Munich's New Year's Eve Celebrations in a Pinch: No Majority for Laser Spectacle
Munich's plans for a grand New Year's Eve laser show and winter lighting have hit a snag. The city's economic committee turned down the necessary personnel position required for the event, postponing the financing to the 2024 budget. Clemens Baumgärtner, the head of Munich's Economic Affairs Department, confirmed this following a committee meeting on Tuesday. The total annual cost? A hefty million euros.
The SPD and Greens, however, advocated for an investigation into potential external sponsorship for the New Year's Eve show. They saw this as a potential investment to attract tourism despite the show's sizeable price tag.
Baumgärtner had suggested an alternative to traditional fireworks: winter lighting and a central laser and LED show. The idea was to create an annual spectacle by an artist, attracting tourists during the holiday season. Estimated costs included 950,000 euros for materials and 100,000 euros for personnel—a price point considered middle-of-the-road for comparable events.
Baumgärtner expressed disappointment with the committee's decision, which saw the CSU and Freie Wähler group outvoted by the red-green majority. He stood by the plans, viewing them as a progressive alternative to fireworks. He argued that other large cities also hosted similar spectacles, providing a positive tourism signal. He hoped this alternative could potentially reduce the environmental impact of fireworks.
The SPD and Greens, with their proposal for external sponsorship, sought to support the New Year's Eve laser show. Despite its substantial annual cost, they believed it could be a worthwhile investment for attracting tourism.
Munich's stand on New Year's Eve celebrations remains undecided. Will the city opt for the laser show, or will they consider alternative forms of celebration?
Enrichment Data: New Year's Eve in Munich offers various celebrations beyond the proposed laser show. Tollwood at Theresienwiese serves as a popular party venue, hosting live music and DJs. Other clubs like Roten Sonne, Sweet, and Backstage also organized parties with various music genres and special offers. Fireworks, despite a temporary ban in 2024, still attracted crowds at popular spots like Schwanthalerhöhe, Olympiaberg, and Isar river bridges.
