Finance improves at Lahti’s event company running Sibeliustalo

The city-owned event company Eventum Lahti, which operates Sibeliustalo, reduced its losses to €55,000 last year, reports Yle. This marks an improvement from 2024, its first full year of operation, when the company posted a €240,000 deficit.

Cost-cutting measures included staff reductions from 38 to 25 employees and competitive tendering for services such as ticket sales, catering, IT, and cleaning. Eventum Lahti was established in late 2023 to replace KOKO Lahti, which had accumulated a €2.5 million loss in its final year.

Despite the progress, Eventum Lahti fell €65,000 short of its 2025 target of a €10,000 profit. Cancellations of corporate events and concerts, along with underperforming trade fair operations, contributed to the shortfall. Managing Director Kimmo Kivisilta attributed the improved results to the staff’s efforts.

Eventum Lahti manages multiple venues, including Sibeliustalo, Finlandia Club, Lahti Fair Centre, Lahti Concert Hall, and the Fellmania event centre. The company aims to boost corporate sales by highlighting its unique offerings, such as Sibeliustalo’s scenic views over Lake Vesijärvi, which Kivisilta noted give Lahti an edge over competitors like Tampere.

A shadow over the company remains: in March 2026, the Hämeenlinna Administrative Court overturned a €2.8 million investment decision by Lahti’s city council, citing potential illegal state aid. The city is reviewing its next steps.