Helsinki Arena is reopening in October after being closed for more than three and a half years. The 15,500-seat venue in Pasila has stood unused since March 2022 when EU sanctions forced its shutdown following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The closure was tied to sanctions against Russian oligarchs Boris Rotenberg and Gennady Timchenko, who owned the property at the time. Now under Finnish ownership, the Arena is preparing to welcome audiences back and restore its place as one of the most important entertainment venues in the country.
A Finnish real estate investment firm purchased the property last spring, officially ending Russian ownership. The Arena’s new title sponsor will be Veikkaus, Finland’s state-owned gambling company, replacing the former naming rights partner Hartwall. With this change, the Arena is not only reopening but also entering a new chapter with fresh branding and direction. Concert promoter Live Nation is working with the venue to bring major performances back to Helsinki.
So far, three concerts have been confirmed. The first will feature the Finnish band Vesterinen Yhtyeineen on 8 October in a smaller 5,000-seat theatre-style setup. Just days later, on 9 October, Swedish pop group Roxette will perform with Lena Philipsson stepping in as lead vocalist following the death of original singer Marie Fredriksson in 2019. Roxette last appeared in Finland at Pori Jazz earlier this summer. On 16 October, legendary singer Bob Dylan, now 84, will return to the Arena where he last played in 2019. He has a long history with Finland, having also performed at Pori Jazz in 2014 and earlier at the Arena in 2003 and 2008.
Live Nation Finland CEO Mirkka Rautala has said that event organisers are already able to reserve dates, even as early as September, although no other public events have yet been announced before Vesterinen’s concert. At this stage, there are still no sports fixtures on the calendar. The Arena has a strong connection to Finnish sports history as it was once the home ground of ice hockey team Jokerit. It was originally built in 1997 under the direction of Harry Harkimo, the former Jokerit owner who is now an MP and chair of the Movement Now party.
The reopening of Helsinki Arena is more than just another venue opening its doors. After years of silence and uncertainty caused by sanctions and ownership disputes, the Arena is back in Finnish hands and ready to welcome fans of music and entertainment once again. Its return adds new energy to the city’s cultural life, and October marks the beginning of what many hope will be a vibrant new era for one of Finland’s best-known arenas.
