Calls are being made for Nottingham to put its hat in the ring to host next year's Eurovision. Key city leaders say putting on the showpiece event will put Nottingham on the map and highlight what it has to offer.
The UK came second in the contest to winners Ukraine. However, due to the Russian invasion and uncertainty amid a critical situation in the country, Ukraine will delegate its hosting duties.
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A number of cities have already declared their intention to put in an official bid including London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds. Greg Nugent, chair at The Nottingham Project, said it is a moment when communities have "to come together as a team of people who want this magic to happen."
He added: "There is a great old saying by the BBC about the music scene in Nottingham - that 'there must be something in the water' because there is no other city in the UK to produce more new artists. The magic keeps happening here.
"Nottingham is just as diverse as London. I think there are very few cities in the country that are as welcoming as Nottingham.
"It is our chance to put the best foot forward for the bid so Nottingham comes on top. It will be a very competitive process."
Ukraine won this year’s Eurovision with the song Stefania by Kalush Orchestra, earning the right to host the 2023 edition. Organisers concluded this could not be done safely while the country was at war with Russia.
It has been reported that the successful UK city will need to have a venue with capacity for 10,000 spectators that is available for lengthy rehearsals, and have the ability to host thousands of journalists, plus easy access to an international airport. A longlist is due to be published later this summer.
Dan Ellis, who owns a number of bars and venues across the city including Hockley Arts, Magic Garden, Beeston Social and Das Kino said the possibility would benefit the hospitality industry in Nottingham. He added: "It is a fabulous city. We need people to see Nottingham as a city worldwide because when they will come for Eurovision they will also see the vibrant nightlife, the Nottingham football team, the Robin Hood, and the great history as well."
Robert Ware, the developer behind The Island Quarter, the £1 billion regeneration scheme very close to the arena, said that Nottingham should be at “the top of list” to host Eurovision. He said: “Our 36-acre site is very close to the arena and we would be happy to support in every way possible to ensure Nottingham gets Eurovision. It will put our great city on the international stage – and everyone will welcome the tens of thousands of visitors who would visit Nottingham in 2023, and beyond."
Liz Cartwright, managing director of Cartwright Communications, said: "We have got just as good a chance as anybody else. Nottingham is central to the UK, close to the airport.
"It would be absolutely fantastic and brilliant. Everybody should back it."
The possibility sparked hope and anticipation in Nottingham, with Council leader David Mellen adding: "Clearly this is not Britain's Eurovision, this is Ukraine's Eurovision, so we will be hosting it on behalf of Ukraine.
"We have a huge and growing Ukrainian population in the city. So it will be good if we could do it for them.
"But we have not heard the details yet. So it might be that we do not have the capacity in our venues for that to happen. But, given the opportunities here, an interest has been expressed from Nottingham as it has for many other cities and it will be an exciting thing to happen in Nottingham if possible, but we do not know that yet."
Michael Holod, branch chair at Nottingham's Association of Ukrainians in GB, has also voiced his excitement on behalf of the community, adding: "Whatever you think of Eurovision, it is an event that brings people together through music. We had an event at the centre where Ukrainians in Nottingham came together to watch Eurovision.
"It was a great event and just brilliant during such tense circumstances. It is obviously a massive privilege to host the event.
"I cannot think of better countries to host it than the UK because the people here are great allies. "
Danny Semak, general manager at Fox and Grapes which is just a stone's throw from Nottingham's biggest venue, said the possibility could "put the city on the map".
He added: "Nottingham has developed a lot in the last few years. It would be great for the city and it will put Nottingham on the map."
Claire Gregory, who runs Bonearrow in the Sneinton Market, 42, added: "Eurovision is quite catchy and fun. I think it would be amazing and fun if it was held in Nottingham."
A City Council spokesperson said: “Nottingham has great credentials to host a prestigious and internationally popular show like the Eurovision Song Contest. It would be a fantastic honour and boost for the city, placing Nottingham on the world stage as the televised broadcast reaches over 180 million viewers.
“With a world-class Arena that hosts entertainment superstars and international sporting events, Nottingham’s infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and bars is geared to welcoming fans from all over the world to our great city. The city is perfect for visitors with plenty of things to see and do, is compact with a superb green travel network and has great transport links for national and international visitors. We look forward to the publication of the detailed bidding criteria and process to then consider whether we will be able to formally apply to be the host city.”
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