First-time FIBA Champions League victory and a historic collapse in the LKL playoffs. The end of last season for Vilnius “Rytas” was eventful, after the celebration in Badalona they suffered a lesson from Utena “Juventus” in the LKL quarterfinals, followed by changes.
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The Vilnius club said goodbye to longtime coach Giedrius Žibėnas, after scouting the market handed the keys to the team to former assistant Nedas Pacevičius, and then last season important roles in the team were taken abroad by Ignas Sargiūnas, Jerrick Harding, Simonas Lukošius, Speedy Smith, as well as Martynas Echodas, Jordan Caroline.
- Vilnius “Rytas” roster for the 2026-2027 season:
- Guards: Augustas Marčiulionis, Cassius Winston, Michael Devoe, Matas Jogėla, Martynas Paliukėnas;
- Forwards: Gytis Radzevičius, Ignas Urbonas, Ricky Lindo, Kay Bruhnke;
- Centers: Artūras Gudaitis, Gytis Masiulis, Oskaras Pleikys.
- Coaches: Nedas Pacevičius, Vesa Vertio, Mindaugas Brazys, Matas Juzeliūnas, Tadas Jackūnas, Martynas Liuima.
With a new coaching staff and a roster changed by half, “Rytas” welcomes the 2026-2027 season, for which the Vilnius club is planning an even bigger budget than the one that already increased in spring.
Last November, planning to increase the 2025-2026 season budget to 6.8 million euros, in spring “Rytas” calculated even bigger figures, growing to 8 million euros in revenue including FIBA tournament bonuses.
- Last season’s figures:
- The total budget was 8.06 million.
- Commercial revenue amounted to 3.2 million euros, municipal funding – 1.97 million, ticket revenue – 1.2 million, sports performance bonuses – 1.6 million.
- Last season’s expenses were 7.08 million euros, of which 3.6 million euros were for the main team.
On Thursday at a press conference at “Vilnius Arena” (formerly “Twinsbet”), where “Rytas” will play this season, club CEO Martynas Giga presented new figures.
The total planned budget for next season is 10.7 million euros.
“This is a record budget for us, but will we move mountains? In the future, we expect bigger budgets,” said M. Giga.
Commercial revenue is expected to be 5.1 million euros, which should grow by 58%.
“These are our untapped reserves,” emphasized M. Giga.
Municipal funding will amount to 1.9 million euros, ticket sales are expected to bring in 3.4 million, and another 235 thousand euros are planned from bonuses.
Total club expenses for the upcoming season are planned at 10.5 million euros.
- Main team – 5.3 million euros (48% more)
- Youth team – 435 thousand.
- Sports teams expenses – 1.4 million.
- Competition organization and ticket distribution costs – 1.8 million.
- Administration and operational expenses – 1.5 million euros
Most expenses will go to player salaries.
This time the budget for player salaries looks quite balanced, although there were various discussions in the summer about the possibility of buying more prominent stars.
“We would like a big star, but we also want to be responsible. We want a balanced budget,” said M. Giga. “We brought back one star because we really wanted Gytis (Radzevičius) to return. For me, as a fan, that is a big win.”
He emphasized that the basketball market accounts for about a 20% increase in salaries globally.
But the “Rytas” club itself also hopes to grow numbers in various formats.
Next season “Rytas” will play almost all games at the 10,000-seat “Arena Vilnius” (formerly called “Twinsbet”).
M. Giga said he expects average attendance in LKL games to reach 4,500 fans, and in the Champions League – 7,000 spectators.
The club hopes to sell 2,500 tickets, and now, according to M. Giga, about 75% of the goal has been reached.
“We need to expand the fan base. That’s why we are moving to a bigger arena, that’s why we are removing the ceilings – we expect more fans,” explained M. Giga.
In the future, “Rytas” hopes to move to the basketball arena being built in the space of the National Stadium on Šeškinė Hill.
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It is not yet precisely known when it will be built and under what status “Rytas” will settle there.
“We are participating in negotiations, and soon it will be clear to what extent – as a tenant or as a shareholder, our club could be there,” said M. Giga. “It is important for us to know that we won’t be going back and forth from arena to arena. We imagine ourselves in that arena.”
M. Giga said that “Rytas” would prefer to invest more in the team itself rather than infrastructure, but at the same time it is clear that the basketball club as a tenant is needed for the arena.
And if as a shareholder? “Then it would be important for us that ‘Rytas’ feels at home both in the hall and beyond,” said M. Giga.
The club CEO also confirmed that negotiations are underway regarding a potential club investor.
“Negotiations,” described the current situation M. Giga. “There are many discussions among shareholders, questions arise whether this amount or that. We have made an assessment, although there is no completely correct methodology. It is hard to say what the correct valuation is, but discussions are ongoing. The issue is combined – about a strategic investor and the arena.”
M. Giga believes that the club’s theoretical value, determined mostly based on the revenues of the last few years and current calculations, is about 9 million euros.
If a deal is made with a major investor, they would likely receive a controlling stake in the club’s shares.
“If an investor comes, they should have control,” confirmed M. Giga.
The club leader said the club has a fundamental action strategy planned until 2030.
Among important points is the vision to try to join the still-developing “NBA Europe” project. This NBA project built with FIBA is closer to “Rytas” than EuroLeague competitions.
“Today it seems we are closer to ‘NBA Europe’,” emphasized M. Giga the desire to play at the highest level.
Another focus is the youth system.
“We want to expand the scale and quality of youth talents. We believe the infrastructure should allow us to do this,” noted M. Giga.
This season “Rytas” will start in an unusual way, because between preseason games and the starts of LKL and Champions League, there is a tournament in China where the FIBA Champions League winners will compete for the Intercontinental Cup.
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- “Rytas” plans to play its first control game during the training camp in Druskininkai against Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” on September 4.
- On September 12-13, a preseason tournament will be held in Vilnius, in which “Rytas” will be joined by Istanbul “Esenler Erospor” (Turkey), Bresse Bourg JL (France), and Jerusalem “Hapoel”.
- From September 22-27, as FIBA Champions League winners, “Rytas” will participate in the Intercontinental Cup tournament in Beijing (China). The Vilnius team was placed in Group A together with Rwanda’s “RSSB Tigers” (African champions) and Shanghai “Sharks” (Chinese champions).
- “Rytas” will start the LKL championship on October 3 with a game in Vilnius against “Gargždai”.
- On October 6, “Rytas” will start the FIBA Champions League tournament with Group A matches, initially playing against Baku “Sabah” (Azerbaijan), and later against “Nanterre 92” (France) and “Trabzonspor” (Turkey).
