Which British city should host Eurovision 2023?

[Howardh]

Pretty well out of the bag that the BBC has been offered Eurovision Song Contest 2023 as there's no chance of it being held in Ukraine. I think the BBC will accept. Putting the argument as to who should fund it to one side (maybe another thread?) I'm more interested in the logistics, and where exactly it could be held in the UK.

Clearly we have venues big enough, hey they could even close the roof at Wembley, but outside London? Brighton's been used before (ABBA) and has the hotel space etc, but is the Pavilion large enough nowadays?

What about Scotland? Anyhow...where would you like it to be held (allowing space for those who say "as far away as possible...Neptune??")? If it were in or near Manchester I'd absolutely try to grab a ticket. Manchester Arena would be in with a shout?

 

[thenorthern]

From what I understand Cardiff has always been the city that would host Eurovision if the United Kingdom ever won as Wales hasn't hosted anything major recently and it has the Millennium Stadium with it's retractable roof, I think Cardiff seems like the most likely venue.

I wouldn't rule out it being hosted in Belfast although the uncertain political situation in Northern Ireland and the relatively small size of the Odyssey arena may prevent that happening.

Time have changed a lot since we last hosted as back then it was mostly held in music halls and theatres now it's mostly stadiums and large arenas.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Well whenever it is hosted I'm going if it's hosted in Britain. Given that we haven't won in years and haven't done so well in just as many years I see this as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I must partake in

 

[Altrincham]

I had read somewhere that it could possibly be held wherever the Year of Culture is for 2023.

It definitely needs to be an arena-type venue.

I would love to go and see it if the UK are hosting it in 2023.

 

[Busaholic]

I'll have to try and think of the city I most dislike, if not actively hate, and suggest that they get to host it.

 

[Nova1]

Ignoring any fairness or political or culture reasons, just stick it in Wembley?

 

[gabrielhj07]

Hopefully the situation in Ukraine improves, but if it is to be held in the UK I think we can rule out London? Would be seen as too focused on the South-East.

 

[XAM2175]

I saw a suggestion that the Hydro here in Glasgow was a possibility, being well-suited for technical productions and seating circa 14,000, but I don't know how credible that is. Honestly I'm not fussed as long as it's somewhere that can put on a good show, though I can appreciate that "not London" might well be an answer that appears with some frequency

 

[gabrielhj07]

Honestly I wouldn't mind London! I reckon there'd be a sentiment against it though, and a desire for it to be held somewhere 'regional'.

 

[Peter0124]

I'd say either Manchester or Glasgow, both could probably handle the extra flights and have decent sized arenas.

 

[Scotrail12]

As much as I'd like it to be Glasgow, is it really a big enough city? I can walk from one side of the city centre to the other in half an hour. Obviously we have the Hydro as a potential venue but I just remember that it was a bit of a nightmare hosting COP-26 in November.

 

[XAM2175]

The important thing, in my mind at least, is that the choice should be appropriately sympathetic to the fact that it's meant to be in Ukraine. Holding it outside London could maybe help with that perception - on the presumption that if the UK had won it outright it would definitely be being booked into a London venue at this very moment

 

[Gareth]

As much as I'd like it to be Glasgow, is it really a big enough city?

If it's not big enough for Eurovision, it may as well call it a day.

 

[DelayRepay]

The important thing, in my mind at least, is that the choice should be appropriately sympathetic to the fact that it's meant to be in Ukraine.

Are there any suitable UK cities that are twinned with Ukraine? Or any cities that have been particularly active in welcoming Ukrainian refugees?

Although the venue will be in the UK, I hope that it will still be 'hosted' by Ukraine in terms of having Ukrainian presenters and a Ukrainian theme.

 

[DanNCL]

As much as I'd like it to be Glasgow, is it really a big enough city? I can walk from one side of the city centre to the other in half an hour. Obviously we have the Hydro as a potential venue but I just remember that it was a bit of a nightmare hosting COP-26 in November.

