Zurich’s Yonex Badminton Hall Faces Demolition for New Bicycle Bridge, Sparking Community Outcry
The future of a beloved Zurich sports facility hangs in the balance as plans for a new bicycle bridge threaten the existence of the Yonex badminton hall, igniting a fierce battle between infrastructure development and community preservation.
The Yonex badminton hall, a hub for 29,000 registered users, is slated for demolition to make way for a bicycle bridge connecting districts 4 and 5. The conflict stems from revised safety standards that now necessitate a wider, less steep bridge design – one that simply won’t fit alongside the existing hall.
Originally, the winning bridge project from 2021 allowed for the hall to remain standing, envisioning construction next door. However, updated regulations from the Canton of Zurich now mandate stricter safety parameters for cyclists, rendering the original plan unfeasible. According to Lucas Bally, Head of Communications at the Zurich Department of Civil Engineering and Waste Management, the original bridge design “would have led to dangerous situations for cyclists.”
The situation escalated in September 2024 when hall operator Philipp Kurz received notification of the potential demolition. Kurz immediately responded with a letter to the civil engineering department seeking a dialogue with City Councillor Simone Brander to explore alternative solutions. This letter went unanswered until the end of 2024, followed by a January meeting with Brander’s staff who informed Kurz of the demolition plans – a development he described as a “shock.”
Despite repeated attempts, Kurz was unable to secure a direct meeting with Councillor Brander. Undeterred, he launched a petition last summer, gathering 7,000 signatures from concerned users demanding the city reconsider the bridge’s design to preserve the hall.
The issue took a dramatic turn during a public presentation in the summer of 2025, where, according to Kurz, Councillor Brander stated the hall would be demolished “one way or another,” citing the need for a construction staging area. This declaration sparked outrage among hall visitors, who emphasized the hall’s importance to the revitalization of Kreis 5, hosting not only sporting events but also concerts and other community gatherings.
However, the municipal council intervened, passing a motion in September 2025 with 109 votes in favor and 9 against, urging the construction of a bridge that would not require the hall’s demolition. This initiative was subsequently passed to the city council for consideration.
The upcoming municipal and city council elections on March 8, 2026, have become a focal point for the debate, with Kurz actively advising hall members on which candidates to support – specifically those who championed the preservation motion. He has notably refrained from recommending Councillor Brander for re-election.
The city maintains that the bridge’s location is dictated by the binding municipal transport structure plan, approved by voters in 2021 with a 58.5% majority. Bally emphasized that the civil engineering department proactively informed the hall operators about the potential development of the tenancy. He also noted that the hall’s location on municipal land always carried the caveat that it could be repurposed for public needs.
Despite these challenges, a glimmer of hope remains. The city council is now tasked with examining the possibility of either preserving the Yonex badminton hall at its current location or finding a suitable alternative site, ideally within District 5. The deadline for a response is September 10, 2027.
Kurz stated that while the primary goal is to keep the hall at its current location on Geroldstrasse 5, he remains open to discussing alternative sites, provided they are in close proximity. Construction of the bridge is not expected to begin before 2030, pending the fulfillment of requirements outlined in Articles 13 and 16 of the Roads Act and a successful referendum on the estimated CHF 80 million project cost.
The fate of the Yonex badminton hall remains uncertain, but the ongoing debate underscores the complex balancing act between urban development and the preservation of cherished community spaces.
