Finnish arena shut by Russia sanctions to reopen in spring
The Guardian|January 03, 2025
Helsinki's main sports and entertainment arena is expected to reopen in the spring after a Russian sanctions drama left it out of action.
Miranda Bryant
Finnish arena shut by Russia sanctions to reopen in spring

Helsinki Halli, formerly the Hartwall Arena, closed after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, when its Russian owners were subjected to sanctions from the EU and US. This meant they were boycotted by the entertainment industry, and banks and insurance companies refused to provide essential services.

The last events to be held at the 14,000-capacity venue were an ice hockey game and the televised Finnish sport gala in January 2022.

The closure nearly three years ago left the professional ice hockey club Jokerit without a home and Helsinki without a large-scale arena for hosting big cultural events and international music acts.

Last year, the city of Helsinki threatened the Russian-Finnish businessmen Gennady Timchenko and Roman Rotenberg, who control the company that owns the arena, with expropriation unless they agreed to sell it.

Under the sanctions, they are allowed to sell their shares, but they are subject to approval by the EU and local authority. If the transaction is completed, any profits will be frozen until sanctions are lifted.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 03, 2025 من The Guardian.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 03, 2025 من The Guardian.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

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