Questions grow over €35m state backing for Helsinki Garden

The political dispute over a €35 million state investment pledge for the Helsinki Garden arena project has intensified after the project's chairman, Jan Vapaavuori, acknowledged discussing the proposal with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, while opposition parties continued to demand documents explaining how the funding decision was reached. The Finnish government approved the conditional investment support during its 2025 mid-term budget negotiations. The money will only be paid if the planned arena in Helsinki's Töölö district is built.