Eurovision 2023 might be over, but Liverpool is continuing to tot up the financial benefits the Contest brought the city. It’s been revealed that Liverpool ONE, the city’s open-air shopping centre, brought in an additional £20 million of business during the course of the Contest.
A ‘significant boost’ to Liverpool ONE
According to figures from CACI, a consumer data specialist, the week of the Contest brought £19.9 million extra revenue to Liverpool ONE. The area contained a number of events during the festival, ranging from Ukrainian-style eggs painted by Scouse schoolchildren to the official Eurovision merch shop.
This figure is up 23% on the same month last year, showing that visitors to Liverpool during the Contest heavily contributed to the financial increase for Liverpool ONE.
Forecasts ahead of the Contest predicted an uptake in traction through the complex and various shops of about 25%. However, following the show, footfall increased by 31.5%, adding to the boost for the shopping centre.
A spokesperson for Liverpool ONE said that the Contest was a “significant boost” to the city’s economy as well as the complex itself. They also said:
The whole city rose to the occasion, creating a welcome like no other, and Liverpool One was proud to have played its part.
Liverpool ONE spokesperson
The story of Eurovision 2023
Although Ukraine won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, due to the ongoing Russian invasion they are unable to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Instead, the United Kingdom stepped in, as 2022’s runner-up; Liverpool will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on the 9th, 11th, and 13th of May 2023. The contest took place at the M&S Arena, with 37 countries taking part. The full production team behind the 2023 contest is listed here. The contest was a co-production between host broadcaster the BBC and last year’s winning broadcaster, Suspilne.
What do you think of the figures from Liverpool ONE? Do you think the money will help to boost Liverpool’s profile further in the coming years? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we look back on Eurovision 2023!
News Source: BBC
Photo Credit: Gareth Jones
