Promotion forces Kannuksen Ura to expand stadium and budget

Kannuksen Ura will need major investment after winning promotion to the Superpesis league, Yle reports. The small rural town’s baseball club will double its budget to about 500,000 to 600,000 euros, while the city plans improvements to the stadium.

Kannus city manager Jussi Niinistö said the promotion was excellent publicity for the town.

“The best possible marketing for Kannus is when a small rural town beats a Helsinki club,” Niinistö said in a video published by Yle.

Ura secured promotion by winning the Ykköspesis final series against Helsinki club Puna-Mustat. Its decisive match attracted a record 1,034 spectators, but only about 240 could sit under the protection of the stadium’s main stand.

Superpesis requires clubs to provide 1,500 covered spectator seats. Niinistö said the conditions would improve significantly next season, although Kannus would not reach the full requirement immediately.

The city, Ura and one of the club’s partners are considering a movable stand structure. Moving it and carrying out the earthworks for its foundations would cost about 30,000 euros. Installation and the purchase of seats would cost extra. The aim is to complete the earthworks before winter.

Superpesis also requires clubs to provide a high-quality matchday experience, maintain sustainable finances and sports operations, and offer facilities for multi-camera television production.

Clubs can receive a two-year transition period to meet the facility requirements. However, they must submit a credible and workable plan showing how the requirements will be met and how operations will be organised during the transition, said Miika Rantatorikka, executive director of the Finnish Baseball Association.

The association will now begin discussions with Kannuksen Ura. All clubs must submit documents concerning their facilities and finances in October, and the association will make its Superpesis licence decisions in November.

The larger crowds will also require more toilets and other visitor services. Ura’s baseball section chair, Anne Kolppanen, said sponsors and other partners would play an important role, particularly if the stands were full during the summer.

Niinistö said the promotion came at an ideal time for Kannus, which is celebrating 40 years since it received city rights. The city plans to celebrate Ura’s achievement during its anniversary wellbeing days this weekend.