It has been confirmed that Newcastle is now competing with Bristol in the bid to host Eurovision 2023. After 2022 winners, Ukraine, announced they are unable to host next year due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, cities across the UK have been announcing their bid to host the international event.
Eurovision organisers have been in talks with the BBC to bring the event to the UK. Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, announced Bristol's bid to host at last weekend's (July 9) Pride celebrations, before headliner, 'Call Me Maybe' singer Carly Rae Jepsen, took to the stage.
As the UK's 2022 entrant, Sam Ryder, came runner-up to Ukraine band, Kalush Orchestra, the UK is next in line to host Eurovision 2023. Newcastle City Council has now confirmed it has been in talks with the BBC to bring it up north, competing with Bristol in the race to host.
Read more: Marvin Rees announces Bristol's bid for Eurovision at Bristol Pride
Chronicle Live has reported that the Newcastle City Council is working with Invest Newcastle on the project, with talks having already been held with the BBC and organisers in a previous host city. Coun Alex Hay, the council’s cabinet member responsible for tourism, told Chronicle Live: “Newcastle is a welcoming, well-connected and ambitious city with a proven track record of staging world class events.
“Obviously it would be wonderful to host Eurovision and we believe that Newcastle would be a perfect host city. We are looking forward to hearing more about the bidding process and are already working with partners to explore the opportunity.”
Whereas Bristol currently does not have an indoor arena with the 10,000+-strong capacity needed to host Eurovision, with the currently in construction YTL Arena in Filton as the best option for our city, Newcastle has a 11,000-capacity arena. The Utilita Arena in Newcastle hosts regular live events and concerts to thousands.
One of the criteria to meet to be able to host Eurovision is having a venue which can accommodate around 10,000 attendees. There must also be enough accommodation for at least 2,000 delegates, journalists and Eurovision attendees.
Newcastle join Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Aberdeen, Belfast, Leeds, London, Birmingham and Liverpool in competing against Bristol for the 2023 hosting rights. Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, stated at Bristol Pride on Saturday (July 9) that a chance for Bristol to host Eurovision would be a chance for the city to "come together".
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