Eurovision 2023 - BBC

[telebox2001]

The other issue is in London it would get "lost". There have been a lot of complaints from fans that Turin was generally unaware and uninterested, with a very poor Eurovillage and no proper Euroclub, although Italy is generally very indifferent about Eurovision. It's just something the artists have to do after winning Festival De San Remo, which was still there even during RAI's hiatus. Even Melodifestivalen didn't take place when SR (as was) sat out some of the 60s and 70s shows.

Notably, the dress rehearsal for the final was packed with locals who were there to see Måneskin, no more no less - a near-riot apparently ensued when stand-ins rocked up!

[all new Phil]

Could the ABBA Voyage Arena be a potential location? Granted it’s London but the link to Eurovision is there. Not sure of it’s size but it’s a location that has accommodated a much larger event in recent years.

[Josh]

I believe the stadium is booked out until the end of May so unless they cancel tickets that seems unlikely.

[telebox2001]

There's one place everyone is - understandably - overlooking: Birmingham.

We've had 16 year gaps between two shows in Stockholm and just 12 years between two shows in Kyiv. It'll have been 25 years since we were last there.

The NEC and the NIA are both geared up for it - in the NEC's case there's an abundance of space to use for the Press Centre, Delegation Bubble etc. - there's a major international airport, an abduncance of hotels and great rail links - not only is New Street but a Tube ride to Euston away from Heathrow, there's a direct (albeit commuter) train from Stansted. It ticks all the boxes other than "we went there last time" but as I say, it was 25 years ago.

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For what it's worth, the arena in question has strongly refuted that the gap in its events schedule is related to Eurovision - besides, if it does come to the UK I'll suspect the Beeb will have to do an open bidding process because otherwise cue the outcry.

Although the EBU usually insist on a bidding process (indeed, the last Ukranian one was very protracted!) I'm not sure we will see an open bidding process this year since the UK won't be hosting on the back of a victory. Furthermore, there will be very limited time to conduct a bidding process if a decision on whether or not to go to Ukraine is held off on for any significant amount of time. If we get to September/October and the war's still going on, they're going to have to have Plan B "good to go" at that point.

[p2004]

Cardiff has a 70,000+ capacity stadium with closable roof. Alright that might be too big?

The issue with that is that it is a stadium. Overall, sound quality will not be as good as it would be in a concert arena and that's certainly a consideration when hosting a contest that's primarily organised to be seen on television. I think the last times we saw a stadium used was Denmark back in 2001 and Germany in 2011.

[aaron_scotland]

Could the ABBA Voyage Arena be a potential location? Granted it’s London but the link to Eurovision is there. Not sure of it’s size but it’s a location that has accommodated a much larger event in recent years.

That arena is absolutely tiny and is a temporary structure in a car park, I don't see it working at all logistically, forgetting the fact they have tickets for sale throughout 2023.

[sjhoward]

There’s only one option - straight back to Harrogate with Jan Leeming! 

[telebox2001]

Utilita Arena in Sheffield and First Direct Arena in Leeds tick some boxes...

[all new Phil]

Utilita Arena in Sheffield and First Direct Arena in Leeds tick some boxes...

Don’t think FD Arena in Leeds would be big enough. Its quite a strange shape and size compared to other arenas.

[Brekkie]

If anything though it's set up more for concerts than other arenas, it holds 13,000+ and looks pretty damn good for SPOTY a few years back.

https://www.bam.co.uk/how-we-do-it/case-study/leeds

[p2004]

Leeds and Sheffield are two of the more reasonable candidates. But I'd be worried about them being able to provide the hotel capacity and the transport connectivity that the organisers want.

[Brekkie]

No worries on that front - Eurovision requires 2000 hotel beds for delegates, journalists and spectators - Leeds has around 10,000. It's kind of the forgotten big city of the UK. It does have events (just one night though) pencilled in for late April, mid-May and early June.

[telebox2001]

FD actually looks ideal with the amphitheatre design. You might have to move the Green Room out of the main hall but apart from that I think it would actually work really well. The suites could potentially house the commentators.

What I particularly like is that the design means it's a fairly intimate venue. It seems not dissimilar to the way the Tel Aviv show was set up - and the limitations of that venue compared to venues like Globen or the Altice Arena actually forced a stronger television production.

[DamC]

It's now official: EBU will start discussions with the BBC to host next year's contest

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/15...KioEw&s=19

[chaose]

It's official. The Ukraine wont host and the EBU is in talks with the BBC:
https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/releas...on-hosting