Tallinn wants to build a large hall on the site of Ülemiste cargo station. It would be a large building where sports and cultural events could be held. The city wants to assist in planning the hall and designing the surrounding area.
Tallinn mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski said that if the state decides quickly, the hall could be completed by 2029. Estonia will host the EuroBasket final tournament that year. Ossinovski added that with the completion of Rail Baltic, there will be good connections to trains, trams, and buses. The airport is also nearby.
A large part of the area belongs to the state. This means there is no need to purchase private property. This will help complete the hall quickly.
City chief architect Andro Mänd said that a large hall together with a park would give the area a new look. There are nearly ten hectares of land around the hall. Sports fields and green areas could be constructed there. It may cost up to 20 million euros.
Tallinn is prepared to pay for the construction and maintenance of public areas. This is possible if the property is given to the city and the hall's design proceeds together with the surrounding area.
After hosting the EuroBasket 2029, Estonia will need a larger and more versatile hall. However, a heated debate has begun about whether the hall should be in Tartu or Tallinn.