On Tuesday, the hockey team SaiPa, which holds the league’s jumbo position, has published the means by which the team’s success could be regained. The plan is to be implemented in 2023–26.
SaiPa’s current season in the League has been quite sticky. The league team has lost 27 matches out of 47 matches played during the season.
1. More money
SaiPa intends to increase its turnover for its success. In 2026, Liiga-SaiPa’s turnover goal is 6.2 million euros. This season’s turnover is around 5 million euros.
The increased turnover is intended to be used, among other things, for player acquisitions. The Lappeenranta team’s player budget for this season is 1.9 million euros. In 2026, the budget is supposed to be 2.2 million euros.
– There are teams in the league that spend 3–4 million euros on players. However, 200,000 euros does not decide whether we are successful, it is the daily work that decides, says the CEO Jussi Markkanen Liiga-SaiPa.
2. More viewers
SaiPa’s weak success this season has also been reflected in decreasing viewer numbers. The low number of spectators will also affect the financial result of Liiga-SaiPa’s season, because a large part of the league team’s income comes from ticket sales.
CEO Markkanen says that sporting success brings with it financial success.
How do you expect people to come to Kisapuisto when the best players have sold out, CEO Jussi Markkanen?
– The market economy dictates that certain players cannot be kept here because they have such good offers elsewhere. We realized that our ability to pay is not enough, then we have to make those unpleasant solutions, Markkanen continues.
Revenue growth in the coming years is aimed at increasing audience numbers. The goal is that in 2026 SaiPa will organize other events than just ice hockey matches, for example concerts and private events.
3. More own crops
SaiPa’s goal is that in 2026 the representative team would have 10 of its own alumni and the youth national teams would have 1–2 SaiPa alumni per age group.
According to SaiPa’s strategy, the goals are achieved by improving the attractiveness of the team, good services for players and families, and high-quality development opportunities.
Jussi Markkanen is also one of the owners of SaiPa. According to him, SaiPa must keep the good young players themselves, and they should not leak to other teams.
4. Director of Sports
Liiga-SaiPa gave up the sports director during the corona years, and CEO Jussi Markkanen also took over the sports director’s duties.
– The temporary solution has stretched a little too far. The dual role has come to an end, says Markkanen now.
SaiPa is getting a new director of sports by the end of May. Next season’s coach will be decided later this spring.
Should Jussi Markkanen, as your CEO, take responsibility for the weak success and draw the necessary conclusions about it?
– Of course we look at everyone’s job descriptions when things go badly. Criticism is sometimes harsh, but it shows that we are interesting. It would be the worst situation if no one would be interested in us, says Markkanen.
Are you planning to leave SaiPa after this season?
– If it’s best for the club, I’ll definitely do it. But when it’s difficult, we roll up our sleeves, work even harder and see if it bears fruit, says Markkanen.