Kuopio Palloseura, which turned 100 years old this year, has won medals for the last seven seasons in the Veikkausliiga. Success has required money, but now new winds are blowing in Kuopio.
Kuopio Palloseura, which has played strongly in recent years, wants to fix its finances. Since 2000, KuPS oy has made a loss of well over 10 million euros. A heavy loss is coming for this year as well.
Main owner of KuPS Ari Lahti has offset the company’s losses, but now they want a clear change in the financial figures. The team’s player budget will be reduced and the company’s cost structure will be carefully reviewed.
Started as the new CEO of KuPS in November Tomi Erola trusts that the club will remain at the top of the Veikkausliiga, despite the financial crisis.
– We also have a strategy reform in the works and the role of our own players in the team is growing, says Erola.
Player acquisitions are carefully considered. The new KuPS boss plans to increase income financing by increasing business sales. We also want to improve viewership numbers.
The Kuopio Palloseura is also still waiting for the progress of the Keskuskettan stadium project. The club’s goal is to get a stadium in the fourth category of UEFA, or the European Football Association, and 8,000 spectator seats in Kuopio. In this case, national matches and Champions League group stage matches could also be played in Kuopio. It would also be possible to hold other events at the renovated stadium.
The stadium renovation, which has been pending for years, is still being prepared, and the progress of the project still requires decisions by the city government and the council. The city is still specifying the stadium’s future operating and maintenance costs.
The stadium project is estimated to cost more than 16 million euros. The city of Kuopio would pay most of that. KuPS’ annual stadium rent could be around 200,000 euros.