Uncertainty grows over former Hartwall Arena
Finland's largest arena is out of use due to its Russian ownership, while its longtime naming rights partner has pulled out
News By James Hanley | 22 June 2022
The future of the former Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland is unclear, with shows relocated and its naming rights partner terminating its long-standing sponsorship due to the venue’s Russian ownership.
The country’s largest arena, the 15,500-cap venue has been owned by Arena Events Oy (AEO) since 2013 but has been shuttered since two of the company’s co-founders, Gennady Timchenko and Boris Rotenberg, were added to the UK’s sanctions list following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland’s National Enforcement Authority reportedly confiscated Timchenko’s 22.5% holdings in the venue in April.
Helsinki-based Beverage giant Hartwall ended its 25-year association with the building soon after the war began, leading the arena to be renamed Helsinki Halli.
“The arena will not bear Hartwall’s name, and…
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