Features
ASM Global To Develop Helsinki Event Grounds
ASM Global today announced a partnership with Suvilahden Areena Oy in Finland for the future development of the Hanasaari power plant area – Hanasaaren Voimala – in the country’s capital Helsinki.
The site is best-known for hosting Helsinki’s annual Flow Festival, which hosts some 30,000 visitors per day.
See: Finland’s Flow Festival Celebrates Record Attendance
Suvilahden Areena Oy, a privately owned Finnish development company, applied for a development reservation for the site in March 2023. A further feasibility and market research study was then completed in May 2023 by world-leading venue consultants CAA ICON, which “confirmed the viability of the project economically (…) provided that the city is contributing to the implementation of the project,” according to a press release announcing the partnership between ASM Global and Suvilahden Areena Oy.
Both companies’ shared goal is to secure a development reservation for the area and to start actual planning work in cooperation with the operators of the area and the city.
Plans include “to build an arena onsite and use the existing structure and festival grounds to continue to cultivate the area for music, arts and events,” while preserving “as much of the power plant building as possible, supporting the local culture and environment and to combine the current festival area within the development.”
According to ASM Global, “there is also scope for incorporating sports programming on a major scale.”
President of ASM Global Europe, Chris Bray, commented, “Hanasaaren Voimala is a major next step for ASM Global in Finland. We already have a strong presence in Scandinavia and are now building on our recent expansion into Helsinki, which includes Kulttuuritalo. We believe that with our unrivalled global network, we will bring the world’s most sought-after concerts and artists to fans in Helsinki.
“Hanasaaren Voimala has an exceptional location. The possibility of building a new arena and entertainment hub by the sea with a festival area and an urban culture project is an exciting prospect. Suvilahden Areena Oy has done a great job together with CAA ICON, and we are looking forward to the project progressing in the near future.”
See: ASM Global Appoints Emilia Mikkola As Kulttuuritalo GM In Finland
CEO of Suvilahden Areena Oy, Timo Nieminen, added, “Cooperation with ASM Global strengthens the credibility of our project. We get to use ASM’s experience and best practice regarding venue management. Basing the design on strong experience and insights is a prerequisite for a financially feasible project. Our cooperation will certainly continue in the planning phase with CAA ICON as well.
“We are now just waiting for the development reservation to be granted by the city. We aim to run a planning process, working with the key players in the area, the environs and the city of Helsinki, a new type of urban culture hub is developed. from the Suvilahti and Hanasaari power plant area.”