Two of Scotland's biggest cities, Aberdeen and Glasgow, have officially confirmed that they will be bidding to host Eurovision 2023.
Since the confirmation that the United Kingdom will be officially hosting Eurovision 2023, five cities so far have confirmed their bid to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, whilst a number of other cities have expressed their interest in hosting the contest.
A total of five cities have officially submitted their bid to become Eurovision 2023’s host city: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Britsol, Glasgow and Liverpool, whilst a further ten cities (Belfast, Brighton, Cardiff, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffied, Sunderland, Wolverphampton) have all expressed their desire to bid to host.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Council has approved funding for the city’s bid to host Eurovision 2023, to the tune of £30,000, as Press and Journal reported last month.
Back in June, when news first started circulating that the BBC / United Kingdom were in talks with the EBU to potentially host Eurovision 2023 in Ukraine’s honour, a total of six MPs and MSPs backed Aberdeens bid to host the contest.
Aberdeen’s council Conservative group leader Ryan Houghton has said of his city potentially hosting the biggest music event in the world: “The economic benefit would be significant and it’s imperative now that all our politicians get behind the city.”
Aberdeen boasts the fifth largest arena in the United Kingdom, the P&J Live Complex, which has a capacity of 15,000. There are good transport links throughout the city, including an international aiport, and there is lots of good accommodation in and around the city too.
Glasgow
The Evening Edinburgh News reports that Glasgow has confirmed it will bid to host Eurovision 2023, claiming the city to be “the safest of safe pair of hands.” The city has an international aiport, good transport links and plenty of good accommodation sites.
The Glaswegian Council report that the city meets all the technical requirements for hosting such an event, and has all the necessary facilities to host Eurovision.
Glasgow is home to the OVO Hydro Arena, a 14,000 capacity Arena. The arena has previously played host to the MOBO Awards and the MTV Europe awards, among others. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, seems in support of Eurovision coming to the OVO: “I can think of a perfect venue on the banks of the River Clyde.”
Eagle eyed Eurovision fans will remember that the OVO Hydro in Glasgow was featured in Will Ferrell’s Eurovision movie on Netflix, “The Story of Fire Saga”.
Scotland has played host to Eurovision on one occassion so far; in 1972, Usher Hall in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh was the official host of Eurovision after 1971 winners, Monaco, were unable to host.
In 2008, the second edition of the Eurovision Dance Contest was hosted from the SEC Centre in Glasgow.
What do you think of Aberdeen and Glasgow’s bids to host Eurovision 2023? Do you think Eurovision could make a return to Scotland? Let us know what you think in the comments below!