City Stadium R 11 on 19th 05 — R26 on 28th 08 then the remaining last 5 home games back on artificial with R28 on 15th 09 — R36 on 09th 11.
The grounds are next to each other.
J K Narva Trans @ Norra Kalev Stadium ( Hardiuse 22b) for their first 5 home games R1 on 9th 03 — R9 on 4th 05 then 9 games at Kreenholmi Stadium, ( Kreenholmi 54b ) R11 on 11th 05 — R26 on 28th 08 before returning to Norra Kalev for R29 on 18th 09 for remaining 4 home games.
The grounds are about 2 miles apart.
Paide City (Linnameeskond) FC @ City Artificial (Kooli 1) for their first 5 home games (R1 on 17th 03 — R9 on 4th 05) then at City Stadium for their remaining 13 home games from R11 on 18th 05 .
The grounds are next to each other.
Tallinna Kalev , all 18 home games @ Kalevi Artificial Stadium ( next door to main large / grass pitch Kalevi Kesk/Central Stadium at Staadioni 3).
Tallinna Nomme Kalju , all 18 home games @ Hiiu Stadium , Pidu 11 (Artificial).
Tammeka Tartu JK @ Tartu Sepa Artificial (Sepa 15a) for their first 5 home games R1 on 10th 03 — R9 on 3rd 05 then @ Tamme Stadium (Tamme puistee 1) for remaining 13 home games from R12 – on 22nd 05.
Tulevik K Viljandi @ City Artificial (Raana puistee) for first 4 home games with R2 on 16th 03 — R8 on 28th 04 then remaining 14 home games beginning at R 10 on 12th 05 @ City Stadium.
The grounds are next to each other.
So as you see just 2 clubs using 1 stadium the remaining 8 using 2 , some starting on artificial and returning after a spell on grass , good for arthritis.
The clubs can if necessary revert to artificial as and when they want / weather issues etc.
Stadiums listed have been gleaned from Estonian official sources but as always check nearer the time if your going.
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Part 2.
Latvia. 2019.
Top flight , Virsliga / Higher League.
Starting with 9 clubs this season following the non relegation of Valmieras , all are playing on artificial surfaces at the moment.
So no moving about with the weather like Estonia & Lithuania except for a couple of games.
Some clubs Jelgava, Liepaja , Spartaks Jurmala and Ventspils have moved off grass large stadiums to more cosy artificial surface stadiums.
Virsliga. 2019.
BFC Daugavpils @ Celtnieks Stadium , Jelgavas iela 7.
FK Jelgava @ Jelgava Training Centre Stadium, Karklu iela 6.
Jelgava have moved 3 miles from the grass Olympic Sports Centre, Kronvelda 2.
FK Liepaja @ Daugava Stadium Artificial, Piejuras Parks 3, Jurmala iela.
Next door to main stadium.
Back at main stadium on May 4.
Metta/ Latvia University @ Rigas Hanzas High School Stadium, Grostonas 5, Riga.
Rigas Football School @ Rigas Technical University Stadium, Daugavgrivas iela 56, Riga.
Moved to Arkadija Stadium on May 17.
Riga F C @ Rigas Technical University Stadium, Daugavgrivas iela 56, Riga.
FK Spartaks Jurmala @ Kauguru High School Stadium, Raina iela , Kauguri.
Moved to Slokas Stadium on May 12.
Spartaks used to spend the summer months at the larger ground with a grass pitch at nearby Slokas Stadium.
Valmieras FK @ Vidzemes Olympic Centre Stadium, 93 Rigas iela, Vidzeme.
F K Ventspils @ Ventspils 2 pamatskolas Stadium, Katolu iela 40.
Moved 1 mile inland from large Olympic Stadium , Sporta iela 7/9.
F K Ventspils have gone back to Olympic Stadium ,Sporta iela 7/9. (09/04/2019).
Gone back home a round earlier than expected with the club slagging off the league with so many games on school artificial pitches ! They appear to be happy to be the first to go back to a proper stadium.
Their words translated from their website –
”The Game will be held at the Central Stadium, the beginning-17:00. The real football Begins-Congratulations! For the second year in a row, the FKV starts on the green field before all Latvian clubs, and more so-before all in the Baltics! Serious football is not for “Schools “, serious football for football stadiums! ”
As always check games / kick offs / venues before you go. DONT rely on social media , its nice to talk.
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Part 3.
LITHUANIA. 2019.
Ground allocations are only confirmed until R 13 on the 31st of May.
Unlike the other 2 countries mentioned in this thread Lithuania has a regular season and then splits into a Championship league section and relegation play offs.
F K Atlantas @ Klaipeda Artificial , Sportininku gatve 46 for first 4 home games beginning with R1 on 2nd 03 until R 10 on 14th 04 and then from R 12 on 12th 05 they go to the main Central Stadium.
The grounds are next door to each other.
F K Kauno Zalgiris all home games @ National Football Academy Stadium , Aukstaiciu gatve 51, Kaunas.
F K Palanga @ Klaipeda Artificial , Sportinku gatve 46 for first 3 home games between R 3 on 17th 03 and R 7 on 20th 04 and then for R 8 on 27th 04 they return to Palanga to finish the season at Palanga Stadium , Sporto gatve 3 , Palanga.
Klaipeda and Palanga grounds are approx 18 miles apart.
Panevezys F K @ Zemyna Progynasium Stadium, Ramygalos gatve 99 , Panevezys to begin season for 3 home games starting with R 2 on 9th 03 until R 7 on 19th 04 then they go to Aukstaitija Stadium , A Jaksto gatve 1 , Panevezys for remaining home games beginning with R 8 on 27th 04.
Grounds are about a mile and a half apart.
F K Riteriai (AKA Trakai) @ Sportima Arena Hall, Azuolyno gatve 5 , Vilnius for their first home game in R 2 on 11th 03 then for their 2nd home game on 2nd 04 in R 4 until the end of season they are at the Lithuania Football Federation Stadium ( LFF) , Liepkalnio gatve 13/2, Vilnius.
F C Stumbras all home games @ National Football Academy Stadium, Aukstaiciu gatve 51 , Kaunas.
F K Suduva @ Arvi Football Indoor Arena, Kauno gatve 125, Marijampole to begin season on 3rd 03 with R 1 game then 2 further home games with the last in R 6 being on 14th 04. From 4th home game in R 9 on 5th 05 until the end of the season they are next door at Arvi Stadium ( AKA Suduva Stadium).
Zalgiris VMFD Vilnius @ Sportima Arena Hall , Azuolyno gatve 5 , Vilnius for their first 2 home games R 1 on 3rd 03 and R3 on 15th 03 then to finish their home games they are at the Lithuania Football Federation Stadium ( LFF) , Liepkalnio gatve 13/2, Vilnius.
So 6 games played indoors (TBC) , 1 for FK Riteriai , 3 for FK Suduva and 2 for Zalgiris VMFD.
Once again please check with local sources before visiting any games.
''Thoughts of dadofdottie'' 