🇮🇹 11 cities 1 winner: who should host Eurovision 2022? – Part One

17 cities have put forward their request to host Eurovision 2022. However, as recently reported 11 of those remain, but there can only be one host city. In this series, the TES team will put all the bids under the microscope, and analyze whether or not they will be actually able to host the contest. In this article, we will look at the cities of Sanremo, Rimini, and Palazzolo Acreide. As the hotel capacity wasn’t readily available information, this analysis sadly cannot use this data.

Sanremo

Sanremo is located in Northern Italy, in the region of Liguria. It has a population of 56,864. If the city is selected, it will be the smallest place since Millstreet in 1993 to host Eurovision. The city is chosen to host 2022 would be a nostalgic choice for Eurovision fans. It was the place where the Sanremo Music Festival was founded, which inspired the format of Eurovision. Furthermore, Sanremo has been used as a way to select the Italian act for Eurovision today, therefore strengthening the ties between the city and the contest. 

Does it have an international airport within 90 minutes of the city? – Yes, there is an airport located 50km from Sanremo- Nice International Airport. As well as this Genoa International Airport is 144km away. Therefore it would suit the demands of enough  International Airports in close proximity to the city.

Does it have a large-scale venue capable of hosting an international event? No, Sanremo’s downfall is that there are no big enough venues in the city to host a modern Eurovision. If selected, they would like to host it at Teatro Ariston, the city’s biggest venue and the host venue of the Sanremo Music Festival since 1977. This venue can seat 2,000 people, not big enough for a modern Eurovision and too small for the EBU and RAI’s demands. 

Could Sanremo host Eurovision 2022? – No, the city may be shortlisted, but unless they can build a venue that can host a modern-day Eurovision, it is doubtful that it will be the host city of 2022.  

Palazzolo Acreide

The Sicilian town of Palazzolo Acreide has a population of 8,000. Like Sanremo, this would make it the smallest host city since Millstreet. 

Does it have an international airport within 90 minutes of the city? – There is an international airport in the proximity of Palazzolo Acreide- Catania Airport is located 1 hour and 20 minutes from the city by car. 

Does it have a large-scale venue capable of hosting an international event? The Mayor of the city has started a few potential bids for the venue, such as Palazzetto dello Sport. However this venue does not fit the required EBU/RAI demands- it is too small. They have also said there is a backup venue with a 6,000 capacity, but not much information is known on it. However, despite that, it still does not fit the EBU or RAI requirements as it is also too small. 

Could Palazzolo Acreide host Eurovision 2022? –The city has made a statement stating that they know that if selected, they cannot host Eurovision on their own and will get help from the neighboring towns and cities to help bring Eurovision to their little town. He has also stated that because of a theatre festival that sold 5,000 tickets, the city is well equipped for Eurovision. Is it? Only time will tell. However, with much larger cities that are more likely to be able to host the demands of the contest, Palazzolo Acreide 2022 is very unlikely. 

Rimini

Rimini is a city located on Adriatic coast, right near the Republic of San Marino. It known for beachside clubs and shallow waters. It has a population of 149,000. The city is also known for its art history. 

Does it have an international airport within 90 minutes of the city? – Yes. Rimini Airport is located 5km from the city centre and serves as the main gateway to the republic of San Marino. The airport has seasonal flights to quite a few cities around Europe, such as Moscow, Munich, Warsaw, Luxembourg and Tirana. 

Does it have a large-scale venue capable of hosting an international event? – RDS Stadium can hold up to 7,000 people and has 150 parking spots. This may not be enough for Eurovision. This is the venue in Rimini that is most likely will select if made hosts though. 

Could Rimini host Eurovision 2022? – Potentially, but the airport may let it down, as well as the fact that RDS Stadium is too small will let it down.

Who do you think will be the host city? Who would you like to see host? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. Don’t forget to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ over at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

News Source: Eurofestival News, RDS Stadium, Maurizio Aiello.

Photo Source: Duilio Farina, Terry Lee, Davide Mauro.