Suvilahti Areena oy wants to build a multipurpose arena in Suvilahti, Helsinki, for around 20,000 spectators.
The company is applying for a development reservation from the city of Helsinki in the Suvilahti area, next to shopping center Red and Kalasatama metro station.
The company wants to set aside the area bounded by Kaasutehtaankatu, Leonkadu and Koksikatu for the development of the arena project and to find out the conditions for its implementation.
According to the current plan, the arena is to be implemented as a private project.
The project company states in its application that the arena is planned with “music first” as a starting point. According to the principle, the arena should work especially well for concerts and cultural events.
Sport is also a significant part of the plan, but unlike, for example, in the case of Garden Helsinki, a certain sports club is not heavily involved in the Suvilahti arena project.
In the eyes of the arena crowd, the possible expansion of the North American major leagues into Europe is exciting.
“It is justified to prepare for the fact that in the next decade, transnational league structures such as the NBA and the NHL will be formed in Europe more clearly than at present. Helsinki must be ready to participate in this development,” the application states.
“The goal is for the arena to substantially improve Helsinki’s conditions for joining future international league structures and to serve as the hometown of a top-level international hockey or basketball club.”
Company aims for 130–150 events in the arena and around one million visitors per year.
In concert use, the capacity of the arena would be around 20,000, and for sports events 18,000.