Investors launch talks with Riga city council on hockey arena project
A group of Swiss and British investors, represented by "Metala buvju sistemas Ltd." (MBS), has launched talks with the Riga City Council on implementation of the project on a multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga.
A group of Swiss and British investors, represented by "Metala buvju sistemas Ltd." (MBS), has launched talks with the Riga City Council on implementation of the project on a multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga.
MBS head Janis Brinkmanis told LETA that the investors have already met with Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars and Riga City Council City Development Committee Chairman Andris Ameriks as the local government had expressed its plans on its own to implement the project as it is needed for organizing the 2006 world ice hockey championship in Riga.
"Multihalle Ltd." was named as the company to carry out the project, however, investors, represented by MBS and "Multihalle", have not yet agreed on a contract.
Brinkmanis however assured that the investors "are still here and nothing has been canceled, everything is possible".
The MBS head admitted that the talks were productive, mutual interest on cooperation and implementation of the project was shown and the next meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2003.
Regarding necessary agreements on documentation between investors and the city council, Brinkmanis pointed out that the local government believes that the arena must be constructed and signing of the contract is just a technical matter which would be tackled.
In commenting on future MBS and "Multihalle" consultations, Brinkmanis pointed to two solutions - either cooperation of investors is carried out with the city council or investors take part in the "Multihalle's" project with a small part of planned financing.
During two weeks that the group of Swiss and British investors, represented by "Metala buvju sistemas Ltd." (MBS), spent in Latvia late November, the details of a contract with "Multihalle Ltd." on construction of a multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga were not coordinated.
It was planned earlier that "Multihalle" would construct the ice hockey arena on the territory of the former Riga horse race track, while the Swiss and British investors would raise retail, recreation and suchlike facilities.
The investors' group includes the Swiss company "Maple Leaf Stadiums", British company "Planet Ice", Swiss "B+R Events" and British "Atlas Ward Building Systems". "Maple Leaf Stadiums" represents the U.S.-Canadian company "Cimco Lewis" in Europe.
"Multihalle" and the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation on November 13 finally signed a contract on construction of the multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga, in which the 2006 ice hockey world championships would be held.
The "Multihalle" and the Finnish company "JHC Arena Holding Oy Ltd." project stipulates construction of an arena with 12,000 seats. The costs are estimated at EUR 30-35 million (16.83-19.635 million lats).
Whereas Swiss and British investors will construct other buildings in the complex, their investment is estimated at USD 250-300 million (149.75-179.7 million lats).
On December 11, the Riga mayor assigned Vilnis Strams, director of the Riga City Council's City Development Department, to evaluate options for constructing a multi-functional ice hockey arena with the local government's funds and options for attracting investors.
As reported, if construction of the arena is not launched in Riga by September 2003, the International Ice Hockey Federation will officially consider holding the championship somewhere else, most likely, in Russia.
Janis Silakalns LETA
Copyright © LETA
MBS head Janis Brinkmanis told LETA that the investors have already met with Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars and Riga City Council City Development Committee Chairman Andris Ameriks as the local government had expressed its plans on its own to implement the project as it is needed for organizing the 2006 world ice hockey championship in Riga.
"Multihalle Ltd." was named as the company to carry out the project, however, investors, represented by MBS and "Multihalle", have not yet agreed on a contract.
Brinkmanis however assured that the investors "are still here and nothing has been canceled, everything is possible".
The MBS head admitted that the talks were productive, mutual interest on cooperation and implementation of the project was shown and the next meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2003.
Regarding necessary agreements on documentation between investors and the city council, Brinkmanis pointed out that the local government believes that the arena must be constructed and signing of the contract is just a technical matter which would be tackled.
In commenting on future MBS and "Multihalle" consultations, Brinkmanis pointed to two solutions - either cooperation of investors is carried out with the city council or investors take part in the "Multihalle's" project with a small part of planned financing.
During two weeks that the group of Swiss and British investors, represented by "Metala buvju sistemas Ltd." (MBS), spent in Latvia late November, the details of a contract with "Multihalle Ltd." on construction of a multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga were not coordinated.
It was planned earlier that "Multihalle" would construct the ice hockey arena on the territory of the former Riga horse race track, while the Swiss and British investors would raise retail, recreation and suchlike facilities.
The investors' group includes the Swiss company "Maple Leaf Stadiums", British company "Planet Ice", Swiss "B+R Events" and British "Atlas Ward Building Systems". "Maple Leaf Stadiums" represents the U.S.-Canadian company "Cimco Lewis" in Europe.
"Multihalle" and the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation on November 13 finally signed a contract on construction of the multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga, in which the 2006 ice hockey world championships would be held.
The "Multihalle" and the Finnish company "JHC Arena Holding Oy Ltd." project stipulates construction of an arena with 12,000 seats. The costs are estimated at EUR 30-35 million (16.83-19.635 million lats).
Whereas Swiss and British investors will construct other buildings in the complex, their investment is estimated at USD 250-300 million (149.75-179.7 million lats).
On December 11, the Riga mayor assigned Vilnis Strams, director of the Riga City Council's City Development Department, to evaluate options for constructing a multi-functional ice hockey arena with the local government's funds and options for attracting investors.
As reported, if construction of the arena is not launched in Riga by September 2003, the International Ice Hockey Federation will officially consider holding the championship somewhere else, most likely, in Russia.
Janis Silakalns LETA
Copyright © LETA