If Malmo is big enough Glasgow is too!

 

[Mike99]

What about the nearest City/town to where the bloke who came second this year was born or lives.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

The UK did host this many years ago in Harrogate.

 

[Hardcastle]

Belfast Cardiff or Glasgow/Edinburgh it would depend on which city would have a arena big enough & available for something like 6 weeks.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

What about the nearest City/town to where the bloke who came second this year was born or lives.

Yes that is a good suggestion.

I had read somewhere that it could possibly be held wherever the Year of Culture is for 2023.

It definitely needs to be an arena-type venue.

I would love to go and see it if the UK are hosting it in 2023.

I just Googled that and it seems that in 2023 that City would be Leeds, 2024 Wakefield and I think it has already been confirmed that for 2025 it is Bradford. It was Hull a few years ago. Harrogate did host UK Eurovision some years ago, so certainly a Yorkshire/West Yorkshire theme.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As much as I'd like it to be Glasgow, is it really a big enough city? I can walk from one side of the city centre to the other in half an hour.

You can in pretty much all British cities, other than London they are generally quite compact.

 

[Yew]

Edinburgh, as it's twinned with Kiev.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Edinburgh, as it's twinned with Kiev.

Makes sense, though does it have a large enough indoor arena?

 

[D6130]

How about Rockall?

 

[Altrincham]

Yes that is a good suggestion.

I just Googled that and it seems that in 2023 that City would be Leeds, 2024 Wakefield and I think it has already been confirmed that for 2025 it is Bradford. It was Hull a few years ago. Harrogate did host UK Eurovision some years ago, so certainly a Yorkshire/West Yorkshire theme.

I remember Harrogate hosting it in 1982. I believe it was chosen because it had a newly-opened conference centre.

 

[Western Lord]

Clearly we have venues big enough, hey they could even close the roof at Wembley

What roof is that? Wembley Stadium does not have a roof!

 

[Gareth]

Edinburgh, as it's twinned with Kiev.

That could be a good call then.

It was held in Birmingham last time it was here.

 

[gabrielhj07]

What roof is that? Wembley Stadium does not have a roof!

It does, that’s how they cooked the lasagna!

 

[XAM2175]

For some history, these are the previous UK venues:
1960 - London - Royal Festival Hall
1963 - London - BBC Television Centre
1968 - London - Royal Albert Hall
1972 - Edinburgh - Usher Hall
1974 - Brighton - Brighton Dome
1977 - London - Wembley Conference Centre
1982 - Harrogate - Harrogate International Centre
1998 - Birmingham - National Indoor Arena

And on the twinned cities and towns point:
Horlivka - Barnsley
Kyiv - Edinburgh
Luhansk - Cardiff
Lviv - Rochdale
Odessa - Liverpool
Stryi - Mansfield
Uman - Milford Haven
Vinnytsia - Peterborough
Yalta - Margate
(obviously without regard to practicality)

 

[gabrielhj07]

Edinburgh seems like a good shout.

 

[Woolos 22]

For some history, these are the previous UK venues:
1960 - London - Royal Festival Hall
1963 - London - BBC Television Centre
1968 - London - Royal Albert Hall
1972 - Edinburgh - Usher Hall
1974 - Brighton - Brighton Dome
1977 - London - Wembley Conference Centre
1982 - Harrogate - Harrogate International Centre
1998 - Birmingham - National Indoor Arena

And on the twinned cities and towns point:
Horlivka - Barnsley
Kyiv - Edinburgh
Luhansk - Cardiff
Lviv - Rochdale
Odessa - Liverpool
Stryi - Mansfield
Uman - Milford Haven
Vinnytsia - Peterborough
Yalta - Margate
(obviously without regard to practicality)

Cardiff is no go as the public transport start to close down at 2000 . Every big event in the stadium there are complaints of delayed get home by roads.