The return on Liverpool City Region’s investment in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest could be “invaluable” according to the Metro Mayor.
Last week, Liverpool Council confirmed it would make a capped contribution of £2m to the continental music event when it descends on the city next May. Alongside millions of pounds of external funding from government, the BBC, European Broadcasting Union and the private sector, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has agreed to match fund the city council’s amount to put on the extravaganza in the Spring.
In five months' time, representatives from 37 countries across Europe will compete for the biggest musical prize on the continent. In October, Liverpool was selected to host the competition in place of Ukraine, seeing off a bid from Glasgow in the final two.
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Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the nine shows that will take place in the M&S Bank Arena next May. Of the council’s contribution, 70% will be from earmarked reserves for covid-19 sector recovery as well as contributions from the city’s culture budget.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said the chance to host a global spectacle like the Eurovision Song Contest is an “opportunity that doesn’t come around very often.” He said: “As an international event that attracts guests, media and attention from around the world, we’re expecting thousands upon thousands of visitors to descend on the Liverpool City Region next May for a celebration of music, dance, fun and frivolity.
“Whether people are lucky enough to secure tickets, or if they are coming to soak up the atmosphere, we want to put on a show that our residents and visitors will remember for the rest of their lives – and that rightly honours our friends in Ukraine.” Mr Rotheram said the £2m pot from the combined authority is “just a fraction of the economic return we expect to see from the event, which is predicted to inject £25m into the city region economy when it takes over in May.”
He added: “The intangible contribution of broadcasting our brand to an international audience could be invaluable. Having hosted several major events across the region over the last decade, we know that many visitors choose to return to our area time and time again. In fact, it’s estimated that hosting the event will increase tourism in the region by up to five per cent a year – an additional £250m by 2026 – and that will result in new job opportunities and businesses being created.
“With a visitor economy that’s worth nearly £5bn and which supports more than 55,000 jobs, Eurovision will give a much-needed boost to our area’s tourism sector. While delivering an event of this scale is certainly no mean feat – we’re ready to show the rest of the world that nowhere can put on a party quite like our area.”
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