While Liverpool waits with bated breath to discover whether its bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest is successful, an exhibition organiser said the process was having an impact on other events due to take place at the same time.
Liverpool's odds of hosting next year's Eurovision Song Contest have shortened considerably after some five cities were taken out of the running earlier this week. Now just Glasgow and Liverpool are potential host locations for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest after the UK was given the chance to host the event for the ninth time. It was deemed unsafe to hold it in Ukraine, who were this year's winners.
But while this is good news for the city, other events due to be held at the same time in May 2023 are now in suspense while an overall winner is picked, with the announcement being made some time this autumn.
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One of those affected is Steve Goddard, co-owner and managing director of the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), often dubbed "the ideal church show", which will be forced to abandon plans to run the event at the ACC Liverpool on May 3/4 if the city is successful in its bid to host Eurovision.
Steve, 69, who lives in St Helens, said: "It's now a straight fight between Liverpool and Glasgow – but the process has been going on for some time and the BBC are saying a final decision may not be announced for weeks."
He said some of CRE’s potential exhibitors had tried to book hotel rooms in Liverpool on May 3/4 and were told none are available because of the Eurovision initiative.
Steve said he was "delighted" Liverpool was in the running, but added: "It takes months and months to sell space to exhibitors, and the last thing you need is this kind of uncertainty."
The Christian Resources Exhibition, the nearest thing to a trade show for clergy and all those involved in the maintenance and mission of their local church, attracts suppliers of everything from computers to candles, sound systems to stained glass, pianos to pews.
While the event has been held all over the UK for more than 30 years, the exhibition at the ACC Liverpool would be the first in the city – and has been welcomed by both the Rt Revd Beverley Mason, Bishop of Warrington and acting Bishop of Liverpool, and the Most Rev Malcolm McMahon, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool.
Phil Harrold, the chair of the BBC’s Host City Selection Committee said earlier this week: "The Eurovision Song Contest is a very complex event and Liverpool and Glasgow have the strongest overall offer; we will continue our discussions with them to determine the eventual host city."
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