Eagle-eyed Eurovision fans have been doing some reach and claim to have identified a 'key advantage' Newcastle has in the battle to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
After city officials made the bid to host the world famous event official at the start of last week, Newcastle defied bookies odds to make the shortlist of potential locations, when it was announced live on Zoe Ball's BBC Breakfast Show on Friday morning.
Just days earlier the city was as low as 44/1 in the odds,. along with Sheffield, who also ending up making the cut, along with bookies favourites Glasgow, hotly tipped Liverpool, recent Commonwealth Games hosts Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. The news was met by huge celebrations from the people behind the Newcastle bid, while the Utilita Arena said they'd be "honoured" to host Eurovision on the city's behalf.
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And it's the arena that finds itself at the centre of some research from Eurovision devotees into which cities would be best placed to hoist, depending on what other events their resident venues already have in the diary for April and May 2023. It's been noted that, while some of its rivals have a string of high profile bookings for the same period, the Utilita Arena currently only has Magic Mike Live on its calendar, meaning any rescheduling required should Newcastle land Eurovision, would only be minimal.
In contrast, Manchester's AO Arena could have to cancel, or rearrange, shows by Celine Dion, Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, and Magic Mike, LIverpool's M&S Bank Arena has Magic Mike, Elton John and Andre RIeu on its schedule and the First Direct Arena in Leeds has Magic Mike and Andre Rieu.
Favourite Glasgow also has the same problem with the bookings in the diary at the SSO Hydro, which include Celine Dion, Sabaton, Magic Mike and André Rieu.
Looking at the potential schedule clashes, one Eurovision fan tweeted: "Rescheduling arena events to make room for #Eurovision is nothing new, but Newcastle’s bid team must be rubbing their hands together knowing they only have one date clash. Even favourites Glasgow have four!"
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