Helsinki Velodrome

Helsinki Velodrome
Helsingin Velodromi
Velo
	Helsinki Velodrome
Address	Mäkelänkatu 70, 00520 Helsinki
Coordinates	60°12′10″N 24°56′34″E / 60.20278°N 24.94278°ECoordinates: 60°12′10″N 24°56′34″E / 60.20278°N 24.94278°E
Public transit	Helsinki Regional Transport Authority bus and tram service
Owner	City of Helsinki
Seating type	Seated and standing
Capacity	Seated: 4000; Standing: 3000
Field shape	Rectangular
Surface	Pitch:; Artificial turf (Installed in 2000); Cycling track:; Concrete
Construction
Broke ground	1938
Built	1940
Opened	22 May 1941
Renovated	1997-2000 (3.5 mil. €)
Architect	Hilding Ekelund
Tenants
	American football:; Helsinki Roosters; Helsinki 69ers; Helsinki Wolverines; GS Demons; East City Giants; Cycling:; ;
Website
	www.hel.fi/www/helsinki/fi/kulttuuri-ja-vapaa-aika/liikunta/ulkoliikuntapaikat/velodromi

Helsinki Velodrome (Finnish: Helsingin Velodromi) is an outdoor velodrome and American football stadium in Helsinki, Finland. The protected functionalist concrete building was designed by Hilding Ekelund.

History[]

It was built in 1938–1940 for the 1940 Summer Olympics which were cancelled due to World War II. After the war, it was a venue of the 1952 Summer Olympics for the track cycling and field hockey events. The Velodrome hosted the four-track cycling events and the whole field hockey event for the Olympics. The original building was deemed inadequate during the games and additional space was quickly erected to accommodate the athletes and press. Some temporary seating was also constructed for additional capacity.^[1]

Before the renovation of 1997–2000, the center area had a natural grass pitch and was used for soccer, hosting local teams like Ponnistus, Käpylän Pallo and Atlantis FC.

Docomomo has listed it as a significant example of modern architecture in Finland.^[2]

Usage[]

Cycling[]

The cycling track is 400 meters in length and is used for most national events. The banking in the bends is 37.5˚ and 16˚ on the straights. The length of the track and the lack of built safety measures make the track unsuitable for international cycling competitions.

Helsinki Velodrome also acts as a starting and ending point for the annual cyclosportive Tour de Helsinki.^[3]

American football[]

The Helsinki Velodrome is the home field of most American football teams in Helsinki, including the Vaahteraliiga teams Helsinki Roosters and Helsinki Wolverines. The ground also caters to lacrosse and field hockey players.^[4]

In 2010 a training pitch designated primarily for American football was opened in the near vicinity of the Helsinki Velodrome, making the area an unofficial American football center of Helsinki.^[5]

Field hockey[]

During the summer season the field is used for playing field hockey.

References[]

^ THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE GAMES OF THE XV OLYMPIAD HELSINKI 1952 (PDF). WSOY. 1955. p. 50.
^ "Velodromi – Velodrome". Docomomo Suomi Finland. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
^ "Reitti". Tourdehelsinki.fi (in Finnish). Velocitor Oy. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
^ Jussi Vainikka; Alec Neihum (20 June 2013). "Velodromista on moneksi". yle.fi (in Finnish). YLE. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
^ "Velodromin harjoituskenttä". sajl.fi (in Finnish). American Football Association of Finland. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2014.

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[1] THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE GAMES OF THE XV OLYMPIAD HELSINKI 1952 (PDF). WSOY. 1955. p. 50.

[2] "Velodromi – Velodrome". Docomomo Suomi Finland. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2014.

[3] "Reitti". Tourdehelsinki.fi (in Finnish). Velocitor Oy. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.

[4] Jussi Vainikka; Alec Neihum (20 June 2013). "Velodromista on moneksi". yle.fi (in Finnish). YLE. Retrieved 28 November 2014.

[5] "Velodromin harjoituskenttä". sajl.fi (in Finnish). American Football Association of Finland. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2014.

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v t Olympic venues in cycling
19th century	1896 Marathon (city), Neo Phaliron Velodrome
20th century	1900 Vélodrome de Vincennes 1904 Francis Field 1908 White City Stadium 1912 Liljeholmen, Mälaren 1920 Antwerp, Vélodrome d'Anvers Zuremborg 1924 Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Vélodrome de Vincennes 1928 Amsterdam, Olympic Stadium 1932 Los Angeles Avenue, Pacific Coast Highway, Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Vineyard Avenue 1936 Avus Motor Road, BSV 92 Field & Stadium 1948 Herne Hill Velodrome, Windsor Great Park 1952 Käpylä, Maunula, Pakila, Velodrome 1956 Broadmeadows, Velodrome 1960 Olympic Velodrome, Via Cassia, Via Flaminia, Via Cristoforo Colombo, Via di Grottarossa 1964 Hachioji City, Hachioji Velodrome 1968 Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome, Satellite Circuit 1972 Bundesautobahn 96, Grünwald, Radstadion 1976 Mount Royal Park, Olympic Velodrome, Quebec Autoroute 40 1980 Krylatskoye Sports Complex Cycling Circuit, Krylatskoye Sports Complex Velodrome, Moscow-Minsk Highway 1984 Artesia Freeway, Olympic Velodrome, Streets of Mission Viejo 1988 Olympic Velodrome, Tongillo Road Course 1992 A-17 highway, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Sant Sadurní Cycling Circuit, Velòdrom d'Horta 1996 Cycling road course, Georgia International Horse Park, Stone Mountain Park Archery Center and Velodrome
21st century	2000 Centennial Parklands, Dunc Gray Velodrome, Western Sydney Parklands 2004 Athens Olympic Velodrome, Kotzia Square, Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue, Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre 2008 Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue, Laoshan Mountain Bike Course, Laoshan Velodrome, Urban Road Cycling Course 2012 BMX Circuit, Hadleigh Farm, London Velodrome, Hampton Court Palace 2016 Fort Copacabana, Mountain Bike Centre, Olympic BMX Centre, Pontal, Rio Olympic Velodrome 2020 Izu Velodrome, Fuji Speedway, Ariake Urban Sports Park 2024 Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Champs-Élysées, Élancourt Hill 2028 VELO Sports Center, Los Angeles Convention Center, Grand Park, Downtown Long Beach, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park

v t Olympic venues in field hockey
20th century	1908: White City Stadium 1920: Olympisch Stadion 1928: Old Stadion 1932: Olympic Stadium 1936: Hockey Stadion (final), Hockey Stadion #2 1948: Empire Stadium (medal matches), Guinness Sports Club, Lyons' Sports Club, Polytechnic Sports Ground 1952: Velodrome 1956: Eastern Sportsground, Melbourne Cricket Ground (final) 1960: Campo Tre Fontane, Olympic Velodrome (final), Stadio dei Marmi 1964: Komazawa Hockey Field 1968: Municipal Stadium 1972: Hockeyanlage 1976: Molson Stadium, McGill University 1980: Dynamo Central Stadium, Minor Arena; Young Pioneers Stadium (final) 1984: Weingart Stadium 1988: Seongnam Stadium 1992: Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa 1996: Clark Atlanta University Stadium, Morris Brown College Stadium (final)
21st century	2000: State Hockey Centre 2004: Olympic Hockey Centre 2008: Olympic Green Hockey Field 2012: Riverbank Arena 2016: Olympic Hockey Centre 2020: 2024: Stade Yves-du-Manoir 2028: Dignity Health Sports Park