Rytas Vilnius is starting another new phase of its organizational structure. One of the main shareholders of the club and chairman of the board, Darius Gudelis, is selling one of his eleven club shares to the capital team’s most active and loyal fan group—B Tribuna. By utilizing international practices, this step aims to further strengthen the connection between the club and its community, giving fans a real opportunity to directly participate in the club’s management and strategic decision-making.
A basketball club is not just a legal entity, an arena, tournaments, or a logo on a jersey. It is a living organism, the most important part of which will always be the people, and the identity of Vilnius basketball has been built year after year not only on the court, but also in the stands. This is precisely why Rytas Vilnius today is not just a sports club, but also an important community organization. The goal of its activities is not solely financial or sporting results – the more the organization grows, the greater the social weight and influence it acquires in the life of the capital. By including the community in the shareholder structure, the goal is to maintain a healthy balance between the sports business and the social, community mission of the club.
This agreement marks a new chapter where those who give their hearts and voices to the team become a full-fledged part of the organization’s governance, not just symbolically, but also legally. There are always many different opinions, emotions, and noise surrounding basketball, but this step gives B Tribuna not just an opportunity to voice their opinion, but an active and responsible vote. Holding shares brings responsibility. It means that the fans will not only propose ideas but will also share the legal and moral responsibility for the club’s decisions and its future.
“In the summer of 2017, when Rytas was hit by a financial and value crisis, the club’s shareholders changed. At that time, we consciously chose a new direction for the organization: to become a community club. We have been patiently walking this path for nearly a decade. We understand that some decisions we make based on the community idea are not the most favorable from a business perspective. But this provides identity, values, and a cultural foundation. To me, Rytas Vilnius is not just about victories or a brand; it is a movement whose idea will be passed down from one generation to the next. I also believe that the representatives delegated by B Tribuna will help ensure a more transparent and closer dialogue between the club’s administration and its fans,” said Darius Gudelis.
The decision to sell a share of the club to the fans is based on the philosophy of the most progressive European sports organizations. European practice shows that the direct involvement of fans in club management, regardless of the percentage of shares owned, is a hallmark of successfully living and thriving organizations.
Sports organizations, such as the FC Barcelona and Real Madrid basketball clubs—have operated for decades on the socios model. In these organizations, thousands of registered members (fans) directly decide club governance issues and elect presidents, which guarantees stability and protects against investors of questionable reputation. Another basketball giant, Fenerbahce Istanbul, relies on a similar democratic principle. This basketball organization operates as a general association; it is the fan-members who vote in the general assembly for the club’s management, which then directly shapes the basketball team’s budget and strategic direction.
This model is also successful in European football. The 50+1 rule in the German league ensures that football club fans always retain the decisive decision-making power. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, clubs like AFC Wimbledon have proven that fan ownership can rescue and sustain an organization even after major crises.
The decision of Rytas Vilnius to integrate B Tribuna into the shareholder structure aligns it with progressive European sports organizations.
“Our motivation to become club shareholders came from very specific goals—to be close to the club, to understand the processes happening inside, and to ensure that decisions align with the interests of the community as we understand them. We will strive to ensure that the growth vector of Rytas Vilnius remains sustainable and based on fundamental values—community, loyalty, and love for the three most beautiful colors,” said Tomas Juskevicius, representative of B Tribuna.
Currently, the club’s 40 shares are distributed as follows:
Vilnius City Municipality – 16
Darius Gudelis – 10
Sostines Krepšinio Mokykla – 9
Olegas Sibkovas – 2
UAB Norvelita – 2
B Tribuna – 1