(acm/mps) “We’ve got a wonderful competition ahead of us, with the Grand Prix as the top event. But we can already feel pleased with the way the 22nd International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS has gone,” said Andreas Kroll, Managing Director of the in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft mbH, when assessing his impressions from the equestrian highlight in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. “As we’ve sold about 61,000 as of now – tickets bought at the box office this afternoon have to be added to this sum – it means we’ve sold about 1000 tickets more than last year,” said Kroll at midday on Sunday at the closing press conference and remarked: “Our audience has remained faithful in spite of the difficult conditions last year when the hall was being redeveloped.” The same, continued Kroll, goes for the sponsors, who I’d like to warmly thank for their loyalty and partnership.” The new concept with the Porsche-Arena as the warm up hall all has been successful and very popular with the spectators, confirmed Kroll, who nevertheless announced, “But that doesn’t mean we’re going to sit back. Quite the contrary. Work will now go ahead on the details, after the new concept has been in place for the first time this year.”
Horse show officials were also pleased with the equestrian side of the 22nd STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS. “The show has featured “lady power”. The lady’s world showed the men where the wind blows,” remarked Gotthilf Riexinger. He observed that the riders provided the spectators with equestrianism of the highest standard, whether it was eventing, driving, dressage and jumping. I’m convinced, we’ll witness great show jumping once again this afternoon,” said the horse show director looking forward to the highlight – the FEI World Cup JumpingTM, the Grand Prix of Stuttgart – presented by MERCEDES BENZ, ALLIANZ and the BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERGISCHE BANK. “I’d really like to thank all the staff who have worked so untiringly and highly flexibly behind the scenes,” continued Riexinger.
“For me personally it was a premiere, for our company the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS has a long tradition,” said an obviously excited Hans-Michael Huber, Director of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Stuttgart. “We are highly pleased. The standard, the ambience and the sport are simply marvellous.” An appraisal shared by the representatives of the other sponsors. “We’ve received an outstanding feedback over the past few days,” confirmed Matthias Hoffmann, Marketing Director at the Allianz Beratungs- und Vertriebs-AG VG Südwest, who praised above all the flexibility and customer orientation of the organisers. And Martin Kuon, Director of Communications at the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, which belongs to the Baden-Württembergische Bank umbrella bank summed by saying: “We can look back on a highly successful horse show. The STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS is an excellent platform for the Baden-Württembergische Bank.“
