Watching along with the commentator
Those who want to not only watch, but also listen to the commentary of football matches live, can visit the “Plus plus plus” gastrobar located on Ozo St. in Vilnius. Sports commentator Nerijus Kesminas often joins the football fiesta here.
As a portal Morning said gastrobar founder Aurim Zimnickas, this is the first time for the format of a football match. Previously, this method of watching sports events was offered at last year’s European Basketball Championship. Then the match was commented by the basketball commentator Vaidas Čeponis.
“We are very pleased – the turnout has exceeded our expectations. It is no secret that the match times are often late. Sometimes it starts at 10pm, sometimes at 11pm – only a few matches start at 7-8pm.
<...> But it does not have a significant impact. You watch even those matches that are shown at 1 o’clock. at night, but they are watched on Fridays and Saturdays. If the match is prolonged, we wait until it ends” – A. Zimnickas reviewed the attendance of football matches.
The businessman says he is surprised that visitors gather in large numbers not only on weekends, but also on weekdays or in rainy weather. Although watching football with live commentary is organized in the open air.
And when the weather is good outside, there may not be any free seats left. In comparison, the basketball championship matches attracted such interest only when the Lithuanian national team played, the interviewer noted.
“There is a general interest in the championship. Apparently, the fans have their favorites, but they watch all the matches. I wouldn’t say that they would choose to watch only England, Spain or Portugal,” said A. Zimnickas.
Naturally, the interest is also reflected in the turnover. Compared to normal days, it can increase by 40-50 percent, the businessman calculated.
He would like more championships
Football fans in Vilnius are also welcome in the courtyards of Bernardinė and Misionierii. Here, Ivona Šukevič, who manages the food spaces, smiled – the championships could be held every year.
“You can really see the revival, we get a lot of guests. Better weather contributed to the attendance, because we show the matches under the open sky.
Our places are specific – huge TVs, many food carts, bars. People just like it, that they can be in nature and still watch football,” said the businesswoman.
More photos (80) Photo by V. Skaraitis.
Although the matches are shown late, I. Šukevič notices that people are not afraid to stay up late in the summer. Especially since it is also an opportunity to meet friends.
They also adapt to the hustle and bustle by selling food in carts, they prepare more snacks than usual.
“People stay up for 4-5 hours, watch two matches. They are not in a hurry anymore, they sit down and spend time,” said I. Šukevič.
Usually, the food and drink places operating in the courtyards are open until midnight, but sometimes they have to work longer than the scheduled schedule – it depends on how many spectators are watching the match at that time, the businesswoman also said.
There were no overcrowded bars yet
At that time, the mood in Kaunas is somewhat different. Mindaugas Juodgudis, one of the founders of the “2.5 apple” cider bars in Kaunas, said that reservations are received, but the bars have never been overcrowded. Although the broadcasts of the championship are shown in bars every day.
Sometimes the visitors are even divided into two camps – football fans gather inside the bar, and those who don’t want to watch the championship choose to sit outside, because the broadcasts are not shown there.
More photos (80) Photo by V. Skaraitis.
“There is interest, I can’t say it’s not there at all. Maybe it depends on the location – more in one bar, less in another.
We have those Kaunian jokes that the Old Town is dying, and Laisvės aleja is alive. It’s the same with football – where it lives, more people watch it, where it dies, less,” M. Juodgudis smiled.
He also pointed out that visitors prefer to watch early evening matches. At that time, the broadcasts shown at night do not attract much interest, although on weekends the bars are open longer than on weekdays and offer the opportunity to watch the championship late.
“The match is on because of the background, but no one really goes to the bar to watch football at 2 in the morning, even though we are working,” said the interviewer.
