Eurovision fans could be charged up to £12k for a one bedroom private rental if the popular song contest comes to Glasgow.
The city remains the bookies favourite to host in 2023 and homeowners have already began hiking up prices for May next year, the month the contest is usually held. Dates for the five day final have not been announced yet.
A three-bedroom flat overlooking the River Clyde near the Glasgow Science centre between May 9 and 14 for five nights will cost £9,902. The dates were based on this year's Eurovision song contest date, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
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Hotel prices have also skyrocketed and experts have warned that rooms will be in short supply if Glasgow do host, as the city battles it out with other UK cities for the chance to host.
A two-bedroom near Anniesland in Glasgow would cost up £10,800 for five nights. A single bedroom flat in the city centre was going for £12,000, while a two-bed near Gartnavel Hospital in the West End was going for the same price.
Other properties include a five-bedroom home near Kelvingrove Park charging as much as £5,375 and a modern two-bedroom city centre pad renting at £4,800. Last year, prices for properties were going for as little as £81 for the rest of the year.
Jens Goren, of the Fans Europa group, has been to each competition for the last 24 years and says prices are getting worse.
He told the Scottish Sun : “Hotels have increased their prices and are going fast. Eurovision has a lot of fanatics who will pay whatever it takes to attend. These prices are exploitative.
"Rich fans will have to pay these prices to attend, but regular people will not be able afford it. It’s a disgrace.”
Christian Petersen, of the group Eurovisionworld, added: "Already the costs are spiralling. It will only get worse when the host city is named.
"Many will book hotel rooms and cancel them if the dates change or they can't get hold of tickets. Accommodation prices are going through the roof, making it almost impossible for an average fan to go.
"Staying at the four-star Grosvenor hotel in the west end from May 16 to 21 will set fans back £5,589, an extra £500 on top of its usual rate. Five nights in the same hotel next month cost £1,025.
"The four-star Yotel in the city centre is looking for £4,737 for the same period, which is £947 a night instead of its usual rate of £138 and that represents an increase of almost 700 per cent".
The paper reports Glasgow is expected to be announced in the coming months, with the OVO Hydro arena likely to be named as the venue.
John Hill, of bookies Coral, has Scotland 1/8 favourite to land the gig and says he expects the availability of accommodation to dwindle “in coming weeks”.
He said: “It looks as though Glasgow are leading the race to host Eurovision next year.We make the Scottish city long odds-on in the betting to be given the honour in 2023.”
Bosses at the four-star Yotel in the city centre are looking for £4,737 for the same period — which is £947 a night instead of its usual rate of £138.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won last year's event and the UK's Sam Ryder came second meaning the UK won the rights to host the televised spectacle. The BBC will be responsible for running the operations for the show and broadcasting it next year.
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