🇸🇪 Requirements for the Eurovision 2024 Host City revealed

With the preparations for Eurovision 2024 now well truly underway, SVT now has the task of fidning the city that will be able to host next year’s contest. Local media outlet Aftonbladet have managed to find out the requirements the host city candidates must meet in order to host the contest.

Extensive list of requirements to host Eurovision 2024

The requirements for potential host cities was sent to the cities around Stockholm by Ebba Adielsson, who is the Executive Supervisor of next year’s contest, with two bits of information sticking out in the cover letter sent to the municipalities and regions:

• SVT will be responsible for carrying out the prouction of the show, as well as the broadcast of the shows, whilst the respective host city will be responssible for the funding and implementation of the components that will occur, this includes the parts that might be in the Arena.
• SVT will enter to an agreement with the host city, and then the host city will then enter into agreement with subcontractors to implement the requirements.

As well as this, the requirements also look into Hotel Room availability, something which has been difficult for the fans to obtain at an affordable price range when the contst comes, the requirements include:

• Have a good capacity of hotel rooms in the city center, and its surrounding areas. Up to 3,500 Hotel rooms available during Eurovision week, with 1,000 being available two weeks before the week of the competition.
• A description of a comprehensive solution, within sponsorships of the host city for booking managment, which covers an online booking portal with payment functions, which can be adapted to the participating countries.
• The hotel prices must be reported and it must be guaranteed for the entire period
• A proposal on how the hotel room capacity of this magnitude will be reserved until the host city is selected by SVT.

As for the Arena, an extensive list of requirements were provided by SVT, with the Arena being neutral and not linked to a company name, product etc. In addition to having the space for the audience and the stage, the following requirements must be met:

• A Green Room area, where 10 people from 26 delegations can sit. (This area does not have to be inside the arena)
• 40-50 commentator booths which are sound-proofed and air-conditioned.
• 27 Dressing Rooms (with a size of approximately 30 square metres), for the delegations involved.
• Set area for Hair and Make-Up (with a size of approximately, 250 square metres)
• Set Area for the Main Sponsor (with a size of approximately 1,000 square metres.
• Approximately 30 to 40 office spaces, which is spread over a numer of rooms for the delegations and backstage staff to work in.
• 200-250 Office Spaces (which is divided into several rooms), a large meeting room, which can accommodate up to 50 people and 4 small meeting rooms which can acommodate up to 10 people for SVT’s Editorial and Production staff.
• Catering Space and Dining Room, whcih can acommodate at least 350 seats.
• Area for Invited Guests and VIP Guests (with a capacity of 1,000 people simultaneously)
• Area for Hosts (approximately 4-6 rooms with seperate toilet and shower), that is near to the stage.
• Area for 20 rooms for Artists (which are not part of the delegations)
• Seating Area for large quantity of people that has at least two large dressing rooms with access to a toilet (An area likely for opening and interval acts)
• Area of storage for props (with a size of approximately 1,500 square metres)
• Area that is sound-proof for sound-check, two viewing rooms (a total of four to six rooms, at a size of 50 to 100 square metres)
• A First Aid Room, with medical personnel

In addition to the requirements for the arena, SVT also mentioned the requirements for a Press Centre:

• An area for management of Accreditation, that is accessible to visitors outside of a security controlled area, with a space for 15 people working and a waiting froom for up to 50 people.
• A press centre which can accommodate up to 1,200, which includes a workspace for Press (apprixmately 650 seats) and workspace for Accredited Fans (approximatly 250 seats), as well as an office space, interview room, a cafeteria and a large room for the press conferences.

Other requirements that the Host City must be able to meet include:

• A space within the host city for the Turquoise Carpet event (200 to 300 metres), and have space for 1,000-2,000 people, as well as having a private ceremony for the same number of people.
• A suitable venue for Euroclub, which has a stage (the venue will have a preliminary opening hours of 23:00-03:00), as well as extending the serving permits to 03:00.
• Proposals on how a traffic jam will be avoided to and from the arena, as well as detailing shuttle access for delegations and having the potential of having Eurovision-appointed taxis which have a fixed fare.
• How the host city will collaborate with the region in terms of security of all stakeholders.
• Undertaking the ‘Allocation’ and ‘City Handover’ draw, which will take place in January 2024. This will be broadcasted by SVT, with the Host City hosting.
• A space for a sponsor village (designated for the sponsors), as well as the Eurovision Village, where performances will take place.

As well as the above SVT has also require the following from the Host City:

• Detail the required contracts with the local authorities and organisations, and ensure the specifications detailed in the document enable the successful hosting of Eurovision 2024.
• Present the contacts with police authorities, local transport organisation, traffic and road authroities as well as local licensing authorities (which includes the extension of the aclocol serving permit) regarding necessary permits.
• When hosting the contest, the Host City, alongside the relevant authorities (police, rescue service etc.) with consulation with SVT will be responsible for creating a detailed security plan that is written in Swedish and English that will be presented to the EBU.
• The Host City must detail how they will organize and implement the required secuirty for the event, with SVT needing to approve the arrangements.

When will Eurovision 2024 take place

In the same document, SVT has also revealed that it is considering two dates for the Grand Final of Eurovision 2024, and they are May 11 and May 18. When asked by Aftonbladet, SVT’s Press Manager Camilla Hagert had the following to say:

“Talks with interested municipalities are ongoing. We cannot say more at the moment. The hope is that the host city will be ready at the beginning of July.”

Looking back to when Sweden hosted Eurovision, the Host City of Eurovision 2013 and 2016 were confirmed by SVT on the 8th of July in 2012 and 2015.

What do you think of the requirements in order to host Eurovision? Which Swedish city will be successful and will host next year’s contest? 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 start our preparations for Eurovision in Sweden next year!

News Source: Aftonbladet

Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU