The arena situation has long been a hot potato in Gothenburg.
Recently reported GP that the rivals Gais and Öis have sent in a joint letter to the municipality, with the aim of getting politicians to decide on a new arena on Heden (for 5,000-6,000 spectators).
Only a stone’s throw away is Gamla Ullevi. Öis and Gais play there today – as well as IFK Gothenburg and the women’s national team.
Now Fotbollskanalen can tell you about the very latest regarding Gamla Ullevi’s future.
The municipal companies Got event, which operates and rents out the arena, and Higab, which owns the property, have for some time now jointly begun to investigate how the arena can be expanded to meet the increased needs of the clubs.
In April, Got event and Higab, together with the architectural firm Liljewalls, jointly produced sketches of what a future upgrade of Gamla Ullevi could look like. It included, among other things, an increased capacity with around 4,000 spectators (Gamla Ullevi currently holds around 18,500 spectators) as well as improved lodges and restaurants.
Over the course of the season, plans for an upgraded version of Gamla Ullevi have intensified.
Got event, since the sketches in April, discussions have been held with Higab – which has landed in what is now called a “seduction study”.
– There, Higab looks at whether there are obstacles in the form of conflicting detailed plans or, for example, whether there are objections from neighbors, says Henrik Jutbring, event manager at Got event, to the Football Channel.
After the “seduction study”, Got event’s goal is to take the next step in the process which can ultimately result in an upgraded Gamla Ullevi. That step means that Higab carries out a regular preliminary study.
– The preliminary study itself will provide answers to many of the most important questions such as the scope of the project, quality, cost level, times, stage construction and the like, says Jutbring.
When do you think you can start a preliminary study?
– We will have a reconciliation regarding the “seduction study” here in the autumn with Higab. Then they have done a basic job, but I dare not say when a preliminary study is underway.
In order for everything to lead to a first sod at Gamla Ullevi, a series of points must fall into place. Those points differ depending on whether the current detailed plan for the area around Gamla Ullevi needs to be renewed or not, which the “seduction study” takes a closer look at.
If a new detailed plan is required, the process is as follows:
1. A feasibility study is drawn up by the property owner Higab
Describes the scope and quality of the project, cost level, times, staged expansion and more. The preliminary study forms the basis for further work and decisions.
2. Application for planning notice
The City Planning Authority’s notice to the property owner to start the planning work.
3. Preliminary design and investment calculation/operational calculation
First phase of a construction project. In this phase, needs and solutions are examined for further planning and cost calculations.
4. Investment decisions and operating decisions
Goes via Higab and the municipal board and the municipal council. Operational decisions are made by Got event together with the municipal board and the municipal council.
5. Detailed planning work
Municipal process for decisions on land use.
6. Planning and procurement
Production of drawings and documents for the construction project and for the selection of suppliers/contractors.
7. Phased expansion
The various phases of the construction project, divided in terms of time.
If the detailed plan does not need to be renewed, the process is shorter – and then looks like this:
1. Preliminary study is prepared by the property owner.
2. Preliminary design and investment calculation/operational calculation
3. Investment decisions and operating decisions
4. Planning and procurement
5. Phased expansion
How long the two different processes can conceivably take is still too early to answer, explains Henrik Jutbring.
At the same time, he is clear: A possible upgrade of Gamla Ullevi requires a political mission – which currently does not exist.
– This is such an extensive expansion that it is absolutely necessary, says Jutbring and elaborates:
– Today it is a civil servant initiative that has mainly come about in dialogue with IFK Gothenburg. We have seen that there are opportunities here. Then we looked at the building technical conditions to increase the capacity and find other advantages of an expanded arena. That is what needs to be studied more closely.
IFK Gothenburg chairman Richard Berkling recently said he believes the eventual women’s European Championship, which Sweden hopes to co-host with Denmark in 2029, plays into the accelerated arena plans.
– I think that has set some balls in motion, said Berkling to the Soccer channel.
Henrik Jutbring, for his part, believes that it is not possible to answer yet.
– But it’s no secret that major championships can generally lead to expansion of infrastructure. Via major championships, you simply take the opportunity to make investments in arenas, says Jutbring.
– Mind you, this is general, I have nothing to say about this particular case, but for example a large section of stands was added at Ullevi before the World Championships in Athletics in 1995.
