Newcastle joins London, Leeds, and Sheffield, as well as assumed frontrunners Manchester and Glasgow, in the competition to host Eurovision in 2019.
Newcastle is the most recent city to apply to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.
It follows a decision by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that the event cannot be staged in Ukraine next year, despite the country’s victory, due to Russia’s invasion.
Newcastle joins London, Leeds, and Sheffield, as well as frontrunners Manchester and Glasgow, on the list of cities competing to host the worldwide music event next spring.
The NewcastleGateshead Initiative has organized the North East city’s candidacy, with director Ian Thomas stating, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase our world-class culture, rich legacy, and thriving area to the globe.”
“The potential impact of hosting Eurovision 2023 in Newcastle is huge. Eurovision will play a crucial part in revitalizing and sustaining our visitor economy, bolstering our businesses, and improving the quality of life for our citizens.
“Other large events, such as the European Professional Rugby Club finals, attracted 95,000 spectators and contributed £24 million to our visitor economy in 2019, while the World Transplant Games drew visitors from over 50 countries and boosted hotel occupancy rates by 13 percent, supporting the hospitality supply chain and helping to sustain jobs in the industry.
This is a tremendous opportunity to introduce Eurovision to the region, and we look forward to the event’s expansion.
The Ukrainian Kalush Orchestra was the favorite to win the prestigious microphone trophy in Turin in May, and they beat Sam Ryder of the United Kingdom to the top slot on the televote after he won the national jury voting.
Coming in second place, the United Kingdom’s geopolitical ties with Ukraine and its history as a major financial partner in the contest will all have contributed to the decision to conduct the event in the United Kingdom next year.
It will be staged in the United Kingdom, but it will be Ukraine’s show.
However, the BBC (which is a member of the EBU) will only be hosting the event on behalf of Ukraine’s national broadcaster UA: PBC, and while plans are still in the works, many of the contest’s elements, including the hosts and entertainment, will likely be run by Ukraine, though this could change as preparations for the event progress.
In addition to concerns regarding the cost of living crises, and Ukraine’s ability to pay, there will be inquiries concerning the millions of dollars in funding and its source.
London has made a bid to host, with Mayor Sadiq Khan stating that the city is “ready” to step up, while officials in Leeds state that it makes “perfect sense” for the event to be held there, with numerous towns highlighting their ties to the Ukrainian population.
Last year, the criteria for Eurovision host cities included a venue with a capacity of at least 10,000 people and proximity to an international airport.
The tournament will be held in the United Kingdom for the ninth time next year, having previously been held at Brighton Dome, Wembley Arena, Harrogate’s international center, and most recently in 1998 at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena.
As champions, Ukraine will gain automatic entry into next year’s final among the “big five” nations (the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany), which donate the most funds to the event.
