Bristol has become the latest city to launch a bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, with the Mayor of the city Marvis Rees announcing the decision in a video message to Pride-goers in the southern city yesterday.
At the Pride Day celebrations on The Downs in Bristol on Saturday 9th July, a video message from Rees was played to the audience; “Despite winning the Eurovision Song Contest in May, incredibly sadly, Ukraine won’t host the contest in 2023 and the BBC have been asked to take on Eurovision next year. As a global and diverse City of Sanctuary, Bristol can be the caretaker of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. We’re working in partnership with YTL Arena Bristol on a bid to bring Eurovision to the Brabazon Hangars.”
Rees goes on to state Bristol’s case for hosting the contest on behalf of Ukraine, stating that “Bristol has the perfect site where we can custom build the perfect Eurovision Song Contest. We’ve got the Space, Man.”
🇺🇦 Ukraine won @Eurovision but sadly won't host in 2023
🌍 As a City of Sanctuary, #Bristol can be the caretaker next year
🏗️ We can custom-build the perfect #Eurovision at @YTL_Arena as I just announced at @BristolPride before @carlyraejepsen’s set
☎️ #ThisIsBristolCalling pic.twitter.com/bcSOtw9MEs
— Marvin Rees (@MarvinJRees) July 9, 2022
The Bristol Arena, or YTL Hangars, has not yet been constructed, which may cause issues with next year’s contest and with construction not set to complete until 2024. However, it is unknown whether additional funding or resources could be granted to the arena should Bristol’s bid be successful to speed up the process.
Bristol is the latest British city to throw their hat into the ring to host Eurovision 2023, after it became apparent that Ukraine would not be given the green light by the EBU to host and with discussions beginning with the BBC as the runner-up broadcaster in Turin. Bristol joins a host of other cities in fighting for the contest, including front-runners Manchester and Glasgow.
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