Range of freestyle sports has grown

Zug needs a freestyle hall with a skate park and a parkour park - Marut Kiatprasert and his colleagues were convinced of that, so they founded an association. This marked the start of the five-year planning phase. The dream came true a year ago, in January 2019, when the freestyle hall was opened in the area of the former Baar Spinnerei (spinning mill). Around 50 volunteers, the majority of them young adults, helped to renovate the basement. "In order to show our thanks for the great voluntary commitment of all the helpers, we will soon be inviting them to a “Helper Dinner," says Kiatprasert. After the meal, the anniversary will be celebrated with a party (see note).

"It's going well," says Kiatprasert. He is the president of the association and responsible for the communication of the Freestyle Hall Zug. The hall attracts many visitors, "especially on Wednesday afternoons and at the weekend." Expressed in numbers, this means that around 30 to 50 visitors. The courses and workshops offered are also well booked. "Because the demand was high, we also added scooter courses," says Kiatprasert. The hall can also be rented for private occasions. "We have had requests for birthday parties or private workshops."

The organising board is now supported by five employees. These serve visitors during opening hours (Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.). “The board is primarily concerned with the strategy and the further development of the hall and the range of offers. In some cases, however, we also have work assignments on site,” says Kiatprasert. The future of the freestyle hall remains entirely in the hands of the volunteer board. "Most of us have been involved in the project from the start, and are still actively involved." The president also noted that the board is open to accept additional  members who want to get involved.

The admission charges (daily admission, 10-person subscriptions or annual tickets) already generate part of the income, but the project still depends on sponsors and supporters. "We're basically well within our budget," adds Marut Kiatprasert. It’s planned that the budget of the hall should be in the black in 2022. "Applications for financial support are also being currently made to the canton and the municipality," he says.

The Freestyle Hall Zug at the opening last January.

The board receives administrative support from the youth workers from Baar, Risch and Ägeri. "It is all about strategic development, for example, whether a manager should be hired in the future," he explains. Because the field has expanded. A partnership for freestyle athletes has emerged in the Freiruum on the Simensareal in Zug. “We planned and built the Parcour Park there. We can now also offer our own courses.” This is working well, but other planned synergies couldn’t be implemented, however. “The idea was to rent other courses, such as those for Zumba. But there is simply no space for that,” explains the club president.

They are therefore concentrating on the core business, where there is still a lot to do. Only recently did it become known how the former Spinnerei site will be upgraded. The building complex in which the freestyle hall is rented is to be demolished (see box). "The responsible managers are interested in offering the previous tenants a place in the new area," says Kiatprasert. There is also interest from the association. How that will look exactly, and what will happen with the hall during the construction period is still in the stars. The committed freestyle athletes will definitely not run out of work.

Note
The one-year existence of the Freestyle Hall Zug will be celebrated on February 28 with a party in Industrie45. More information at www.freestylehalle-zug.ch

Which businesses can remain on the Spinnerei site?

The site of the former Spinnerei (spinning mill) in Baar is to be further developed. The owner, the Patrimonium company, has thereby carried out an architectural competition. The plans for the site that includes the spinning mill, the large halls on Langgasse and the parking lot for the “Höllhausern” recently became known. Around one-third each is planned for work and living space, while the rest is foreseen for "Education, Leisure and Culture". The listed buildings of the spinning mill will be left standing, and the rest will be removed. The corresponding development plan will be drawn up over the next two years.

The construction project will have a major impact on the businesses in the existing buildings. The Velo Outlet has been in the Spinnerei for more than two years, and would like to stay, as managing director Erwin Merz says: "We are convinced about the location, without knowing exactly what is coming." Talks have not yet taken place, said Merz. "Open communication would be very desirable." Things appear different at the sporting goods dealer Decathlon. "An information event was held in Baar two weeks ago," explains managing director Michael Schiesser. "All the planned tenants" have already been named. "The project is well advanced and Decathlon will, of course, also be part of the new project and will continue to be located in Baar."