Turf wars overshadow the Street Parade
On August 13th, a dry spell ends for many ravers. Then, after two years of silence, hundreds of thousands will once again indulge in the booming four-four time at the Zurich Street Parade.
Officially, the largest event in Switzerland is called – previous visitor record: 1.1 million in 2018 – “dance demonstration for love, peace, freedom and tolerance”.
But in contrast to the euphoria of the techno fans, there is a bad atmosphere behind the scenes. A turf war is raging between organizers, which is indicative of the development from a carefree happening in the nineties to a commercial bugbear.
The bone of contention is the hall of Zurich’s main train station, the largest covered space in the country. In the summer of 2021, SBB, the owner of the location, received an application. The Zurich event professional Thomas Bischofberger (52) and his company Glamourama S. à. rl had expressed interest in an event with another business partner.
According to the application, the “Parade Market” should offer “low-threshold entertainment” for the arriving and departing party people. The concept includes a “styling lounge”, food and drink stands, “influencer stages” – you move with the times – and of course a stage for DJs and shows. No more than 2000 people should be on site at the same time, entry would be free.
Bischofberger is an old hand in the scene. Together with “techno pope” Arnold Meyer (54) and event pioneer Hans-Jürg “Schoscho” Rufener (58), he carried out the energy raves in the Hallenstadion in the days of carefree hedonism. There was a symbiotic relationship with the Street Parade: no parade, no energy, no energy, no parade.
At times the party in Oerlikon trumped the parade in terms of visitors, at times the energy is said to have entertained the parade.
Best of the Street Parade 2019: So was the biggest techno party in the world(01:29)
Hallenstadion already occupied
There is a sober reason why Bischofberger and his companions are now targeting the HB: In August the ice rink in the Hallenstadion will be removed because the ZSC hockey club is moving to its new home, the Swiss Life Arena in Altstetten.
Positive signals came from the requested positions – the SBB real estate department gave the go-ahead after being checked by the transport and fire police. On March 23, Glamourama received the contract signed by the railway company.
The Zurich cantonal police were also open. One is “well positioned” with an additional contingent and should “be up to the task”, provided the organizers can guarantee flawless crowd management, i.e. the safe control of the crowds, as a Kapo representative said at a conference on March 22nd. The minutes are available to SonntagsBlick.
On May 13, the application was submitted to the Zurich city police. The building permit office gave its approval (“no objections to the planned event”), and on May 19 an internal email from the authority said: “From the point of view of the police station at the main station of the Zurich cantonal police, the event can be carried out.”
Then suddenly the mood changed. The Stapo sent the application to the affected offices for consultation. The police crowd management department – they are not responsible for the private area in the HB – advised all sides “absolutely” against the implementation. “What happens when a storm hits the city of Zurich?” the director demands in an email. He apparently feared that in such a case the hordes would flee to dry land.
Fear of real rave
In addition, the suspicion was spread that the organizers were striving for a classic rave under the wrong label, based on the pattern of the former “Mainstation” parties, which the man in the main station no longer wants.
The result: the officials swung around. On June 1, the Zurich Stapo events office rejected the request.
How did this change of heart come about? Joel Meier (49), the busy president of the Street Parade association, plays a key role. During the corona-related party break, he organizes vaccination centers for the canton of Zurich.
Before making their decision on the August event, the authorities also listened to Meier. On this occasion he lobbied zealously against the plans in HB. And even threatened to call off the whole thing if the city should approve the “Parade Market”.
When asked, Meier says: “As part of the consultation, we had a conversation with various officials. That’s where I put my safety concerns.” The risk that the audience would crowd into the full station hall during a hailstorm was too great for him. He only personally vouches for the safe conduct of the Street Parade.
When asked about the hiccup, Meier spoke of a “misunderstanding”: SBB was initially simply unaware that the event was taking place at the same time as the techno event.
As plausible as his statements sound, how is it possible that the safety assessments of experienced experts diverge so much?
A theory is circulating around Meier’s opponents: it’s about the money.
Organizers control beverage trade
In fact, Meier now has a 35 percent stake in Rock-it Event GmbH, which, according to its own statement, has so far managed the “exclusive operation of all drink stands and bars” at the parade – not a bad deal at an event where up to a million people are expected will. But because Rock-it lacks staff, the Street Parade association is stepping in this year; the organizers also become drinks dealers at the same time.
Wouldn’t a competitor who provided visitors with liquids upon arrival just be a nuisance? Those involved report that Meier mentioned the impending loss of sales to representatives of the railways and authorities.
Meier denies this – and puts it into perspective: “We sell one in ten drinks on Street Parade, the remaining nine sell catering and retail in the city.” In addition, one would have coped well with the “Mainstation” party at the time.
However, the matter is not over with the official Njet: the applicants want to contest the decision, as confirmed by Bischofberger’s lawyer to SonntagsBlick. The ball is now in the city council’s hands.
Meanwhile, people are waiting for this year’s motto for the parade. The last one reads “Colours of Unity”.