Mamma mia! Abba museum renovation hits setback

The organizers of a museum dedicated to Swedish pop group ABBA say the museum's opening in Stockholm will have to be delayed because of renovation problems.

"There will be for sure a museum, but we don't know when and we do not even know where," Ulf Westman said on Friday. Westman dreamed up the project with his wife, Ewa Wigenheim-Westman.

They had announced last December that the museum containing the quartet's original costumes, instruments, memorabilia and multimedia displays would be open in June 2009.More than 3,000 tickets have been sold for the launch.

Formed in 1966, ABBA members Bjoern Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faeltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad became international sensations with hits such as Mamma Mia, Money, Money, Money, Waterloo, Fernando and Dancing Queen.

This marks the museum's second delay. Original plans had the museum opening in 2008.

The problem seems to be the building in Stockholm earmarked for the museum.

"The house is 100 years old and the renovation of the building is taking [on] very large proportions," revealed Westman, who is unsure whether the site will still be used for the museum.

The waterfront property has three floors and more than 6,500 square metres of space.

Reconstruction was expected to cost up to $32 million and was being funded by the city of Stockholm, according to a port official.

The museum would then rent the space from the city.

The Westmans had predicted the museum would attract half a million visitors, shelling out $38 each for the privilege of seeing items from the famed foursome.