Following the EBU’s announcement today inviting the BBC, and thus the United Kingdom, to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, multiple cities across the UK have begun declaring their interest in hosting.
The United Kingdom have hosted 8 times, in the past: 4 of which in London, and then once in Edinburgh, Brighton, Harrogate, and most recently, in Birmingham. Multiple cities across the United Kingdom have expressed an interest in being the UK’s 5th city to host the Eurovision Song Contest!
The Likely Candidates
Glasgow
One of the most popular choices to host Eurovision 2023 is Glasgow, Scotland’s 2nd city. Glasgow ticks all the boxes needed to host a Eurovision Song Contest, with an arena able to accommodate over 14,500 people, the Ovo Hydro. This arena might be familiar to some Eurovision fans, as it was used in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, as the host venue of that year’s fictional contest. Additionally, there is a convenient 6-week gap in the Ovo Hydro’s schedule, during the dates needed to host the Eurovision Song ContestI.
The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has tweeted in favour of Glasgow hosting the contest. Sturgeon has previously spoken out in favour of Scotland participating separately in Eurovision.
Liverpool
Liverpool is another extremely strong contender to host the contest. The city is extremely famous as being the music capital of the UK, being home to the Beatles, among many other culturally significant artists, from across the decades.
The M&S Bank Arena has a capacity of 11,000 people, just lower than the PalaOlimpico, and is geographically close to both Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland, meaning it’d be one of the easiest places for fans in all four nations to travel to.
Liverpool City Council have already tweeted out their intention to host the contest, as well as their mayor, Joanna Anderson, saying: “We send our love and solidarity as always to the people of Ukraine. Our city would love to do you proud and give your beautiful country the Eurovision platform it deserves.“
Cardiff
The capital city of Wales, Cardiff, is another strong contender, as it has one of the most spectacular arenas in all of the United Kingdom. The Principality Stadium has a capacity of 78,000, meaning, if chosen, Eurovision 2023 would be the biggest Eurovision ever, surpassing Düsseldorf’s 38,000 in 2011.
Unlike England and Scotland, Wales has never hosted Eurovision before, and therefore it’d be a unique opportunity for the BBC to present this part of the UK to the world.
Birmingham
Birmingham was the host city of Eurovision 1998, and therefore were the most recent British city to host the contest. The Utilita Arena hosted the event and is still a very suitable location for a modern Eurovision Song Contest to be held. The venue has a capacity of 15,800, and sits very nicely on the bank of the Birmingham canal.
This choice of host city would provide continuity to Eurovision history, while also facing into the future.
Leeds
Leeds have been one of the fastest movers of the day, as their council have already released a statement declaring their intention to bid to be the host city.
It goes without saying that Leeds will be bidding to host Eurovision in 2023. Together with ASM Global, the operators of the first direct arena in Leeds, we have already been in touch with both the Government and the BBC to discuss our plans. Leeds has already proved that it has the capability and capacity to host major international events and ASM Global successfully hosted Eurovision in the Avicii Arena, Stockholm Sweden in 2016. Given that we will be mid-way through the Leeds 2023 year of culture, it could not come at a better time.
We are extremely disappointed that Ukraine will be unable to host in 2023, but it would be an honour to host on behalf of them, especially given that West Yorkshire is home to a large number of Ukrainians. If we are successful with our bid, we will be looking to get the local Ukrainian community involved with our plans as much as possible.
James Lewis & Jonathon Pryor, Leeds City Council
The First Direct Arena, in Leeds, has a capacity of 13,700, meaning it is more than capable of hosting the event. Also, the fact the city will be the 2023 City of Culture, could be a big factor in it’s favour.
The More Unlikely Candidates
London
Despite being the UK’s capital city, and being home to dozens of venues all equipped to host the contest, London is a more unlikely choice, as the BBC have been steering away from London-based projects, in recent years, in an effort to stop themselves being seen as “London-centric” and biased against the North. London is probably one of the cities most capable in every aspect to host Eurovision, out of the entire continent, but politically it would be tricky for the BBC to justify.
Despite this, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has expressed his willingness for London to step up to the task.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and like Wales, has never hosted Eurovision before. However, the BBC selecting Belfast as host city, could potentially cause political issues, as it’ll strengthen unionist voices in the country, and a time when the balance of power is swinging the other way. It could be seen. as a move by the BBC and the UK Government to impose their authority upon province.
The SSE Arena in Belfast has a capacity of 11,000, meeting the criteria to host and their schedule is entirely free during the period needed.
