Is "Big Air?" wobbling?

Contract for the mega-event in the EM stadium is missing

Anna Gasser was already looking forward to the mega event in April.(Bild: zVg)

Is the mega event in the Wörthersee Stadium in doubt? Tickets are already on sale, but the contract with the city of Klagenfurt is still missing. Nerves are apparently already on edge - probably also with the organizer. Mayor Christian Scheider and the event lawyer have now also spoken out.

Back in April of this year, there was a pompous press conference and the mega event for the coming winter was presented in the Wörthersee Stadium. From December 31, 2024 to January 5, 2025, the "Big Air" World Cup for snowboarders and freestylers will - or rather should - take place in the Klagenfurt EM Arena - with stars such as Anna Gasser and Co. "Klagenfurt can offer optimal conditions for events of all kinds. We are already looking forward to the Big Air in the stadium," said Mayor Christian Scheider proudly at the time.

Organizer Patrick Riepl (1st from right) is completely nervous.(Bild: Zangerle)

Around 4000 tickets sold
Ticket sales have been running ever since, with around 4000 tickets sold so far. The contracts with the ÖSV, the FIS and the state have of course all been signed long ago. .

. . . but - and here's the thing: four months after the official presentation, there is still no contract between the World Cup organizers and the city of Klagenfurt! Which the new sports city councillor Constance Mochar confirms to the "Krone": "Yes, we still don't have a contract."

Which means that organizer Patrick Riepl's nerves are obviously on edge. Because when asked, he actually said: "We have a written contract with the city - everything fits."

What is true now? So far, the city has only given a verbal commitment from the mayor. Mochar tries to reassure: "Everything will be put in writing on Tuesday." Let's hope she's right - more than four months later. . .

What I must emphasize, however, is that I have been chasing after the responsible officers for months and have made it clear that the application must be submitted as quickly as possible.

Bürgermeister Christian Scheider

Mayor Christian Scheider now explains the matter in a written statement: "One thing is quite clear, I am absolutely behind the Big Air event and its realization is in no way in danger. What I must emphasize, however, is that I have been chasing the responsible officers for months and have made it clear that the application must be submitted as quickly as possible. It should be noted that, according to the applicable processes and regulations, only the sports officer is authorized to submit an application in this matter." 

Scheider continued: "There is also already a signed letter of intent, which is presumably what the organizer referred to in the article." Now it's time to get down to business. "It has now been clearly discussed with Constance Mochar, the responsible sports councillor and finance officer, that the relevant application must be submitted by her in the next few days. I can assure you that absolutely nothing stands in the way of the Big Air event. I support this great event, which is of the utmost economic and touristic importance for our city and for Carinthia as a whole."

Event lawyer Konrad Burger-Scheidlin also emphasizes: "There is a letter of intent and parallel cooperation agreements that have been signed but still need to be approved by the authorities. All in all, there is a legal vagueness in this case for the layman. The project is on track."