Jan Vapaavuori lobbied National Coalition Party figures for Garden Helsinki state support amid unequal treatment, cost concerns, and parliamentary election speculation

Former Helsinki mayor Jan Vapaavuori sought political backing for the Garden Helsinki arena project from key figures in the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), including Matias Marttinen, then chair of the party’s parliamentary group, according to correspondence obtained by Iltalehti. The emails, acquired through a freedom of information request from the City of Helsinki, reveal efforts to secure state financial support for the project ahead of a €35 million conditional subsidy decision in 2025.