In terms of playing conditions, an important issue for AC Oulu is the progress of the Heinäpää stadium project. However, according to CEO Hanna Väänänen, operations must be developed now and regardless of that.
Antti Heikinmatti,
Marko Siekkinen
AC Oulu with a new CEO Hanna in Väänänen has an ambitious goal: to make his employer the most interesting Sports Club in Northern Finland.
There’s plenty to do, at least if you compare the hard numbers. Oulu’s number one club, Kärppie’s average audience is more than three times that of AC Oulu, and the difference in finances is also huge: Kärpät made more profit than AC Oulu had turnover.
The comparison between a hockey club and a football club is perhaps unfair, but the matter can be considered from other perspectives.
Väänänen talks about events, social media and engaging fans, for example. An important piece is also junior work, which will be invested in significantly more in the future.
He also wants to highlight the team’s player personalities more in public.
– There are real people there on the field as well. The more authentic you get, the more interesting it is.
AC Oulu will play its first home game of the season against SJK on Saturday 29.4. from 5 p.m. sport follows the match and other events of the day in this article.
The dancer broke the glass ceiling
Väänänen made history in April (you switch to another service), when she became Veikkausliiga’s first woman in the position of CEO. Before her, there have been women as executive directors of men’s league clubs, but not as managing directors.
The glass ceiling has been talked about, but the discussion about Väänä’s gender or the league’s nomination culture does not excite much.
– Now it’s 2023, it’s about time. But I believe more in the fact that people – regardless of gender – do work. You can go far with your own expertise, skill and enthusiasm.
Väänänen started at AC Oulu as a sales manager. When the selection of a new CEO became relevant Juho Meriläinen after moving to development director, there was no need to look far for a replacement.
Väänänen was appointed to his position without a public search. According to the release, in one year he had time to show “with his own work that he is capable of handling the CEO’s laundry”.
– My strength is perhaps that I am very enthusiastic. I am very motivated to develop and move things forward. And maybe also a certain firm grip, Väänänen analysed.
Väänänen has actually worked in sports all his life. Football has been one of my favorite sports since childhood, along with dance.
In dance, he managed to go higher, up to the world championship level. A competitive sports background brings determination, competitive spirit and goal orientation.
– It brings pressure to be better all the time and to develop.
Now football is number one, it’s not only work and a lifelong fan of the sport that takes care of it, but also Väänänen’s two ball-playing sons.
The Heinäpää stadium would be a big step
On the day of the interview, it is snowing and sleeting horizontally in Oulu. So it’s good to talk about game conditions. AC Oulu’s biggest issue here is the Heinäpää stadium project, which is currently stalled due to complaints.
In Väänänen’s opinion, its progress is “very important” for the team both in terms of match events and in a sporting sense. Having your own artificial turf would remove, for example, early season considerations about whether the first home games can be played in Oulu.
– Of course, it is basically unconditional. But on the other hand, you can’t get hung up on that either, but a lot of things can be done right now and invested in this moment, Väänänen reminds.
AC Oulu made a loss of almost 840,000 euros last fiscal year with a turnover of 1.3 million euros. According to Väänänen, there are “big investments” in the background, which are continued primarily from the point of view of profitability.
– It cannot be assumed that the repair movement will happen in an instant, but we are going there. Of course, that requires a lot of support and help, and everyone involved.
As CEO, Väänänen’s areas of responsibility do not include gaming matters, but indirectly he sees that he can influence the fact that the entire organization, including the players, has reason to be proud of their employer. It certainly wouldn’t hurt on the field either.
In Väänänen’s visions, AC Oulu will establish its position in the Veikkausliiga and rise to medal fights within five years. The club has potential, says the new CEO.
– It’s a lot of work, but it’s so cool that you get to develop and take this up and you get to do great things, hopefully all the time for a bigger and bigger audience.