TAMPERE. For the second year in a row, the Tampere arena offers a cool setting for the World Ice Hockey Championship. Areenayhtiö’s CEO Marko Hurme visited another host city in Riga over the weekend and has noticed elsewhere too that Tampere can withstand tough international comparisons. Many of the world’s top players have also proven that Tampere’s arena is NHL-level.
– One thing we are admired for is the speed to move from one type of event to another. A lot of attention was paid to this already in the planning phase, and it’s great that it pays off, says Hurme.
The beginning of the hall and the planning phase were colored by the corona pandemic. Finally, the real action was reached in December 2021, when the Tappara and Ilves derby was played in the arena.
– The preparation of a new, wonderful, lofty and experiential arena in remote meetings due to the corona meant that the preparation was far from experiential, Hurme smiles.
It’s easy to smile now, because the first years of the arena have been full of success.
From the point of view of ice hockey, the start could not have been better: Tappara has celebrated two Finnish championships, Ilves two bronze medals and Leijonat the world championship. All this has happened within a year, and all five medals have been decided in Tampere in favor of the home team.
– An incredible job!
Will the magic of Tampere continue in these games too, i.e. will Finland win gold again?
– I believe and hope so. The funniest thing about this story is that all the champions are from the same locker room. So here is also the magic of that dressing room!
In other words, Leijonat uses the same locker room as Tappara.
The CEO does not dare to promise Finland a second consecutive world championship. He saw such a high-quality team on Sunday evening in Latvia.
– I went to Riga on the weekend to watch the game between the Czech Republic and Switzerland. It must be said that Switzerland is a tough gang.
The location in the center determines a lot
There is no pure bliss even in the Tampere arena. The condition of the ice at the World Cup has drawn criticism, although earlier during the Games the International Ice Hockey Federation Iihf said For Iltalehti (you switch to another service)that the teams have not complained about the ice directly to the organizers.
In Monday’s morning training, the Swedish and Danish players wondered about the bump on the ice.
A big structural issue is the narrowness of the hall’s corridors, which is a problem in sold-out events. There is also little counter space in the corridors, which makes enjoying drinks and food difficult.
– We would have liked the arena to be eight meters wider and four meters higher. Let’s go with these snacks. We manage well with this too and you have to remember that we are in the middle of the city.
Those operating at the arena expected that consumers might have difficulties arriving at the venue, but at least there have been no major grumblings. Due to the location of the arena, the importance of public transport has been emphasized in Tampere.
The managing director’s own logistics have thrown a bull’s-eye at the World Cup. Hurme has a study in the arena, but it is not at his disposal now.
– A big event requires stretching from everyone, and the CEO is by no means outside of that. My office room is now used by the German team. I have found myself quite often at one restaurant table, organizing various things. And there are sheds here that you can use.
A winning result from last year
The occupancy rate is the lifeblood of the financial profitability of large arenas. In Tampere, the occupancy rate has been very high, at least so far. The goal has been to have 130 events in the arena every year, but last year there were 166 events, and this year too there will be around 160.
– Our calendar has been pretty much full, which is why there would hardly have been any more big events here. Some have been left in the pipeline mainly because of the way big artists want to tour in Northern Europe.
What is the importance of hockey to the whole?
– The World Cup is a very big thing, but it has its own chapter. The league games are then basic activities that bring community and the acceptance of the townspeople to the arena. Financial matters depend a lot on getting big concerts, Hurme sums up.
The CEO reveals that the arena company’s financial result for 2022 is profitable, but the time for accurate readings is in the coming weeks.
One of the company’s goals is to build the value of the arena for the moment when the arena is sold on. Sales are hardly a matter of the next few years.
A cluster of large companies owns 60 percent of the arena and the city of Tampere 40 percent. The sale of the Helsinki arena to Russian pohats did not end well.
– I wouldn’t be too worried as a Finn or a city dweller. This will eventually end up in good hands, Hurme talks about the Tampere arena.