Sweden: Lagardère Unlimited obtains management of the Friends Arena in Stockholm until 2025

Lagardère Unlimited Stadium Solutions, a subsidiary of media rights and sports marketing agency Lagardère, received the management and operation of the Friends Arena (capacity 50,000) in Stockholm from 01/01/2015 until 2025, the parties announced on 08/12/2014. The enclosure, located in Solna, a suburb of Stockholm, was inaugurated on 27/10/2012. The infrastructure and construction costs of the stadium which hosts the Swedish national team were €300m.

“From the start, we never intended to own an arena operating business. 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,” said Erik Paulsson, chairman of BTP and Fabege property development, co-owner of the Friends Arena. The enclosure was not selected as one of the 13 stadiums that will host the Euro 2020 on 19/09/2014.

LUSS mission will be to stop the stadium's losses

• The Fabege Group believes that the Friends…