The police have completed the on-site investigation regarding the football stadium that was destroyed in the fire. It is known what the insurance company is at least able to compensate.
Joel Sippola,
Pertti Lappalainen
The home stadium of Gnistan, which plays in the Veikkausliiga football league, in Oulunkylä was completely destroyed by fire in July. CEO of the club Ilkka Vanala tells Urheilu that the situation has now taken a significant turn.
– We received a message from the police that the site investigation has ended. We can start dismantling the stadium and we can have a discussion with the insurance company.
Demolition will start on Monday. The police have told Gnistan that the investigation could last from weeks to several months.
– We hope that this would also be resolved. We would catch the covers of the book in order to know what the cause of the fire was. It no longer affects the operation as such.
Gnistan can now begin to dismantle the stadium and install a new artificial turf surface.
– We are trying to get dressing rooms and office space. It will take some time. Then we can start thinking about next season and the future on that side.
The insurance covers the dismantling
It is also clear what the insurance company can at least compensate. It includes demolition and field replacement.
Vanaja says that changing the field in particular is extremely important for Gnistan’s operations. There is no certainty yet about other things to be replaced.
– The challenge is that so much stuff has accumulated over the years and even decades that the use value was high. Getting to such values and assurances is not realistic. In any case, this will be a loss of several hundreds of thousands. There is an active discussion with the insurance company about what and when to compensate, says Vanaja.
Donations
Vanaja has been delighted with the support that Gnistan has received after the fire. Overall, there has been a lot of optimism in the air.
Gnistan has played its home matches at the Töölö football stadium so far.
– We have started building a new one. We are a little structured, what to do now and what to do next.
– The desire to do shines through everything. We want to get things on track quickly. Both at the junior level and on the representative side, Vanaja continues.
Gnistan received a lot of donations, especially in the beginning. They have received money in many ways.
– On the donation side, we are talking about a sum of 100,000 euros. In addition to that, there have been fan product sales. We have received a few new partnerships. A few thousand more have been accumulated through that.
The core of the club is in Oulunkylä
Gnistan moved up to Veikkausliiga for this season. In terms of sportsmanship, despite the difficult situation, it has been smooth, as it is ninth, one point away from eighth place.
Even before the fire, the situational issues were on the surface. It has been hoped that Gnistan will upgrade its conditions in Oulunkylä to better Veikkausliiga level.
Vanaja says that Gnistan wants to play in the Veikkausliiga in Oulunkylä next season as well.
– The core is here. The lights are under construction. We get a new surface for the artificial grass. The functional requirements for playing in the Veikkausliiga exist.
– We still need a dressing room space and some part of the stand, but I believe that we will get them in order for next season. This is our home, where we want to play. No two questions.
No compromising on player budget
How is the economic entity built so that Gnistan’s future can continue in the future as well?
– We have to start budgeting how to do it. Of course, all insurance claims and others will affect what we do next season. I am confident that we will find a solution, but the amounts that are being talked about are still in the dark.
– You have to think about the overall business. What all the parts are there that we can invest in. We have to thank the owners who believe in this and help financially in difficult times, if necessary. However, credit is tough. We will play football in Oulunkylä next year and the junior activities will grow at the same time.
Are there any changes to the player budget for next season?
– It’s hard to see us starting to cut from there. We want to establish a place in the Veikkausliiga. We will continue to invest in the sporting side, Vajaja states.