Isomäki Ice Hall
Former namesPorin jäähalli (1971–2015)
Isomäki Areena (2015–2022)
West Areena (2022–2023)
AddressMetsämiehenkatu 21, 28500 Pori
Pori
Finland
Coordinates61°28′25″N 21°45′48″E / 61.4735162°N 21.7632684°E / 61.4735162; 21.7632684
OwnerThe city of Pori
CapacityIce hockey: 6,150–6,400
Concerts: 4,000
Record attendance13,000 (1978, Ässät-Tappara final game)
Construction
Opened1971
Renovated
  • 1986–87
  • 1993
  • 1996
  • 1998
  • 2014–16
  • 2023
Tenants
Porin Ässät (SM-l) (1971–present)
Karhu HT (S-s) (2000–2022)
Porin Kärpät (KSM-s)(1990–2011)

Isomäen jäähalli, also known as Enersense Areena for sponsorship reasons is a multi-purpose arena located in Pori, Finland. The arena is used by ice hockey club Porin Ässät. The arena was opened in 1971 and the capacity for hockey games is 6 150 and for concerts 4 000.[1][2]

History

Artificial ice rink

Isomäki artificial ice rink in 1964

The Isomäen tekojäärata (Isomäki artificial ice rink) was originally built as an artificial ice rink in 1964 and replaced the natural ice of Juhannuslehto in the Herralahti district. The following year, the B-series matches of the World Hockey Championships in Finland were played on this rink.

New arena

Isomäki Areena from the inside

The artificial ice was transformed into an arena in 1971 after the first Ässät won the championship for the first time. The arena had a capacity of about 8,000 spectators. There were no seats at all in the arena, and the ice was surrounded on three sides by a partly wooden standing auditorium. The arena was improved during the 1970s and, for example, the first seats were built for about 500 people at the end of the decade. At the same time, the arena got its first decent changing rooms. In the past, the teams had had to change their equipment in the Pori Stadium a couple of hundred meters away, and walk from there to the arena. The standing auditorium was also expanded on top of the changing rooms. In the spring of 1978, an all-time record was seen in Isomäki, when the decisive final match of the Finnish Championship League between Ässät and Tappara was crowded to be watched by an estimated 13,000 people. The official audience for the match was reported to be 9,364.[3]

Renovations

The arena underwent its first major renovation in 1986–1987. thermal insulation and heating were installed into the arena, and the seating area was expanded. With the new east-facing seating area, the audience capacity of the Porin jäähalli was reduced to 7,500 spectators.[4] A second renovation was made in 1993 when the seating area was expanded. The standing auditorium at the west end was replaced with seats in 1996. The arena underwent a third major renovation in 1998. Additional seats were built and the wooden standing auditorium was replaced with a new concrete structure. At the same time, a second floor was built in the arena, which included new restaurant, sales and sanitary facilities, as well as modern benches. Ticket sales were also transferred from the ticket offices outside to the interior. Capacity decreased in the 1990s by about a thousand spectators when standing auditoriums were replaced by seats, and for the first time in 1998-1999 there were more seats than standing auditoriums. The renovated hall had only 2,500 standing auditoriums. There were seats for 4,400 people.[5] In 2010, a modern scoreboard showing a video was installed in the arena.

2016 renovations and modern day

Isomäki Areena before the 2014–2016 renovations

The most recent major renovation took place in 2014–2016, when the locker room facilities in the arena were upgraded and a new three-storey extension was built at the end of the arena. Restaurant facilities were also improved and expanded. In connection with the renovation, the technologies of the entire arena were also renewed.[6] At the same time, the capacity of the standing auditorium was reduced to about 2,200 spectators.[7] In connection with the reform, Länsi-Suomen Osuuspankki became the main partner of Ässät. It renamed the Porin jäähalli "Isomäki Areena".[8] The arena can accommodate 6,350 people after the latest renovation.

