Rock 'n' Kick

There was a huge party at Clear Channel Plakanda - you've actually gotten used to it by now. The party enjoys an excellent reputation, as the crowds prove every year, and once again the planners of the poster party were lucky in their choice of location. As is well known, the outdoor advertisers' events sometimes take place on greenfield sites - although there was always sufficient shelter provided. This year's party with the motto Hard Rock Cafe, however, was completely under cover in the Dübendorf hangar - luckily for guests and organizers, it was cool and wet outside. Beautiful old American sledges, rare guitars and many other contemporary exhibits on the walls gave the Flughalle more than just a touch of Hard Rock Cafe. The splendid atmosphere and the well-stocked bar even ensured that some of the more determined stayed in the hangar until late past three o'clock.
The fighters at the 8th AZ Cup, formerly known as the Baden Cup - the only official advertising tournament in Switzerland - got off relatively lightly. From Advico Young & Rubicam to Zogg Kettiger Gasser, no big name was missing - the German-speaking Swiss agencies must have been pretty deserted that afternoon.
Incidentally, the event no longer really deserves the name Grümpel - most of the games are played at a very high level. Rumor has it that some teams are even summoned to training camps before the tournament. And by signing mercenaries and legionnaires from partner companies, the coaches also tried to push the team performance a little higher. All in all - ambition reigns supreme; and sometimes a bit fierce. It was therefore all the more pleasing that there were no serious injuries - apart from bruises, minor strains and a lot of sore muscles. After all, at the last event two years ago, one player had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance - two others were on sticks for a few weeks. It is to be hoped that this positive trend towards fair play in advertising will continue. The weather also played along splendidly - a mild breeze and the occasional cloud in front of the sun also ensured that heads didn't get too hot.
Incidentally, the winner of the showdown on the pitch was Lesch + Frei, who faced Publimedia, who were clear favorites at the start of the tournament, in the final. Publimedia topped their own group with four wins, eliminated BG-/Opti-/Zenithmedia in the quarter-finals on penalties (the only media agency allowed to take part in the tournament, as owner Andreas Gedenk proudly pointed out) and also denied FC Contexta any hope of winning the tournament in the semi-finals. Apparently, the exhaustion was too great by the time they reached the final - they went down without much of a sound, although the slightly exhausted footballers from Weinbergstrasse did not show any more Brazilian ball magic.
Markus Marchel was also extremely lucky with the weather for his traditional Marchel barbecue, the twelfth in a row. Since the last barbecue two years ago, the former advertising manager of the Beobachter and Hotellerie Suisse has set up his own company, g...media, which specializes in cab advertising and other outdoor advertising spaces. The barbecue is a sure value for young and old - because Marchel always puts on a huge program, especially for the children, so that the parents can celebrate just as carefree. Because when Murmi, the clown and co. are watching for the kids, even the upper-crust quenchers turn into pious lambs.
Speaking of lamb - as always, the gigots made to a special Marchel recipe were superb. Tender and flavorful, they tempted many a guest to help themselves three or even four times.
Beat hoch dreigabs at the Clear Channel Plakanda party with CEO and host Beat Sulzer (center), shortlisted author Beat Fritsch (right) and their mutual colleague Beat Rusterholz. Many old acquaintances were rekindled and new ones made in other places too. The AZ Cup in Baden was a little tougher - the day before, the advertisers had been peacefully united in the Dübendorf hangar, but on the football pitch they gave each other no quarter. But there was a conciliatory ending there too. Finally, Markus Marchel brought the week to a close with his legendary Marchel barbecue - this year at the Villa im Park in Windisch.
Golden records have unfortunately gone out of fashion in the age of silver disks.
"When we and rock 'n' roll were young", hummed Rafael Müller quietly between Marlise Schneider (left) and Yvonne Müller.
Lotte and Peter Felser in front of the guitar backdrop of the Hard Rock Cafe specially set up in the Dübendorf hangar.

Alodia Najera, new member of the Mediabox print team, with Sandro Proietto (r.), co-owner of Mediabox, and Jürg Zentner.

Delegation from Winterthur - Monica Jäggi and Ronny Schmid came from the Konnex media agency.

Bruno Oetterli from Radiotele during customer care with Beat Krebs (l.) from OMD and Stephan Küng (r.) from Initiative Media.

Jan Maurer from the Küsnacht-based communications agency Unikat and Manuela Krähenbühl, Country Manager at Poster Publicity.

Sandra Vogler from Clear Channel Plakanda with Gerry Stadler, who recently joined Blick online.

Ford advertising manager Roman Sonders (l.) with Claudia Wilden, who skillfully uses her elbows, and Stephan Suter from Adlink.

Paul Jessup from ABN Amro with Laura Stimpson from London-based PSI Advertising, which buys advertising space from Plakanda.

Nicole Costa, Migros-Presse, spoke with Roli Wahrenberger, Business Manager Switzerland at Reader's Digest.

Lara Krensler and Flo Studer have decided to only perform together as the "Sæ Team" in future.

Had a good laugh: WOZ advertising manager Kilian Gasser (right) and Urs Schoch from the Herisau advertising agency Ecknauer + Schoch.

The Red Cell team greets the world: Marjeta Morinc, Eva van Looy, Remo Caviezel, Martina Maurer and Franco Elsener (from left).

Also in good spirits with Plakanda: Andrea Kaufmann and Walter Blum from Fiscom with Michael and Serena Fischer from Adcom (from left).

Marco Chini (l.), Barbara Litschi and Sibylle Widmer (r.) from Matter + Partner celebrated with Dietmar Knopf from Detail AG.

Publimedia playmaker Moreno Cavaliere (r.) gets a few tips from host Peter Wanner and advertiser David Honegger (l.).

Although each team had to have two women on the pitch at all times, they gave each other absolutely nothing.

Style study, or this is how you do it right: Stephan Suter, on loan from Adlink to the Mediabox team, pulls the trigger.

Winning picture: The women and team from Lesch + Frei kicked the best this year and took the winner's pot to the agency.

Walter Tagliaferre, captain of the winners, was doubly lucky - he received a brand new iPod as a competition prize from Bea Künzle.

Narrowly defeated in the final: Part of the Publimedia team with the frontrunners Markus Biehn (center) and Astrid Gartenmann (2nd from right).

The master and his tools: Markus Marchel with his 40 kilos of pickled lamb gigots and the original cactus jack grill.
Werbewoche advertising manager Thomas Stuckert didn't want to miss out on the legendary Marchel feast.
Especially praiseworthy at Marchel - the kids are well looked after and the stress-free parents thank the host.
Feeling right at home at a long table in the cozy tent: Elvira Werro (l.) from Beobachter and Hélène Sonderegger.
Christa and Rafael Müller from Werbehaus Zürich are regular guests at Marchel's legendary barbecue parties.
Family outing to Windisch: Roger Stemmer came to the big barbecue in the park with his daughter Jennifer.