Basel Nightlife Gets Support; Roche Reports Strongs Business Results; Swiss Indoors ATP Event Returns to Basel; ...and its Herbstmesse Time!

News For 25 October 2016

For those interested in Basel's night life, Sunday's Basel Grand Council elections were a boost of confidence.  The Komittee Kulturstadt Jetzt, a lobbying organization promoting the maintenance and development of a vibrant nightlife scene in Basel managed to get six of the twelve candidates it supports elected.  The group's mandate is to ensure that Basel's cultural landscape also offers sufficient night-life choices.  Their success in the elections comes on the heels of the group's two initiatives and four petitions to revitalize Basel nightlife.  These have helped to address and overcome concerns by the town elders primarily with noise issues associated with bars, nightclubs and music venues that have a hard time finding spaces in which they can operate.

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Basel based Roche Holdings AG, the world's largest oncology-treatment focused drug manufacturer reported third quarter 2016 results last week.  Despite slowing sales of its older cancer drugs, the company managed to increase revenue by 4.5% thanks in part to performance of its newer breast-cancer therapies.  CEO Severin Schwan, in more general comments about the companies earnings and plans, said Roche was avoiding mega-deals popular with the company's rivals.  In addition, he had no comment with regard to the Roche stake its cross-town rival Novartis owns.  Roche stock has declined approximately 16% year-to-date and was down slightly on the sales update.

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Saturday marked the beginning of the Swiss Indoors Tennis tournament, an ATP sponsored event hosted by the St. Jakobshalle in Basel.  Qualifying rounds finished on Sunday and quarter-finals will begin on Thursday.  Featured players this year are Asia's highest ranked player Kei Nishikori of Japan, ranked #5 by ATP, and Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, ranked 3rd in the world by ATP.  However, last year's champion, and home-town favorite Roger Federer will not be at the tournament, having ended his tennis season early this year due to injuries.  Tickets for upcoming matches are still available.

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The Herbstmesse is once again upon us, starting this Saturday, 29th of October.  Organizers report that a record 1024 applications were received from vendors looking to participate in the fair. 506 concessions were granted, 2 more than in 2015, and is expected to draw close to a million visitors.  For those lost in the revelry, Basel Tourismus will be operating a new information point at Munsterplatz.  There's even a downloadable App to help you find specific rides and vendors.  Seven new rollercoaster type rides are planned for this year, in case thrill-seeking is your cup-of-tea.  Of course, all the old favorite rides, food vendors and watering holes will be present as well.  The city expects over 200 million in commerce to be conducted during the span of the fair which will last until November 13, generating 2 million in fees for the city.