Tallinn, Pärnu and Tartu bid to host Estonia’s new arena

Tallinn, Pärnu and Tartu have submitted bids to host a planned multifunctional indoor arena, ERR reported. An independent expert will now assess the economic impact of each proposal before an expert committee makes a recommendation to the government.

All three cities submitted their applications and supporting documents to the Estonian Olympic Committee by the September 1 deadline, allowing the proposals to be compared, said Helen Veermäe, the committee’s project manager for the arena.

“The aim is to ensure that all possible locations are assessed on a comparable basis, primarily according to their substantive qualities and opportunities,” Veermäe said.

Tallinn proposed the Ülemiste freight station area as the arena’s location. Pärnu wants to build it near the future Rail Baltica terminal, in Veteran’s Park next to the Papiniidu Bridge and along the Pärnu River. Tartu has reserved a plot on Roosi Street near the Estonian National Museum.

The expert committee, established by the Olympic committee and the Ministry of Culture in May, will oversee the selection process. Its first task will be to choose an independent expert to conduct an economic impact analysis.

The expert will compare the economic impact of the proposed locations using the cities’ submitted materials, gather additional data if necessary and interview representatives of the cities and other relevant parties, Veermäe said.

The analysis is expected to take about three months after the expert committee confirms who will conduct it. The committee will then prepare a summary and submit its recommendation for the most suitable location to the government.

The government will make the final decision on which city will get the arena. The decision will also clarify when construction could begin and when the building could be completed.

The Olympic committee began preparing the arena project in November last year, including a visit to Finland to examine the business model of a multifunctional arena.

The project gained momentum after Estonia secured the right to host the 2029 European Basketball Championship. Estonia’s largest indoor arena is currently Tallinn’s Unibet Arena, which can accommodate up to 7,000 spectators.

The government is currently discussing next year’s state budget and the budget strategy for the following four years. Economy Minister Erkki Keldo told the Aktuaalne kaamera news programme on Tuesday that some investments would have to be abandoned to reduce the budget deficit, including buildings that might have been possible to construct in better economic times.