Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is ready to take part in developing a new type of large-scale event area as part of the City of Helsinki’s ongoing master plan for Käpylä sports park, helping to meet the growing space requirements for major events in the area. In the coming years, Käpylä sports park is set to evolve into an even more versatile hub for sports and events. According to Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, the area, which connects indoor and outdoor facilities, has strong potential to become an event park capable of hosting, for example, sports events, festivals and other large-scale gatherings in the future.
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is growing alongside the city and is ready to expand its operations into nearby outdoor areas. The Käpylä sports park is currently under development and is situated right next to the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. As an event park, it could bring together the surrounding outdoor spaces with the facilities of Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, including restaurants and a hotel. This would provide the comprehensive infrastructure required to host large-scale events.
”We see enormous potential in this area to strengthen Helsinki’s position as a leading event city while expanding it in new directions. We are committed to being part of the development of the area and are pleased that the city is also investing in it. The area could be developed for multipurpose use, making it possible to host a wider variety of events such as sports competitions and multi-day festivals,” says Lumia Ankkuri, Marketing and Communications Director at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.
Developing Helsinki’s event scene is a key driver in enhancing the city’s appeal and attracting international visitors to the capital. There is a growing need for venues that can host large-scale events, such as festival-type gatherings with more than 20,000 attendees.
A new event park would make it possible to host events both outdoors and indoors
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre already boasts the infrastructure required for large-scale events, from electricity and water supply to service areas for restaurant zones, as well as parking facilities for 4,600 cars and excellent public transport connections. The addition of a new event park would make it possible to host events both outdoors and indoors. The organisation of major events is further enhanced by the mobile Messukeskus Arena grandstand complex, introduced in September, which accommodates up to 5,000 people.
”Events boost the city’s vitality, generating significant income and employment benefits for the surrounding area, while also making Helsinki a more attractive place to live. An example of an event that has greatly enhanced the city’s appeal and international profile is Slush, the annual startup event held at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, which last year brought nearly 9,000 startup entrepreneurs and investors to Helsinki”, continues Lumia Ankkuri.
Investing in Helsinki’s events sector and enhancing the conditions for hosting events is also crucial for economic growth. In the post-Covid recovery, tourism in Helsinki has lagged behind other Nordic capitals. Meanwhile, cities such as Copenhagen are making substantial investments in international major events that span multiple areas of the city.
