On the 12th of August 2022, we have reported that the list of potential host cities for Eurovision 2023 included 7 cities:
- Birmingham
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Sheffield
Cities have been scored on a set of criteria:
- “Having a suitable venue and sufficient space to deliver the requirements of the Song Contest
- “The commitment that can be made by a city or region to hosting the event, including financial contribution
- “The strength of the cultural offer which includes off screen local and regional activity as well as showcasing Ukrainian culture and music
- “And alignment with the BBC’s strategic priorities as a public service broadcaster, such as providing value to all audiences and supporting the creative economy in the UK”
It has been decided to shorten the list of 7 cities to 2 cities:
It will be between Glasgow and Liverpool
Glasgow
The northern city, located in Scotland, will probably suggest OVO Hydro arena with a capacity of 14.3K.
The city centre venue is also next to exhibition centres that could be useful for facilities like a press centre, and has a nearby station and hotels. It has previously hosted BBC Sports Personality of the Year and events during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
However, the venue should be familiar to Eurovision fans, as it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in the movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga“
Liverpool
The city has hosted several past major events that have included the MTV European Music Awards in 2008.
The city has a rich musical history that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The suggested arena will probably be M&S Bank Arena with a capacity of 11K.
Phil Harrold, chair of the BBC’s Host City Selection Committee, commented:
“Thanks to all 7 cities across the UK who have demonstrated the enthusiasm and passion for Eurovision that exists right across the UK. We were incredibly impressed by the quality and creativity of all the city bids, in what was a highly competitive field. The Eurovision Song Contest is a very complex event and Liverpool and Glasgow have the strongest overall offer; we will continue our discussions with them to determine the eventual host city.
We are determined to make the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest one that both reflects the winning position of Ukraine and is also an event that all of the UK can participate in”
Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest, recated:
The EBU would like to warmly thank all the 7 British cities that put so much effort and enthusiasm into their bids to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. We very much appreciate their cooperation and the quality and creativity of all the bids received.
The Eurovision Song Contest is the most complex TV production in the world with very specific logistical requirements to accommodate around 40 delegations and thousands of crew, volunteers, press and fans.
We’re confident our final two cities are best placed to meet this challenge and look forward to continuing our discussions to choose the one which will stage the world’s largest music event next May.’
The final decision regarding the host city and the venue will be made in the autumn.
