Experts split over cost of temporary Kaitseliit shooting range in Tallinn's Hall
Tallinn's city government has offered the empty Gorhoall ice arena to Estonia's Kaitseliit defence league as a temporary shooting range, but experts' cost estimates range from half a million to 4 million euros.
This week it emerged that Tallinn's city government has proposed setting up a temporary shooting range inside the empty ice hall of Gorhoall, a venue that has stood unused for years with no final decision made on its future.
Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järven said the city wants to contribute to national defence where possible, noting that whatever ultimately happens to Gorhoall — demolition or reconstruction — will take years to carry out. In the meantime, the question of temporarily using the building has come up. Currently, members of Tallinn's Kaitseliit unit travel outside the city's administrative border to Männiku for shooting practice.
Widely differing estimates
Järven said the city consulted two shooting range owners who are well versed in current requirements and regulations. According to their assessment, ranges of at least 55 metres could be built inside the ice hall, with estimated investment of around 0.5 million euros.
However, Tõnis Orumaa, owner of the Tondi Lasketiir shooting range and a Kaitseliit member, said the true cost could be considerably higher. He noted that the ice arena's unusual shape could theoretically allow a shooting space spanning up to 180 degrees, unlike a conventional range built for shooting in a single direction.
Orumaa added that costs must also account for repairing the roof and making it watertight, which he estimated at around 3 million euros, on top of the range equipment itself — bringing the total to roughly 3.5–4 million euros. He said ongoing funding would also be needed to maintain the range, and that without state involvement such a project would likely not be feasible.
The city has not yet received an official response from Kaitseliit.
