Finnish ice hockey arena runs out of food during record-long final as players order fast food

The Kouvola arena sold out of food during the six-hour Finnish league final between KooKoo and Tappara, forcing staff to rush to nearby stores for supplies and players to order fast food, Yle reports.

The match, the second-longest playoff game in league history and the longest final ever, ended after midnight. KooKoo’s sales manager Aaro Väkevä said the sold-out arena saw nearly double the usual food sales, with over 700 meat pies, 500 hot dog cups, and hundreds of litres of coffee consumed.

“We’ve never had sales like this before,” Väkevä said, noting that staff scrambled to restock snacks from local shops when supplies ran low in the second overtime period. Fast food, including burgers from McDonald’s and Hesburger, was delivered to players to keep their energy up.

Around 100 staff, from kiosk workers to security, managed the event. Väkevä praised their dedication, calling them “extremely committed.”

The fifth final game takes place Saturday in Tampere, with KooKoo fans gathering in Kouvola’s town square to watch on a big screen. Local businesses will handle food and drink sales, with 1,500–2,000 spectators expected.