On Thursday, the 17th of April, a new Ferris wheel complex will open to visitors in Uzvaras Park, Pārdaugava, Riga, according to representatives of the project developer, SIA “RPR operators.”
The official opening ceremony will take place at 12 p.m., with the project team, representatives of the Zuzeum Art Centre, and Riga City Council in attendance. The first visitors will be able to ride the Ferris wheel from 1 p.m.
Company representatives note that the Ferris wheel will operate year-round, with cabins equipped with heating and air conditioning to ensure comfort in all weather conditions. It will be able to accommodate up to 240 passengers at a time, with each of the 30 cabins holding up to eight people.
The 65-meter-high Riga Ferris wheel will offer a 15-minute ride for 17 euros per adult.
The surrounding area will also feature a digital exhibition created in collaboration with the Zuzeum Art Centre. It will present a new perspective on Riga through old city maps and engravings, 20th-century posters and advertisements, and original works by various artists depicting the city.
“RPR operators” obtained the right to build the Ferris wheel in Pārdaugava in autumn 2019, as the sole bidder in an auction organized by Riga City Council. The winning bid was 22 484 euros. Previously, in July, the then-mayor Oļegs Burovs (GKR) led the council in voting 42 to 60 in favour of holding such an auction.
The contract with the municipality required the construction to be completed within three years, but the project was delayed by the pandemic and spent over a year in planning approval with the construction board, resulting in extensions to the original deadlines.
“RPR operators” was registered in 2018 and has a share capital of 2 801 euros, according to Firmas.lv. The company is 55.05% owned by Malta-registered “Racoonstruction Holding Limited,” whose owner is Rustam Gilfanov. The remaining 44.95% is held by SIA “Panoramica,” owned by Darja Uspenska (47.93%), Dmitrijs Uspenskis (47.89%), and Anatolijs Predkels (4.18%).