Categories: Politics

That went wrong with the “bad guys”

Fantastic weather and a very exciting final course: the conclusion actually sounded very good after the ESAF 2022 in Pratteln BL.
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.

Marco PescioDaniel Balmer
Source:Blick

Share
Published by
Livingstone

Recent Posts

Terror suspect Chechen ‘hanged himself’ in Russian custody Egyptian President al-Sisi has been sworn in for a third term

On the same day of the terrorist attack on the Krokus City Hall in Moscow,…

1 year ago

Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/4Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists.It's too loud, the…

1 year ago

Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/7Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel.After just over a year,…

1 year ago

Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used

At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the…

1 year ago

Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was

The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the…

1 year ago

This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/8Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a…

1 year ago