French Company Lagardére Set To Take Over Operation Of Sweden's Friends Arena In '15

Sweden's Friends Arena, which opened its doors in '12 but "has been plagued by problems, is set to be run" by French company Lagardére, according to Philip O'Connor of REUTERS. The owners of the Sweden Arena Management company, "which includes the Swedish Football Association (SvFF)," are negotiating with Lagardére Unlimited Stadium Solutions, which is "expected to take over the running of the arena" in '15. The arena has been a "huge economic burden on the SvFF," losing $32M in '13, with "everything from the pitch to stadium access criticised." The home ground of local Allsvenskan club AIK, the arena has also "hosted concerts, including Bruce Springsteen," but football and music fans "have complained about the sound quality in the arena" (REUTERS, 3/18).