Wintter is here – newest venue in Korisliiga

Opening of the latest Korisliiga venue on Wednesday in Uusikaupunki – as Korihait moved from their homely, but dated Pohitulli to the new shiny Wintteri Multipurpose Venue (about 75 meters from their old venue!).

So – took myself and my cameras to Uusikaupunki last night to see how it is to shoot basketball in the latest venue in Korisliiga.

Please note that these are only my own views and based on ONE visit to the venue – so I am sure I will learn new things and might feel different in six months time when next season tips-off and things are settled in the venue.

Arrival – Parking

Currently still under development and parking is on the ice rink parking area, or on street parking near the venue. Myself – arrived there about two hour prior to tip-off, so plenty of space. Heard from late comers that parking places were getting scarce closer to the game – and the streets around the venue were also full of parked cars.

But – there is a new parking area coming once the old swimming center is demolished. Now the parking area available served the ice rink, swimming and the games … and especially on the opening night you knew parking places were at premium.

Venue

From the outside – when you walk from the parking area, you see the school – go around the corner and see the main entrance to the venue – the entrance is also for many other uses, and also the swimming center.

For me as the photographer – it is always simple rules when entering.. locate the court – locate stairs taking you down .. and you are on the court level 🙂

Once at court level – the place looks good, free standing baskets, clear lines on the court – definite upgrade from Pohitulli.

Then the one thing I probably mentioned a dozen times last night – and only something a photographers thinks.. there is seating only on TWO sides (no – I don’t count the four rows on court level as a third side 😉 ). For photos – it’s just the pet hate of mine that the ends in so many venues are blank walls. But – these venues are built by the city/county/state and mainly still built for everyday activities for schools/etc.. not as a professional sports venue.

Feel of the place

Basketball in Finland is (in my view) a community feel sport – what you are expecting is the table/booth where you can buy your drinks, donuts, hot dogs, sweets, another table where you can buy some fan merch.. and more recently the K18 area where big girls and boys can buy alcohol.

It’s just nice that the venues/sport has not grown to be a ‘plastic / prawn sandwich’ sport – and keeps that feel that it’s a bit of community and let’s do this together sport.

That is not supposed to make it sound too unprofessional – but in my view – I like basketball being a sport that is played in the smaller venues and having a friendly feel to it… the sport (any sport) just loses something special when it moves to the 1000 seater venues to 4000 seater venues..

Lighting – the most important bit!

I have to say I did struggle with this .. the WB was a bit all over the place when shooting from different parts of the venue, the brightness never seemed to stabilise .. every time the lights were dimmed and then put back on. The lights stayed ‘cooler’ and brighter for few moments, before going back to a bit dimmer and warmer…

Maybe this was an error on my end – did try both Auto WB and manual WB – but the photos do have very different colors through out the game.

Conclusion

For a first night and first game – it was good, few teething problems with sound, clock, etc.

But those happen everywhere on the first night and will be ironed out.

The score board is only on one side and if you sit/stand at the end of the away fans stand – it is very difficult to see the score, also from the seats behind the basket – you needed to turn you head to see the score.

Is the place an upgrade from Pohitulli?? 100% Is it the best venue in Korisliiga – maybe not. Is it a great venue for Korisliiga – definitely!