At Imatra, they dream of a league place, but money is tight.
Ketterä is currently playing in Mesti’s finals against Jokeris. Tomi Natri / AOP
Imatran Ketterä, which is applying for a SM league license for the 2026–27 season, is facing tough financial challenges.
In the financial year 2024–25, the club operated with a turnover of 633,000 euros, its net result was a loss of 9,000 euros, and its equity was 29,000 euros down.
For the sake of comparison, for example, the turnover of Vaasan Sport, the jumbo team of the SM league, was 8,295,000 euros, the net profit was 82,000 euros and the equity was 1,559,000 euros.
Since then, Ketterä has been able to increase its equity to the plus side, but there is still a long way to go even to the champions of the SM league.
– Yes, we would be by far the smallest league team, chairman of the Imatra club Mikko Partanen grant.
Jokers crushes
The lack of equity is a significant challenge for Kettera. For example, the corresponding reading of Jokerien, who are aiming for the SM league, is 1,169,000 euros, i.e. a clear middle class even at the main league level.
– Equity gives shoulders to make investments in the future. It also helps if there are worse seasons, Partanen describes.
If there were to be no bad seasons, what kind of risk would an increase be for Ketterä?
– Of course, there are always risks associated with the hockey business, but they must be kept under control.
By controlled risk-taking, Partanen means, among other things, the player budget that Ketterä has planned for the SM league. It would be a very moderate 1.3 million euros.
The announced player budgets of the SM league teams this season are in the range of 1.5–3.5 million euros. However, the sums are expected to increase clearly for the next season, when three teams will be eliminated from the main league. Bets are lost.
Is it realistic to manage in the SM league with 1.3 million?
– I believe that it will result in a competitive team. We have been in the middle stages and even below Mesti’s budgets, and we have still managed in those years, notes Partanen.
– Player budgets do not currently dictate who succeeds and who doesn’t in the SM league. Yes, they are completely different factors.
Evacuate?
In order to play in the SM league, Ketterä would need an exception permit, because its home hall does not meet the league’s requirements. The hall can hold only 1,300 spectators, of which there are seats for 800.
The license conditions require 4,000 people Vetava halli and 2,500 seats for teams in the main league.
Kettera has several options for using the exception permit. Partanen does not want to specify what they are, but Imatra may seek a model from, for example, Jokers, who played for Mest in the 2023–24 season in both Helsinki and Kerava.
Would a Joker-like solution be possible for you?
– Such a combo is also an option. We are still leaving all possibilities open.
Next, Imatra will focus on Mestis’ final matches and strengthening the capital and cash base. On the table of the club bosses are, among other things, starting a share issue and applying for larger partner financing.
One of the club’s shareholders has loaned Ketterä 10,000 euros, but according to Partanen, its repayment is not urgent.
