Jyväskylä
The Capital of Sport in Finland.
Jyväskylä specs
- Jyväskylä is the seventh largest city in Finland.
- Population 147 821, change in population from previous year + 1 934 (+1.3%).
- Total area is 1 466,35 km2.
- Higher education degree 37,2 %.
- Jyväskylä has around 360 sports facilities and 220 sports clubs and associations.
About Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is a radiant city bustling with activity all year round. The city is known for its robust tradition of sports and exercise, its diverse opportunities for exercise activities, and the University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the only one of its kind in Finland.
Jyväskylä is the Capital of Sport in Finland, and its position as such is founded on a base of scientific and practical knowledge of sports and exercise. Hippos area close to the city centre is home not only to the University of Jyväskylä Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences but the Finnish Institute of High Performance KIHU.
The City of Jyväskylä is closely collaborating with the actors in this field. Some of its key partners include, apart from those in the Hippos neighborhood, the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, the Jyväskylä Sport Academy, and the Central Finland Sport Federation (KesLi).
Sport events
Secto Automotive Rally Finland – FIA World Rally Championship
Rallying event organized yearly. The world’s best World Rally Championship race attracts even 200 000 spectators to Jyväskylä every year in one of the biggest public events in the Nordic Countries.
Jyväskylä Ski Marathon
Part of the Euroloppet Main Race series. Jyväskylä Ski Marathon is organized yearly.
Motonet GP Jyväskylä
Motonet GP Jyväskylä is part of the EA Area Permit Meetings series.
Lauri Markkanen Tournament
Lauri Markkanen basketball tournament is organized yearly.
Finlandia Marathon
Famous running event held yearly in Jyväskylä.
Sports venues
Hippos
The Hippos-hall is a sports hall for year-round use. It is an ideal venue for mass events, with a capacity of 3480 people. The main sports in the hall are athletics, badminton and ball sports. The Hippos-hall is located next to the Sports Lab of the Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport. Sports Lab offers a wide range of testing facilities for top athletes.
Monnari, multi-purpose training arena at Hippos is the venue for the main league games in volleyball and futsal, and the second highest level in basketball. The ballroom is suitable for a wide range of sporting events and public events. Monnari has room for 1,050 spectators.
In addition to the ballroom, the multi-purpose hall has a gym, a covered fighting hall, squash courts and a scaffolding gym.
A huge €170 million construction investment is due to start in 2024 on the Hippos site, which will be a centre for sport, wellbeing and health promotion, located in the heart of the city. The Hippos will provide around 110 000 square metres of space for sport, business and research. There will be facilities for around 20 different sports, including athletics, gymnastics, martial arts, group exercise and competition.
The new Hippos baseball park
The new Hippos Finnish baseball stadium, which was opened in July 2023, is a great example of modern sports facility. It is located 1 km from the city centre.
Hippos stadium is an event arena, providing adaptable facilities to events for several thousand people. Inside the stadium, there is a separate indoor grandstand where meetings can be held. The stadium has space for 1850 spectators and there are just over 1500 seats. It is possible to increase the capacity to more than 4,000 people with additional stands.
Harju Stadium
Harju ridge and the stadium on it, are known as a city landmark right in the city center. Harju is a leisure and outdoor area offering sports fields and running trails. The stadium can hold 3,000 spectators and is used for athletics competitions and football matches.
Harju Stadium undergoes a thorough renovation, which is scheduled to start in autumn 2024 and to be completed by the end of 2025. The existing grandstand building will be replaced by a new modern grandstand building, and sports facilities undergo a complete renovation.
Lutakko Square
Lutakko Square is a popular venue for events. For example, it has been used for years as the rally center for the World Rally Championship of Finland. Lutakko Square can host an event for more than 10 000 people on an area of over 15 000 square metres right in the city center.
Fair and Event Centre Paviljonki
In addition to the actual sports facilities, the Fair and Event Centre Paviljonki is located next to Lutakko Square. Paviljonki offers excellent event facilities, including for various sporting events and competitions that require high ceilings. The complex has a total of 30,000 square metres of exhibition halls and meeting facilities, including a unique and adaptable auditorium for up to 1,200 people.
Winter sports centre Laajavuori
Laajavuori, youthful and urban, is a venue for diverse outdoor events throughout the year. The Laajavuori outdoor area offers 23 kilometres of maintained cross-country ski trails. 12 kilometres of the ski trails have artificial light. The trails are also well-connected with the other skiing and hiking routes in the Jyväskylä Region.
Skiing competitions are organised on this hilly and demanding terrain. Freestyle skiing and moguls are practised in Jyväskylä on an international level, and Laajavuori hosts a FIS Freestyle Skiing Europa Cup Moguls event every year. The Bike Park has a variety of routes for downhill cycling, enduro, and XC cycling. An adventure park and two disc golf courses can also be found in the area.
