Since Måneskin achieved Italy’s third Eurovision win on May 22nd in Rotterdam, the mediterranean country has been quick to get the ball rolling on finding the perfect host city for the 2022 contest.
During the bidding phase between May 23rd and May 28th, a total of 17 cities across Italy expressed their interest in hosting next years contest. Fast forward to August 4th, and a total of 11 cities had submitted their detailed plans to the broadcaster for hosting Eurovision 2022.
And then there were five...
It has recently been reported by Italian newspaper “Il Resto del Carlino” that only five cities are still in the running to become the Eurovision 2022 host city, which will reportedly be revealed on August 30th. However, this has yet to be confirmed by the Italian broadcaster and the European Broadcasting Union.
But which five cities have reportedly made the cut? Bologna, Milan, Pesaro, Rimini and Turin have all been reported as being the last five cities remaining in the race to be crowned Eurovision 2022’s host city, with three of these cities (Bologna, Milan and Turin) meeting all the requirements for hosting Eurovision.
Bologna
Bologna, located in Northern Italy, is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, and is the seventh most populous city in Italy. The city boasts the Gugliemo Marconi International Aiport and Bologna Centrale railway station, and is also served by a network of public buses.
Bologna have submitted their bid to host Eurovision 2022 with the Unipol Arena as their venue of choice. It’s capacity of 20,000 spectators for concerts is within the requirements for Eurovision host venue; however, its lack of infastructure around the main venue could pose a problem with regards to the press centre, interview and press conference rooms, and everything else needed for hosting Eurovision.
Milan
Nestled in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Milan is the second city of Italy (after Rome). It boasts an extensive public transport network, and is served by three airports all within easy reach of the city centre.
Should Milan host Eurovision 2022, they would most likely do so at the Mediolanum Forum, which is a sports arena located in Assago, near Milan. It has a capacity of 12,700, and all other ameneties surrounding the venue are suitable for hosting such a large scale event. However, the only thing working against the venue is its height – it is only 16.40 metres high, which is just below 18 metres required by the EBU.
Pesaro
Pesaro is a city and comune in the region of Marche on the Adriatic coast. The city has good transport links, as well as a good number of hotels and rooms, well within the requirements set out by the EBU. The closest airport to Pesaro is Rimini, which is only around 25 minutes away from the city.
Pesaro boasts the fifth biggest arena in Italy, with the Vitfrigo Arena. Seating capacity for concerts is 13,000, making it ideal for a contest like Eurovision.
Rimini
The city of Rimini sits in the Emilia-Romagna region in North Italy, along the Adriatic coast. There is a good transport network throughout the city, plenty of hotels and other accomodation. The closest airport is Federico Fellini International Aiport in Miramare, with Bologna-Marconi, Venice Marco-Polo and Milan-Malpensa all close by.
Whilst Rimini doesn’t have an arena as such, it does have an exhibition centre, the Fieri di Rimini (Rimini Fair), which would be ideal for hosting such an event like Eurovision.
Turin
The capital city of Piedmont, Turin, is located in Northern Italy. The city is served by the Turin-Caselle Airport, located 16 kilometres from the city centre. In the city centre itself, there is a good transport network of trains, trams and buses, as well as as good accomodation infastructure.
Turin have put in their bid to host Eurovision 2022 with the Pala Alpitour, an arena located in the Santa Rita district of the city. It is the largest indoor sporting arena in Italy, with a capacity of up to 15,000 spectators for concerts.
Which city do you think RAI and the EBU will chose to host Eurovision 2022? Which city would you personally like to see hosting the contest? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
