Big time in Bern: Republica and Bernexpo celebrate the new festival hall
After about ten years of preparation, the new Festhalle in Bern opened at the end of April. Republica, in collaboration with Bernexpo, launched an opening campaign for this new flagship event venue.
The new Festhalle will catapult Bern to a new level as an event location with space for cultural events, shows, congresses, trade fairs, concerts and other events for up to 9,000 people. Republica has been supporting the LiveCom company Bernexpo for around ten years with the strategic brand management of the new Festhalle - from construction communication and branding to the farewell to the old Festhalle with the "Bye Bye Fest".
The motto for the opening campaign "Big Time in Bern" was intended to emphasize the importance of the newly built multifunctional hall and arouse anticipation. The activating question "Are you ready for Big Time?" appeared on posters, ads and social media. The target group was encouraged to submit clips in which they got ready for "Big Time in Bern". This included celebrities such as footballer Christian Fassnacht, contortionist Nina Burri and radio presenters and comedians Moser and Schelker.
This was accompanied by an activation competition for "Big Time" tickets right up to the opening. The campaign culminated at the event itself, where the best video contributions were shown on a giant screen as a spectacular image film.
Republica CEO Bala Trachsel is pleased with the result of years of work: "I am delighted that the full extent of the new brand identity that we developed on behalf of Bernexpo is finally coming to fruition." Bernexpo CMO Lea Frisch adds: "Together with Republica, we have staged the new Festhalle as what it is: a relevant entertainment brand, a host, an initiator, a networker and thus an independent player that is breaking new ground."
Responsible at Republica: Creative Direction: Florian Birkner, Art Direction Branding: Annina Mettler, Art Direction Campaigning: Pascal Herzog, Consulting: Lara Gross, Brand Strategy: Bala Trachsel, LiveCom: Nora Müller, Stephanie Frei, Text/Concept: Désirée Sattler, Simon Leray, Re Wilk, Danielle Hausmann, Motion: Nina Hofmann, Design: Tamara Lüthi, Content Concept: Valerie Koenen, Visual Storytelling: Fabienne Homberger, Video: Benoit Perritaz.
