Fans are getting thirsty during the Ice Hockey World Cup in Tampere.
Nearly 50,000 liters of beer has been sold at the Nokia Arena, where Finland’s home matches are held.
– Yes, we’re out of beer, Akko Vikström, CEO of the restaurant company, tells Ilta-Sanomat.
Finland reached the quarter-finals of the Hockey World Cup.
Success on the ice is also seen in the stands – and in beer sales.
At the Nokia Arena in Tampere, the golden drink is popular to say the least.
To date, nearly 50,000 liters of beer have been sold. I think last year we reached 100,000 liters throughout the championship. You can’t get to the same numbers now, but it’s a huge amount, says Aku Vikström.
The difference is that last year the entire restroom was arranged in Finland, one set in Tampere and one in Helsinki. This year the tournament is shared with Riga in Latvia.
Wikstrom is the CEO of the Noho Group, the restaurant group that is driving sales in the arena. He noted that even “Lonquero”, an alcoholic soft drink, sold 16,000 liters in the new pineapple flavor alone.
Expensive prices
At the Nokia Arena, a beer costs €9.20, or about SEK 105, for four deciliters. Something that has been described as “robbery prices”.
But Vikstrom thinks the prices are reasonable.
– Compare prices with similar events. Prices may seem high, but according to our assessment, the prices are in line with this type of world-class event, says Vickström.
Sales at WC last year came to a total of five million euros (57 million kroner) and the numbers for this year are almost at the same level.
Finland will face Canada in the quarter-finals later tonight. The match starts at 19.20 and can be seen on SVT Play.
