Lakers are not allowed to light the lock red

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Despite the brilliant season and the upcoming quarter-finals against champion Zug, the SCRJ is appalled. The reason: the resistance of the local community of Rapperswil-Jona. The Lakers wanted to illuminate the castle—a city landmark and part of the club’s visual identity—in the club’s red on home game nights during the playoffs. Although they would have paid the five-figure fees themselves, the local church refused them a few days ago. To the incomprehension of SCRJ communications chief Stefan Bürer: “She treats the castle as her own.”

There are three flagships for Bürer in Rappi-Jona: the Castle, the Children’s Zoo, and the Lakers. “I don’t understand the emotionality of this topic. We all bear the name of the city after Switzerland and the world.” Because the SCRJ has been able to create a playoff euphoria in recent years, unforgettable are the photos of the hundreds of fans who lined the streets and the Seedamm in the 2021 playoffs to say goodbye to the team bus for the away games.

Bürer: “Miss the penalty kick”

The Lakers therefore wanted to put up a playoff mark and present the town with the red-lit castle in the best light. “It was like a penalty kick without a goalkeeper, but the local community missed it.” What Bürer is especially angry about is the reason for the rejection. The municipal council once decided that “only at official, municipal championship celebrations, which amount to a municipal feast (keyword: central square is “filled”), the flag of a club is raised on the castle.

The background to this: When the Lakers wanted to put a flag on the lock in the playoffs a year ago, they too were rejected. Like the contractor a few days ago, whose crane is currently on a construction site next to the castle and who would have put an SCRJ flag on it at his own expense on match days. He was sharply reprimanded.

Even the mayor failed with a request

That’s why even mayor Martin Stöckling personally tried to get permission for the red lighting from the local community. Also against the background that the ground around the castle belongs to the city and they would have already given the Lakers permission to put the necessary new floodlights on it. But the local community, the caretaker of the castle, was not fazed.

Managing Director Christoph Sigrist: “From our point of view, nothing else can be said than that the castle may not be used as a projection or marketing surface. It is a milestone for everyone and we protect the public interest.” The local community is a politically independent body of public law, made up of residents of the city who also hold Rapperswil-Jonas citizenship.

Laker’s chief of communications Bürer emphasizes that support is noticeable both in Rappi-Jona and in the region and has increased again, especially in recent years. “It’s a pity that not everyone supports it.” One can accept the decision – but not understand it.

Source : Blick