The Helsinki Seagulls will start negotiations for access to the Helsinki Arena. According to the new owners, European games could be possible already next season.
Sakari Lund,
Johannes Oikarinen
15.11. 19:43•Updated 15.11. 19:47
The sale of the Helsinki arena to a Finnish buyer group also opens up new opportunities for basketball and the Helsinki Seagulls. This week it was reported that the real estate company Trevian got the voting class C shares of Helsinki Halli Oy.
The hall, which was owned by Russian oligarchs, has not been used since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but events can be held there again in the future.
The Lithuanian Basketball Holding Company (BHC) became a new shareholder of the Seagulls in August. The share will initially be 10 percent, but it is planned to increase it significantly.
BHC has ambitious goals, but one of the factors slowing them down has been the hall conditions. The Seagulls play in the old and cramped Töölö Kisahalli. Euro games cannot be played there. Now, with the sale of the Helsinki arena, the future already looks different.
Urheilu asked a BHC representative From Rimantas Kaukenasiwhat the sale of the arena means for the Seagulls.
– It’s great that something finally happened there. For the Seagulls, the opportunity to play there would mean a lot. It would open the doors to European games and that is probably the most important thing. It is important for the team, the city and Finnish basketball to take steps and move forward.
BHC has already had a short discussion with the new owners of the arena.
– We will start the negotiations again immediately. I hope we can reach an agreement and work together towards great goals.
BHC planned to buy the arena itself, but Lithuanians don’t mind that the ownership went elsewhere.
– It has no meaning. The goal is to get the team to play in the arena.
“It’s time to take a step forward”
In EuroCup, the requirement for stand capacity is 5,000, and in the Euroleague, Europe’s highest level, 10,000. According to Kaukenas, Europelits could even be possible next season, if everything goes well. At BHC, we aim for the highest possible level.
– Finnish basketball has been very successful at the international level. I think people in Finland and Helsinki don’t understand that it’s time to take a step forward and get a chance to play in the EuroCup or the Champions League. It would increase love for the sport and bring more children to the sport.
Kaukenas also paints a picture that Finland’s best players could come back to Finland because of the separation games.
– You have so many great players. Why not bring some of the best players back to Finland to watch them? Perhaps Lauri Markkanen will come back one day and play here. You should never stop dreaming, Kaukenas finished.