Kajaani’s indoor sports hall ordered to close over safety concerns

The city of Kajaani has ordered the demolition of its 30-year-old indoor sports hall by the end of May, leaving hundreds of athletes—particularly football players—without a training facility, Kainuun Sanomat reports first.

Building authorities cited structural safety risks after reviews found the hall’s stability no longer met personnel safety standards. The decision ends years of temporary extensions for the aging air-supported dome, which opened in 1994.

Tuomas Sirviö, chair of the hall’s operating company, called the closure “a disappointment and a surprise,” noting that usage had been rising. The company had sought extensions since 2023, but negotiations with the city now shift to planning a replacement.

Football clubs scramble for alternatives

Football teams, the hall’s largest user group, face the biggest disruption. Kajaanin Haka chair Jarmo Anttonen estimates 700 local players—400 from his club alone—now lack indoor space. “The need for a new hall is urgent,” he said, calling for rapid construction.

Clubs are securing temporary gym slots in schools, with some help from other sports organizations. Kajaanin Haka’s head coach Karri Hentilä noted that spring weather may ease the crunch, but canceled matches and training delays have already begun.

Both Anttonen and Hentilä pointed to a “football boom” in Kajaani, underscoring the hall’s role in developing youth teams, including a U16 squad preparing for league play.

Military and other sports also affected

The Kainuu Brigade used the hall for fitness tests, while Superjymy, a local sports club, held off-season pesäpallo (Finnish baseball) training there. Superjymy CEO Mikko Kuosmanen said his athletes would adapt but stressed the need for a Kajaani-based replacement: “There’s no doubt the new hall should be here.”

Defense forces representative Ville Kotikumpu echoed the call, citing the need for “humane conditions” for military testing.

The hall, owned by a consortium of eight local clubs since 2005, had received multiple five-year extensions over its lifespan. Its artificial turf was installed in 2015.