The kursaal disco in Lignano closes after 40 years of activity

Sunday 9 April 2023 will be the last night that will illuminate one of the largest historic discos in Lignano Sabbiadoro, the Kursaal Club! after 40 years of activity, after having made generations dance, the sad news of its closure has arrived. The current Badolato manager: The decision comes from the owners, who thought that music and nightlife could disturb the customers of the new hotel in Lignano Riviera, located near the disco. The kursaal at the time made the history of ballroom dancing even when it was called the "Circolo dei Forestieri". After a fire, it was rebuilt in 1983 and from there one of the most popular discos in Lignano Sabbiadoro was born: the Kursaal. The peaks of success were the 2006 World Cup, the great evenings with historic DJs, including Tiësto and Fat Boy Slim! Let's not forget the Sunday afternoon with the legendary Mokambo, which until evening gathered thousands of young people from all regions of Italy, but also from nearby Austria and Slovenia.

​

Kursaal, an era closes. The reflections of Tommaso Ponti

The news of the closure of the place cannot fail to strike those who, like me, Night People, have seen many dawns from that terrace, to quote the words of the Manager Riccardo Badolato.

At least two generations close to mine have spent nights (but also days) in that place, met boys and girls, had fun and had fun, experienced emotions that will remain memories for a lifetime and we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people, with approximation by default.

But there is more because, thanks to careful management, many young people have worked there, some as a summer job, others as integration, others full-time, many for decades.

Then there is the related industries linked to all the connected people and companies, suppliers and partners who for countless seasons have considered the Kursaal as a point of reference for their turnover.

Let's not forget the "iconic" aspect, the contribution given by the venue to the Lignano brand, because the images, emotions and memories experienced at the Kursaal are inevitably associated with the city.

To then enter the professional aspect and remember that the Kursaal has represented a true excellence in the world of entertainment, it has been the promoter of great events, great guests, great organizations and initiatives (how can we forget the Mokambo on the Federico Beltrame beach?) without never reach the collateral distortions of local counterparts in other parts of Italy.

The Kursaal has been able to remain in vogue by following the transformations of the market, of tourists, of musical trends, of customs, but above all of the needs and requests of young people who have always found there an adequate offer of entertainment and fun.

This was one of the great merits of Riccardo Badolato to whom I believe more than anyone should say thank you for what he has done since he was a young offshoot to today, a mature entrepreneur.

Certainly great recognition also to its closest partners, to its staff, renewed on a rotational basis over the years, but the ability to choose people and coordinate them with undisputed leadership, with well-chosen strategic choices and careful management, has truly been a uncommon in the panorama of those who do business.

Badolato is certainly a serial entrepreneur and therefore we have no doubts that he will surprise us with other initiatives in addition to those he already has active in Lignano, Latisana and Palazzolo, it is just a matter of waiting for the next ace to drop.

The theme on the Kursaal could end with the consideration that every activity, in the alternation of successes, is born and then, at a certain point, dies or transforms, even more those related to customs and trends of the moment, but perhaps we could deepen the the fact that in this case it is a different choice of the venue's concessionaire that decrees its end and not the real manager to whom the history of the last twenty years is linked.

It is clearly a legitimate choice, therefore the strategy of others is not discussed, but I can imagine that those who have invested a lot in it (a lot in rents) for years will remain a bit bitter, undergoing a choice that represents such a significant page turn.

In any case, good luck to the new initiative, to the Hotel and to the "new Kursaal", to which we wish the same success as the previous one.

Thanks Kursaal
People of the Night. Thomas Ponti

Article source: Messaggero Veneto, Nordest24