ASM Global joins Helsinki’s major new entertainment hub project

ASM Global has joined forces with Suvilahden Areena Oy to accelerate plans for a new entertainment hub in Helsinki.

A major redevelopment project at the Hanasaari power plant area in Finland’s capital city has already made some progress, with a new arena and festival site among the plans.

Now ASM and venue developer Suvilahden Areena Oy will collaborate to secure a development reservation for the area and to start the actual planning work in cooperation with the operators of the area and the city. They said the aim is to preserve as much of the power plant building as possible, supporting the local culture and environment and to combine the current festival area within the development.

ASM Global is supporting the music and live entertainment venue, while there is also scope for incorporating sports programming on a major scale.

In March 2023, development group Suvilahden Areena Oy submitted a development reservation application. A feasibility and market research study, run by CAA ICON, confirmed the viability of the project in May 2023.

Unrivalled global network

Chris Bray, president of ASM Global Europe, said: “We believe that with our unrivalled global network, we will bring the world’s most sought-after concerts and artists to fans in Helsinki. Hanasaaren Voimala has an exceptional location. The possibility of building a new arena and entertainment hub by the sea with a festival area and an urban culture project is an exciting prospect.

“Suvilahden Areena Oy has done a great job together with CAA ICON, and we are looking forward to the project progressing in the near future.”

ASM already has a strong presence in Scandinavia and is now building on its recent expansion into Helsinki, which includes the Helsinki Cultural Centre. In Sweden, ASM’s Stockholm Live operates seven venues in the capital city alone.

Timo Nieminen, chief executive of Suvilahden Areena Oy, said: “Cooperation with ASM Global strengthens the credibility of our project. We get to use ASM’s experience and best practice regarding venue management. Basing the design on strong experience and insights is a prerequisite for a financially feasible project. Our cooperation will certainly continue in the planning phase with CAA ICON as well. We are now just waiting for the development reservation to be granted by the city. We aim to run a planning process, working with the key players in the area, the environs and the city of Helsinki, a new type of urban culture hub is developed. from the Suvilahti and Hanasaari power plant area.”