He then continues:
– I see it as us and Higab taking the initiative to investigate the possibilities in collaboration with IFK Gothenburg. But ultimately this is a political decision. We civil servants can produce documents and do basic work.
– But my image is that we are active and want to meet the clubs on the issues that are important.
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IFK Göteborg has previously been clear that it wants to find a better arena solution, which, among other things, has received a significant part in the club’s new business plan that was presented this spring.
Blåvitt’s chairman Richard Berkling recently talked about how the arena issue is, for various reasons, “incredibly prioritized”, in a longer interview with Fotbollskanalen. One of the reasons is that they consider themselves to have worse commercial opportunities than their competitors.
– We have a worse competitive position than the clubs in Stockholm and Malmö in terms of the possibility of commercial income from the arena experience. Above all in terms of partner sales, Berkling said at the time.
In parallel with the work on Gamla Ullevi’s future plans, Got event, due to the above, has received an assignment from its own board to look more closely at possible commercial developments in the arena.
– It can be about surfaces, exposure, audience comfort or other things, says Henrik Jutbring.
– It is work that we do during the autumn together with the clubs. There, we look mostly from the perspective of the existing arena, but also at what is required going forward if smaller efforts and investments are made in the arena. In all of this, we have a starting point which is a dialogue with the clubs and the Swedish Football Association.
Jutbring believes that the development of the commercial opportunities is “very close to the hearts of the clubs”.
– I think we have a very good dialogue. We have had dialogue with both Gais and Blåvitt in recent weeks, both ahead of the coming season and about development opportunities in general.
– We want the same thing in many matters. We want to create conditions for good finances, good visitor experiences and good conditions for sports in our arenas.
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Last spring, it took until March 28 before IFK Göteborg and Got event signed an arena agreement for Gamla Ullevi. It was only four days before Blåvitt’s Allsvenskan premiere against Djurgården.
Then IFK Gothenburg’s club director Håkan Mild was frank in his criticism of Got event:
– We wonder how interested Got event and the city of Gothenburg are in creating something that measures up. How to proceed? We don’t think they are interested in finding solutions and getting better. The discussion has to be on the table somewhere – and it has been hidden for far too long, club director Håkan Mild told Fotbollskanalen after the agreement was signed.
Got events Henrik Jutbring then replied:
– We believe that development and collaboration come from increased understanding of each other’s perspectives. We look forward to future talks with IFK.
Since then, the dialogue has improved, said Blåvitt’s chairman Richard Berkling recently. Among other things, he explained that Got event has contributed “to the highest degree” to accelerating the issue of Gamla Ullevi, in an interview with Fotbollskanalen.
Henrik Jutbring also thinks that the dialogue between the parties has improved.
– We have had an ongoing dialogue and are heard in various forms almost every week. The dialogue is good and I think it’s very nice to have ambition. We all want to lift the event city of Gothenburg together. To create good conditions for good business, sporting success and well-attended events, says Jutbring.
At the same time, he says that the parties started discussing a future arena agreement with the clubs immediately after the latest one was signed at the end of March.
– We have had an ongoing dialogue since last spring. I have had a number of meetings with the clubs and experience a good tone. I have good hopes that we will end up in the right questions and be able to be out earlier.
– Then I hope and believe that we will be able to sign a longer agreement than one year this time. That would benefit the investment cycles we live in.
It is not only the football clubs IFK Göteborg and Gais that have had problems in agreeing with Got event on an arena agreement. This also applies to the ice hockey club Frölunda – which finally signed a three-year arena agreement for Scandinavium the day before the SHL premiere at the end of September, which GP previously reported on.
In that agreement, Frölunda is entitled to a so-called “kick back” on kiosk and restaurant sales. The percentage will be regulated before each year and is this season at 3.5 percent.
Jutbring cannot answer whether a similar solution will become a reality for football clubs such as IFK Gothenburg and Gais in future agreements.
– We are in the middle of a discussion there, so I think I want to have those discussions with the clubs immediately. Different arenas have different conditions. However, we are keen to offer the Allsvenskan clubs similar conditions at Gamla Ullevi, he says.
Frölunda and Got event have agreed that a third, neutral party should be involved in future negotiations between the parties. Henrik Jutbring, on the other hand, does not think it is necessary in the cases of the city’s football clubs.
– I see no such need. Absolutely not. I perceive that it is a very good tone and that we have a good development agenda.
