Flamingo Entertainment Centre to be completed ahead of schedule

Spa, restaurants, and cinemas all under one roof next to Jumbo shopping mall

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By Matti Huhta
     
      The largest entertainment complex in the Nordic Countries to fit under one roof, the Flamingo in Pakkala in the city of Vantaa, will open its doors in early September, two months ahead of schedule.
      “The weather has favoured construction, and there have not been any unpleasant surprises”, says Toni Pekonen, an executive at the financier of the Flamingo, the pension insurance company Varma.
     
On the third floor there is a cineplex operated by Finnkino, whose six separate theatres can accommodate 950 spectators at one time. The cinemas are also equipped to show 3D movies.
      At the beginning of September a spa world will also open in the complex. The largest indoor water park in Finland will have 10,000 square metres of floor space.
      Most of the space is taken up by an Inca-themed entertainment spa, including Mayan temples. The pools, the geysers, the water slides, and the massage pools will hold 2,500 people at the same time.
      “Complementing the entertainment spa is the “Spa and Wellness World”, which is restricted to adults”, says Hannu Hellman, director of the Aviaspa.
     
The heart of the spa, which has an Irish type of design, is a 40-degree heat pool. In the sauna world it is also possible to enjoy the heat of a German stone bath, or an Austrian fir branch bath.
      The main service provider of the entertainment world is the Flamingo Club, run by SK Restaurants of restaurateur Sedu Koskinen. The two-storey nightclub will fit up to 2,300 people.
      Niko Wikström, the head of the project, says that the idea is to offer both ordinary nightclub services, as well as Las Vegas -style shows. In September the club will have performances by mega-stars from years past, such as the Village People, Boney M, and Ace of Base.
      Another taste of the US entertainment capital is in the form of Gold Dust, a casino run by the Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY).
      “The activity is of the same type as in our Helsinki casino, but the stakes are smaller. Some of the gaming machines are being introduced to Finland for the first time”, says Jaro Larnio, manager of the Gold Dust.
      Toni Pekonen says that about 95 per cent of Flamingo’s facilities have been leased, and negotiations are continuing to find the remaining tenants.
     
There will be about ten restaurants and cafes on the restaurant floor. In addition, about 400 guests will fit into the restaurants of the Sokos Hotel.
      About 30 new shops will be connected by a corridor to the retail space that already exists in the Jumbo shopping mall next door.
      Flamingo’s other services include a bowling alley on the ground floor, and a medical clinic on the third floor.


Links:
  Flamingo website

MATTI HUHTA / Helsingin Sanomat
matti.huhta@hs.fi