Isomäki Areena seen from the side of the entrance

In 2022, when the club ran into financial difficulties, the City of Pori bought the shares of Kiinteistö Oy Porin Jäähalli owned by HC Ässät Pori Oy, after which the city owns the arena alone.[9] The name sponsor of the arena expired in 2022 and the naming rights were given to the advertising agency West Creative Oy.[10] The arena will be known as "West Areena" during the 2022-23 season.[11]

On christmas day in 2022 Porin Ässät players accidentally broke a pipe while drilling the ice which caused the ice to melt.[12]

In 2023 after a successful season, the arena got a new jumbotron and new sound technology – increasing the amount of speakers from ten to 130. Isomäki also got more LED screens.[13] The jumbotron was reported to have the best image quality in all of Finland.[14] A standing section was added for away fans.

Notable events

International

National

The 1978 SM-liiga finals were played in the Isomäki Areena and the Hakametsän jäähalli in Tampere.

The 1979 SM-liiga finals were played in the Isomäki Areena and the Hakametsän jäähalli in Tampere.

The 1980 SM-liiga finals were played in the Isomäki Areena and the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki.

The 1984 SM-liiga finals were played in the Isomäki Areena and the Hakametsän jäähalli in Tampere.

The 2006 SM-liiga finals were played in the Isomäki Areena and the Ritari-areena in Hämeenlinna.

The 2009 SM-liiga relegation series was played in the Isomäki Areena and the Vaasa Arena in Vaasa.

The 2013 SM-liiga finals were played in the Isomäki Areena and the Hakametsän jäähalli in Tampere.

Retired jerseys

Ässät

2: Antti Heikkilä

4: Arto Javanainen

11: Raimo Kilpiö

12: Tapio Levo

13: Veli-Pekka ketola

89: Jaroslav Otevrel[lower-alpha 1]

Karhut

13: Lasse Heikkilä

RU-38

11: Raimo Kilpiö[lower-alpha 2]

See also

References

Sources

  1. ↑ "Enersense Areena". Visit Pori | Porin matkailuneuvonta (in Finnish). 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  2. ↑ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  3. ↑ Satakunnan kansa, 3.4 1978
  4. ↑ Jääkiekkokirja 1987-88
  5. ↑ Jääkiekkokirja 1998-99
  6. ↑ "Porin jäähallin remontissa loppukiri: "Töitä tehdään yötä päivää"". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  7. ↑ Paasi, Jussi (2013-11-21). "Isomäen seisomakatsomo pienenee". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Porin kiekkoväelle tärkeä nimi säilyy – jäähalli on nyt Isomäki Areena". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  9. ↑ kalle.aaltonen@pori.fi (2022-02-10). "Porin kaupunki ostaa HC Ässät Pori Oy:n omistamat Kiinteistö Oy Porin Jäähallin osakkeet". Pori.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  10. ↑ "Isomäki | Isomäki-areenan nimi julkaistaan lauantaina – Logot hallin seinässä vaihtuivat". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  11. ↑ "Isomäki Areenan uusi nimi on West Areena". assat.com. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  12. ↑ "Kinkunsulattajaiset päättyivät nolosti: "Pääsi lipsahtamaan" – Ässien seuraava kotipeli vaarassa". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  13. ↑ "Isomäki-areena | Ässien kotiareenan nimi vaihtuu jälleen – Uusi mediakuutio on tarjouskilpailun jälkeen jo valittu: kuin Nokia-areenan kuutio pienoiskoossa". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  14. ↑ "Liiga | Isomäki-areena sai Suomen tarkimman mediakuution ja uuden äänentoistojärjestelmän – näin paljon ne maksavat halliyhtiölle ja Ässille: "Se on kuvanlaadultaan 50 prosenttia tarkempi kuin Raumalla"". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  15. ↑ "Suomi-Tanska 21. huhtikuuta West Areenalla". assat.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.

Notes

  1. ↑ Number is retired but isn't hanging from the rafters of the arena.
  2. ↑ Retired by RU-38 successor, Ässät, in 2019. 52 years after the team was merged with Karhut
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