The Netflix movie ‘prophecy’ could be coming true: Glasgow is officially amongst the top two cities to host Eurovision 2023. After the decision was made to hold next year’s Eurovision in the UK due to the war in Ukraine, the organisers have now cut the list down to the final two: Glasgow and Liverpool. This means Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have been crossed out of the list. The decision should be made within weeks, and, of course, we have our fingers crossed for Glasgow.
Why Glasgow?
Glasgow and Liverpool were deemed to have ‘the strongest overall offer’, and have to meet a certain criteria such as having a suitable venue that has sufficient space, a strong commitment to hosting the event, as well as a financial contribution and an abundant culture while being able to showcase Ukrainian culture.
The good news is that Glasgow is more than capable to host Eurovision, with the OVO Hydro having a capacity of 14,300. We have already seen it happen in Netflix’s film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, where the arena was featured as the venue.
In 2008, Glasgow was also named the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music due to its vibrant music scene. Not to mention we have culture for days and we would bring the house down with bagpipes and haggis while incorporating Ukrainian traditions. Basically, Glasgow knows how to party.
Regarding the decision, Phil Harrold, who chairs the Host City Selection Committee for the BBC said:
“Thanks to all 7 cities across the UK who have demonstrated the enthusiasm and passion for Eurovision that exists right across the UK. We were incredibly impressed by the quality and creativity of all the city bids, in what was a highly competitive field. The Eurovision Song Contest is a very complex event and Liverpool and Glasgow have the strongest overall offer; we will continue our discussions with them to determine the eventual host city.
We are determined to make the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest one that both reflects the winning position of Ukraine and is also an event that all of the UK can participate in.”
It would be magnificent to host Eurovision 2023 in Glasgow, but in the meantime, we will just have to wait for the final verdict.