Lagardre Unlimited is the new Friends Arena operator

Lagard re Unlimited is the new Friends Arena operator The Friends Arena owners today announced that Lagard re Unlimited is managing Friends Arena operations for at least the next 10 years. As per the contract, Lagard re Unlimited is also signing a long-term property lease for the arena. The Swedish Football Association, Peab, Fabege, Solna, and Jernhusen own Friends Arena.

Lagard re Unlimited has extensive experience in managing and developing big stadiums. Right now, the company has contracts with 20 venues worldwide, e.g., Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Groupama Arena in Budapest, Singapore Sports Hub, Imtech Arena in Hamburg, and Arena Castel o Fortaleza in Brazil.

Several factors supported the owners' decision, namely, Lagard re Unlimited's broad, in-depth operating experience, its large international network of events organizers, and its expertise in developing and running events. This contract fulfils the owners strategy to continue to focus on their core competencies as owners of Friends Arena.

From the start, we never intended to own an arena operating business, says Erik Paulsson, who represent the Friends Arena owners. We've formed a firm foundation for the operations. So this deal is a great opportunity to hand over the operations to an experienced international operator that will further contribute to strengthening and developing Friends Arena as an internationally competitive venue.

We see this as a positive initiative. Lagard re Unlimited is a strong international operator that will enable Friends Arena to become competitive on regional, national, and international levels, says Pehr Granfalk, mayor of Solna. It strengthens commerce and culture in the Stockholm region, creates jobs, and facilitates growth.

Operations cover event marketing and sales; event concepts development; managing ticket sales, working with current and future partners, and developing the Friends Arena hospitality function.

The arena's location, capacity, and flexibility provide enormous potential for further development, says Ulrik Ruhnau, managing director of Lagard re Unlimited Stadium Solutions. Friends Arena will become one of the leading venues in Northern Europe for football, other sporting events, and entertainment.

Thomas Perslund will remain in charge of Friends Arena operations.

LINK:	http://www.lagardere.com/press-room/press-releases/press-releases-363....
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