Seasonal ice rink will open at Helsinki railway station square in November 2006

Opening ceremony planned to coincide with switching on of Christmas lights in Aleksanterinkatu

print this

The much-awaited seasonal ice rink in Helsinki's central railway station square will open in late November this year, confirms Anssi Rauramo, head of the City of Helsinki Sports Department.
      Originally, the removable outdoor ice rink was supposed to open this winter, but according to Rauramo the time schedule proved too tight. Also, there were problems with funding.
      "But now it is absolutely certain that the attraction will be set up", Rauramo promises.
      "The opening ceremony will take place either on the last weekend of November or on the first of December 2006. We will try to combine it with turning on the Christmas lights on Aleksanterinkatu", he says.
     
In this year's budget, the City of Helsinki has reserved EUR 850,000 for the undertaking. The Ministry of Education declined to offer assistance.
      Rauramo has been responsible for sponsorship deal negotiations.
      "There has been progress in finding private sponsors, even if no final contracts have been signed as yet. The sponsorship deals should be ready by August at the very latest."
      The idea is that outside partners would take part in running the place; in other words, they would account for the ice rink's operating expenses.
     
The initial price tag for the attraction was estimated at EUR 950,000.
      "With the delays, there has been time to refine the technical solutions and figure out ways to reduce expenses", confirms the Sports Department's technical planning chief Antti Salaterä.
     
According to Salaterä, the high standard ice creation has been modelled on the likes of Copenhagen's highly popular Kongens Nytorv skating rink.
      Rautatientori Square's ice track will be 55 by 35 metres in size. A rubber carpet will cover the surrounding flat area, which will make it possible to walk there wearing ice skates. Furthermore, there will be three technical cubicles on site for changing, etc. The facilities have been designed by architectural studio Huttunen & Lipasti.
     
When needed
, the ice rink could be erected anywhere where there is an electric mains transformer and access to the water main. In Rautatientori the ice rink is scheduled to operate from November till March.
      The next artificial ice rink for Helsinki will be constructed either in the city district of Kontula or in the Tapuli sports park. According to plans, the construction of this track would start next year, with a likely completion date in 2008.


Links:
  Plans drafted to bring seasonal ice rink to liven up Helsinki's central railway station square (15.11.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat