That went wrong with the “bad guys”

Marco Pescio and Daniel Balmer

The Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) in Pratteln BL threatens with a significant backlog. “Achieving a balanced fixed account is a challenge,” the organizers said on Monday. “We are at a deviation of five to ten percent from the total,” confirms OC chairman and bidder of Basel SVP councilor Thomas Weber (61). With a budget of 42 million francs, that is a maximum of four million!

A minus that no one expected. “Until a few days before ESAF, we assumed a red zero, even a black zero in good weather,” Weber admits. But apparently more money was spent than planned, and at the same time less flowed into the treasury than hoped. “The planning of such a large event is extremely fragile,” defends General Manager Matthias Hubeli.

‘Accounting didn’t always keep up’

The OC cannot say exactly what contributed to the disaster and how much. Numerous factors led to the poor result: higher prices and environmental regulations, safety costs. The wrestling arena was only classified as infrastructure for a cultural event. She then classified the home insurance as a sports facility. “These require higher security requirements, which is why we had to act at very short notice,” says Weber. “Accounting hasn’t always kept track of course.”

Moreover: the development of the festival site with water, sewerage and electricity and the expansion of the Pratteln train station were simply “financially not feasible”. The 2017 feasibility study still stated that no extraordinary expenses were to be expected at the Pratteln site.

Pink glasses on earnings

It is now clear that such an event on the green field can only be managed with significant additional revenue without losses, Weber said. “In Zug, the necessary infrastructure was already largely in place. We even had to expand the train station here.”

The OC probably also had rose colored glasses on when calculating the income. “One way or another, more revenue was definitely planned,” said Markus Lauener, president of the Swiss Wrestlers’ Federation. For example, when selling VIP tickets, fewer than expected were brought to the fan.

Zug made a profit of 1.8 million

Pratteln is an outlier: the “Federal” in Zug closed 2019 with a profit of 1.8 million francs – after the helpers received twice as much wages as planned. You could set up a foundation and there would still be 850,000 francs left for the regional wrestling clubs. Burgdorf BE also made a profit of CHF 500,000 in 2013.

Weber hopes the worst can still be averted. “Otherwise we would have to file for bankruptcy as an association.” Not only would that damage the reputation, creditors would also get nothing. However, the first suppliers have already announced that they will waive claims. Director Hubeli is therefore optimistic: “A black zero remains our goal.”

Begging tour with government colleagues

The wrestling association also sees itself as an obligation. “We will do our part to bring this wonderful festival to a successful conclusion,” said chairman Lauener. And last but not least, those responsible hope for Baselland. The canton has already distributed one million Swiss francs from the Swisslos fund, as well as contributions in kind and personnel. But there is no shortage guarantee. Until now.

The ESAF-OK has also sent its “profit warning” to the canton, Weber’s government colleagues are now examining how to proceed. “But their scope is of course limited,” says economic director Weber. He himself will withdraw from the consultation.