Faniyhdistys Eteläpääty ry has taken an active role in rescuing the Jokers.
- Jokerit makes a return to play in Finland.
- However, many things are still open, and there is already a rush for the next season.
- A new limited company is likely to be set up to save the club.
The Jokers left the KHL season after Russia invaded Ukraine. From the beginning, it has been quite clear that at the same time the trip of the Helsinki team at KHL was completely over.
If things go well, the Jokers will return to Finland to play. However, among many other things, the schedule and level are still open.
– I am personally hopeful about this. We have certain plans for the fan association, the publication of which is waiting for the time to come, Vice President of Eteläpääty ry Roope Räty reveal.
– We have coordinated this with various parties, but we cannot say more about them here. One has to wait for certain things to move forward.
Could the fan association be the body through which the project to save the Jokers takes place?
– There are different parties on the move. Maybe then an attempt has been made to combine certain yarns, Räty describes.
– There is a different company on fire, and Eteläpääty ry also has a role to play in it.
Is it possible for fans to go to the Jokers as owners?
– At least the idea is balled. It would be great if fans could own even part of the club. If viewed internationally, it is by no means exceptional that there are clubs owned by fans, Räty replies.
– It may not be realistic for the club to be fully owned by the fans, but I consider it a viable option for the fans to be involved to some extent there as well.
In economic terms, however, the project requires wider shoulders.
– If we think about the financing of the club and what is needed now, it would come differently, Räty confirms.
– I see fans being a part of it. Of course, fans also fund activities in their own way on a daily basis by buying products and tickets. Here is a consortium of different parties that could promote this.
Despite his active role, Räty does not take the reference of the consortium leader to his shoulders.
– There are a lot of people who are interested. I’m one of those who has talked and put together a little bit of thread, but can’t say I’d pull this out.
Speculation
According to Ilta-Sanomat Teemu Selänne is interested in the role of the leading figure in the Jokers, if there is a new Finnish ownership base for the club.
According to ElmoTV in turn Hjallis Harkimo explore opportunities to save the Jokers and find a new owner.
– Quite valid speculation, Räty comments on the writings.
Iltalehti reached out to Harkimo, who stated briefly that he was not commenting on the Jokers in any way.
I play the role
Jari Kurri hopes to be able to inform about the situation of the Jokers in the near future. Juha Metso / AOP
Jari Kurri owns 60 percent of the Jokers’ shares through its company Jack Promotions Oy. It paid Harkimo about four million euros for the shares in 2019.
The remaining 40 percent is owned by Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy, the Finnish subsidiary of the Russian Nornickel Group. The main owner of the Group is the oligarch Vladimir Potanin.
– I don’t know what Kurri is going to do. What is his role or is there a role, Räty ponders.
– I don’t see that as a problem. Yes, there is someone in the background for Oy, but the hall is now the core issue. Everything jerks afterwards.
Kurri tells Iltalehti that things are going on.
– At this point, I have no comments, but hopefully in the near future, he says briefly.
The fate of the hall
Ilmala Arena is now a ghost hall. Jussi Eskola
More than 90 percent of the voting shares in Helsinki Halli Oy, Joker’s home arena, are owned by Arena Events Oy, the oligarchs that are practically subject to sanctions. Gennady Timtshenko and Roman Rotenberg.
According to Rädy, sanctions are the biggest problem.
– How can the ownership arrangements be made so that the hall is owned by someone other than Russia? Wondering how this is technically possible. It will probably require a political decision or some precedent.
Räty says that he has received information from a reliable source that the hall issue is progressing.
– There is definitely a buyer for the hall. I have no doubt it would stick to it.
New company
The Jokerit made losses of almost 100 million euros during the KHL.
Of course, the losses were relative, when profitability was not even sought. The financing came from Russia, and the losses are also offset from there.
– They are already in the form of write-downs on the financier’s side, Räty knows.
In practice, a new club must be set up to save the jokers.
– During the history of the Jokers, new limited companies have been justified. Even the current Jokerit Hockey Club Oy was founded in 2013 for KHL, Räty reminds.
– Then all you have to do is rethink the contract with the Jokerit ry, he refers to the club that runs the junior activities.
After the establishment of the limited company, it would be possible to arrange a share issue.
– The matter has been discussed, Räty says.
– Requires wider co-operation, that we have a club and association and others involved. It takes a lot of concrete things before it can be achieved. Probably first a round of financing and then a share issue, but this is still speculation.
Directly to the League?
Although the Jokerit moved doors to KHL in 2014, its return to the Finnish Championship would be a big boost.
League chairman Heikki Hiltunen recently exposed On MTV, how the return of the Jokers to the domestic main series could take place. The timetable for next season is already extremely tight.
– Fans wouldn’t mind even returning to Mestis or the Finland series, Räty knows.
– From the point of view of business continuity, when it comes to a closed SM league, it would be best to get there now. There would then be no need to visit the cabinet twists later.
The price of the league share is EUR 1.8 million.
– Shouldn’t such money be found in Helsinki?
Räty reminds us of the timeliness of the time.
– The whole of European hockey is in transition. Another hundred top players from KHL are now looking for a new club in Europe or North America.
– The league should be able to ride the crest. It should get the Jokers as soon as possible to bring more interest and money to the League so that it can compete for the top players that are now on offer.
The Jokers have three collaborating fan associations. In addition to Eteläpääty ry, these are the Jokerit Fan Club ry and the Old Chiefs ry.