Hosting Eurovision could lead to a return of civic pride in Liverpool not seen since the European Capital of Culture status 14 years ago, according to the region’s Metro Mayor.
In 2008, 50,000 people descended on St George’s Hall for the launch of the European Capital of Culture. Major musical acts, arts exhibitions and the opening of the now M&S Bank Arena came to life as part of a designation bestowed on Liverpool by the European Union for 12 months. The year-long status was deemed an outright success by many and gave back a sense of local pride to thousands of city residents.
Steve Rotheram, who was Lord Mayor of the city during that time, and now Metro Mayor, said Liverpool’s hosting of Eurovision 15 years later could restore that feel good factor once again. The city secured the right to host the European song contest last week after beating competition from Glasgow in the final run off.
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Liverpool was named the stand-in UK host in place of Ukraine, owing to the ongoing Russian invasion. Addressing the victory in the first meeting of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since the announcement, Mayor Rotheram said Eurovision was a “huge opportunity for us and the whole city region needs to benefit from the legacy” of the event.
He said: “This will be streamed to a worldwide TV audience of billions, with tens of thousands visiting over those few weeks. It’s a great chance to showcase what we’re proud of in our city region.”
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place on Saturday, May 13. Liverpool has already released some details of its planned cultural programme, which would begin months before the actual song contest next May.
The Metro Mayor said he expected those coming to the city to be “blown away by the spectacle and how we all come together for it.” He added: “We’ll be doing it in the best way we can and it’s another opportunity to return to that civic pride we saw in 2008.”
Mr Rotheram joked that since Liverpool was awarded the song contest last week, the most commonly asked question he has had is “any tickets?” The Metro Mayor joined Mayor Joanne Anderson at the M&S Bank Arena on Friday, where the show will be held, for discussions with Tim Davie, BBC director general.
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