Finland races to build new event arenas with multiple mega-venues planned
Wednesday 8th July 2026 on 18:30 in
Finland
Finland is in a competitive push to develop new large-scale event arenas, with major projects underway in Vantaa, Helsinki, and Turku.
The Ministry of Finance rejected a state loan guarantee for Helsinki’s Garden project last November, citing budget constraints and competing arena initiatives. Financial Counsellor Sakari Lehtiö of the ministry’s capital markets unit confirmed the decision was influenced by other ongoing arena and venue projects, including those in Turku, Vantaa, and Helsinki’s Suvilahden arena, as well as the potential revival of the Helsinki arena.
In Vantaa, the Arena 3.3 project in Kivistö is set to become Finland’s largest indoor event venue, with a capacity of 20,000. Construction is slated to begin this autumn, with completion targeted for late 2028 and the first events in early 2029. The estimated cost is around €200 million, funded in part by international investor EPower Capital. The city of Vantaa will not finance or operate the arena but plans to establish an events office.
Helsinki’s Suvilahden arena, planned for the Tukkitori area, aims to be the largest in the Nordic countries, accommodating over 20,000 spectators—slightly more than the Garden project. The estimated cost is €250–300 million, with construction potentially starting between 2028 and 2030. Backers include SRV Group’s majority owner Ilpo Kokkila and former NHL players Olli Jokinen and Karri Rämö. Additionally, actor Mikko Leppilampi’s Suvilahti Event Hub, a separate entertainment complex, could begin construction as early as autumn 2026, with completion in 2029.
In Turku, Ratapihan Kehitys Oy is planning a multi-purpose arena near the railway station and Logomo, with a capacity of 8,800 for ice hockey and 10,250 for concerts. The arena is part of a larger €700 million urban development project, including residential and office buildings, possibly a hotel, and commercial spaces. The city of Turku has committed €42 million to the project, which must secure full funding by the end of this year. The arena alone is estimated to cost around €100 million.