Helsinki Arena to re-open in October after three-year closure

By admin On Aug 19, 2025

The new name of Helsinki Arena, Veikkaus Arena, is visible in full on the facade banner of the arena in Helsinki. Photo: Mikko Stig / Lehtikuva

Helsinki Arena will open its doors again in October after more than three and a half years of closure linked to EU sanctions on its former Russian owners.

The 15,500-seat venue in Pasila has stood unused since March 2022. The shutdown followed sanctions against Russian oligarchs Boris Rotenberg and Gennady Timchenko, who previously owned the property and were targeted after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A Finnish real estate investment firm bought the Arena last spring, ending Russian ownership. The venue’s name and branding will now reflect its new corporate sponsor, Veikkaus, Finland’s state-owned gambling monopoly. Drinks manufacturer Hartwall had previously held naming rights.

Concert promotion company Live Nation is also involved in the Arena’s revival.

Only three concerts have been announced so far. The first is by Finnish band Vesterinen Yhtyeineen on 8 October, using a smaller 5,000-seat theatre-style layout.

Bob Dylan, 84, is set to perform on 16 October. He last played the venue in 2019 and has also performed in Finland at Pori Jazz in 2014, and earlier at the Arena in 2003 and 2008.

The third scheduled event is a 9 October concert by Swedish pop act Roxette, now fronted by Lena Philipsson. She replaces original singer Marie Fredriksson, who died in 2019. Roxette appeared at Pori Jazz in July.

Live Nation Finland CEO Mirkka Rautala said event organisers can already reserve dates, including in September, but no other public events are confirmed before Vesterinen’s concert.

No sports fixtures have been announced. The Arena once served as the home venue for ice hockey club Jokerit. It was originally built in 1997 under the leadership of former Jokerit owner Harry Harkimo, now an MP and chair of the Movement Now party.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi