Campaign to rename Basel stadium after Roger Federer likely to end in failure

Some time back a campaign was started to rename the Swiss Indoors stadium in Basel - the St. Jakobshalle - after 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer. But the campaign has run into a huge roadbloack as the backers of the move failed to collect the 3,000 signatures required to get the resolution passed.

St. Jakobshalle is an arena in Basel which is used to host indoor sports and concert events, and was opened in September 1976. It is the home of the ATP Swiss Indoors men's tennis tournament, an event that Roger Federer has won 10 times (2006–2008, 2010–2011, 2014–2015 and 2017–2019) during his career.

I am just so happy right now pic.twitter.com/zn4lSgM5Tw

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) October 28, 2019

In addition to the ATP 500 tournament, the arena has also hosted several important badminton, volleyball, handball, curling and Sepak takraw events.

Initiators hope their request to rename the arena after Roger Federer will be met in any case

The Swiss Indoors ATP 500 tennis tournament being held at St Jakobshalle in October 2016 in Basel

In early 2015, the local council of Basel approved a renovation and modernization plan for the arena, following which it was re-opened in October 2018. The initiative to name the hall 'the Roger Federer Arena' was launched in early 2019 and required 3,000 signatures.

Although they did not manage to collect the required number of signatures due to the current pandemic, the initiative committee has sent the 1,200 signatures collected to the Cantonal Chancellery of Basel City anyway - along with a petition that has 2,600 signatures.

They hope their request will be met by the concerned authorities despite the shortfall in numbers. However, that seems unlikely at this stage.

When speaking to the Tages Anzeiger newspaper last year, Roger Federer had said that it would be an honor for the arena to be named after him. He did add, however, that it was up to the appropriate authorities to decide on the matter.

"They asked me if I was against this petition," said Federer. “I said no, I'd be happy if it happened. But I would understand if it didn't work out. Other people should decide that, not me. That's why I haven't made any major statements yet. It should just go its way. But it would be extremely honorable."

Roger Federer, considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has already been honored in Basel in the past. He received the title of doctor honoris causa from the University of Basel in 2017, and also has an alley named after him in Biel since 2016.