Kokkola completes unique hybrid sports and events complex

Kokkola Arena, a nearly 77 million euro sports and events complex, is now in use, Yle reports. The complex includes a multipurpose arena, a football stadium and an ice sports centre, making it the largest sports and events investment in the city’s history.

The arena’s official opening will take place next Monday. More than 2,500 people are expected at the free opening concert, and tickets have already sold out.

Tapani Mustonen, chief executive of Kokkola Sports Park, said the hybrid design makes the complex unique in Finland.

“There is nothing of this type elsewhere in Finland,” he said.

Regular bookings began on Wednesday, with evening slots filling particularly well. Mustonen said the level of use was in line with expectations.

Busy autumn programme

The arena’s first event will be Koti Expo at the end of September. The event will focus on interior design, renovation and housing. Sports events and concerts are also planned.

The calendar also includes private company events, pre-Christmas parties and wellbeing days combining sports facilities, meeting rooms and restaurant services. Events have already been scheduled for next spring, while discussions are under way about events for next summer and autumn.

Mustonen said the arena also has ambitions to host major concerts.

Users praise the new facilities

Five women attending a weekly exercise class for the city’s pensioners praised the new facilities as clean and bright. They said Kokkola could be proud of the arena and welcomed the fact that several groups could use the hybrid complex at the same time.

They said some adjustments were still needed. The exercise hall had been very hot on Wednesday, although the air conditioning was working the following day. The lights were also too bright, but staff had promised they could be dimmed.