The Story of PINBALL UNION
Pinball Union began in early 2018 when five pinball enthusiasts from Nekala decided to pool their machines under one roof. The first space was a backroom of one founder’s business, and the arcade grew as machines moved from living rooms and garages into the shared club space. Initially called Näsin Neulapallokerho, the club quickly gained interest and doubled its members to ten during the summer of 2019. At the same time the name was changed to Pinball Union.
The requirement for membership and the “joining fee” was to bring at least one machine to the shared arcade. In addition, as many members, either together or on their own, got excited about acquiring more machines, it was realized toward the end of 2019 that the club’s walls were starting to close in. At that time, there were 28 machines in the space, and another ten or so could still be found in storage or awaiting repairs. Pinball Union was therefore actively looking for a new and larger space, which surprisingly was found very close by, and more room was gained immediately from just beyond the wall. The premises were expanded in September 2020, and at the same time the operations were moved under the official cooperative Pinball Union Osk.
For us, playing pinball is a beloved hobby that, in addition to (competitive) play, also involves sharing the joy of pinball with the public. Pinball Union has played a major role in organizing events, such as the 2018 European Pinball Championship held at Pakkahuone in Tampere, which brought together 300 players from around the world. In the autumn of 2019, the Finnish Pinball Championship was held at Ideapark, with Pinball Union serving as the main organizer together with the Finnish Pinball Players Association (Flipp ry).
For us, the years 2018–2024 in Nekala were absolutely incredible. The hobby grew so much that we ran out of space more than once. And every Friday, it’s been a delightful surprise to see how many people have wanted to come and share this hobby with us. Thank you for that!
The final game day in Nekala was a super-long Good Friday, March 29, 2024. At the same time, we had already begun renovating our new premises in Tammela, Tampere, where a new pinball and arcade hall opened at the end of August 2025.
Finding new and returning hobbyists is important to us, which is why...
...OUR ARCADE IS ALSO YOURS!
The arcade is available for private event rentals for groups. Whether you’re planning a child’s birthday party, an entertainment night for a hobby or sports group, or a company recreation day, we offer fun and experiences for the whole group. In our current location, the maximum group size is 99 people.
Check out the price list for private events above — it includes unlimited play on all games for the duration of your booking, plus a host who will guide and assist you, and who can also organize a tournament for your group if you wish. Reservations and more information: myynti(ät)pinballunion.fi.
We also host open game nights, where anyone can come and play all the games in our arcade for an affordable entrance fee. Game nights are usually held on Friday and Saturday evenings, competition nights every other Wednesday, and a family day once a month on Sundays. You can find the schedules for upcoming game nights on our website as well as on the Pinball Union Facebook page — so make sure to follow us on social media too: https://www.facebook.com/pinballunion. We have a license to serve alcohol.
“I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BARGAIN...”
Pinball Union’s members are, for the most part, like real-life Sulo Viléns*, so we’re always interested in buying more machines for our collection. On the other hand, you can also get a machine from us for your living room, garage, company lobby or break room, an event, or really anywhere at all — either by purchasing one (if we have any for sale) or by renting for a weekend, a month, or longer.
We also operate machines in public spaces. If you have a business and want to increase customer enjoyment, get in touch. We’ll deliver a machine to a corner of your bar, your barber shop’s waiting area, or even the central square of a shopping center. We handle the delivery and maintenance, and best of all, your business always gets a share of the earnings.
Machines for sale can be found in our Facebook posts, if there happen to be any. For rentals or operating agreements, contact: myynti(ät)pinballunion.fi.