🎙️Eurovision 2021 comes in under budget at €19 million

The 2021 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest ended up costing €19 million, local broadcaster RTV Rijnmond has reported. This is €3.7 million less than original budgeted by the organizers, and €7.5 million less than originally budgeted for 2020. The Rotterdam city council says in a response that they are “happy and enthusiastic” about how Eurovision went.

Less money than expected, both in and out

The main reason money could be saved was because of the ongoing COVID-situation. Due to restrictions, a number of activities had to be cancelled. Besides leading to lower expenses, this also led to lower income. Rotterdam business owners made a lower than expected €2.8 million thanks to Eurovision. A total of 17 thousand hotel stays were booked by visitors, crew, and delegations. The price tag of Eurovision 2021 is on the low side compared to other years, with budgets for the three previous years falling between the €23 million and €30 million, according to EurovisionWorld. The cheapest Eurovision in recent years was Stockholm 2016, costing a mere €14 million, while Baku 2012 cost the most: €60 million.

Eurovision 2021

The 2021 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Rotterdam. After Duncan Laurence won in 2019 with his song “Arcade,” it was originally planned for 2020 but had to be postponed due to COVID. 39 countries participated, with Italy winning the contest. Italy was represented by Måneskin and their song “Zitti e buoni”, who managed to score 524 points from the juries and viewers combined. This is Italy’s first win in the 21st Century, and 31 years since their last win in 1990. Over 183 million watched some or all of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

What do you think of the costs for organizing the Eurovision Song Contest? Were you impressed by the show in Rottedam? Let us know in the comments below or at social media. Don’t forget to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ over at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

News Source: RTV Rijnmond / NOS

Photo Source: NPO/NOS/AVROTROS Nathan Reinds