Last week, the EBU announced that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest would not take place in Ukraine due to uncertainties pertaining to the ongoing Russian invasion. The EBU then began talks with the United Kingdom and the BBC, who, as runner-up, now has the first right of refusal to host next year’s show.
Many cities in the UK have since expressed interest in hosting Eurovision in 2023, including the Scottish city of Aberdeen. ‘That Eurovision Site’ reached out to the Aberdeen City Council for further comment, and we received the below statement.
Full Statement from Aberdeen City Council
The full statement from the Council reads as follows:
We very much hope Eurovision 2023 can take place in Ukraine. If that is not possible, we would be pleased to welcome it to Aberdeen. The Eurovision Song Contest is a massive event with a worldwide audience. We have the city, the people and infrastructure to support international events such as this and it would provide a major boost to the Aberdeen and Scottish economies and raise the city’s profile with potential investors and visitors.
Aberdeen City Council Spokesperson
Given that the 2023 contest is still eleven months away, the spokesperson also acknowledged that it would be too early for the council to discuss specific plans in detail.
Aberdeen as a Potential Host City
Like several cities following the EBU’s announcement, several prominent figures have called for Aberdeen to host the contest. One of these is Kirsty Blackman, MP for Aberdeen North. Blackman posted a letter to Twitter on 17th June calling for the BBC to consider Aberdeen in its host-city search.
The letter highlights the suitability of the recently-built P&J Live as a venue, with a capacity of up to 15,000 as well as its close transport links to both Aberdeen International Airport and the city center. Also included are its commitment to sustainability as part of its goal to “become the Net Zero capital of Europe”.
As of this writing, the EBU has not yet announced an official bidding process for prospective host cities. Past host cities have typically been announced between early August and late October. ‘That Eurovision Site’ cautions its readers to wait for official confirmation before booking travel or accommodation.
The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest
Despite a recent slump in results, the UK is one of the most successful countries at the Eurovision Song Contest. Debuting at the second edition ever of the Contest in 1957, the United Kingdom has won the competition on five separate occasions. The most recent win for the UK was in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, singing “Love Shine A Light”. The UK also holds the record for the number of second place finishes – currently at 16.
In 2022, the UK was represented by Sam Ryder with his song “SPACE MAN”. The performance managed to impress juries and televoters, and the UK finished in second place with 466 points, their best placing since 1998.
What do you think of this statement? Would you like to see Aberdeen host Eurovision in 2023? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
News Source: Aberdeen City Council, Kirsty Blackman, MP
Photo Credit: @VisitBritain / Britain on View
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