How about some mid-day drama? Earlier, wiwibloggs reported that Tele2 Arena, as well as Friends Arena, had both withdrawn from the bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. But is it that easy to deny welcoming thousands of fans, journalists and artists? Well, it turns out the answer is NO.
According to StockholmDirekt, Tele2 Arena have decided to “Undo” its Eurovision 2016 bid withdrawal. The issue was that Swedish football team Hammarby would be playing matches at Tele2 during the ESC time period. Now, the club’s president Henrik Kindlund has clarified earlier remarks and said that it is possible that Hammarby could move away longer from Tele2, in order for the arena to host Eurovision.
Kindlund said that if someone could present an alternative arrangement for the team then he would consider it. Of course, a team moving for Eurovision is nothing weird, y’all. In 2011, German team Fortuna Düsseldorf’s home was transformed into a Eurovison temple. After all, four to six weeks away from home isn’t that much – and absence always makes the heart grow fonder!
So, it seems that Stockholm is well and truly back in the race to host the contest, with Globen still open and Tele2 back on the cards. Let’s keep in mind, though, that Gothenburg, Malmö and Linköping are all also locked in talks with SVT.
What do you think? Will SVT select Sweden’s capital city, or will they prefer a smaller environment again? Let us know in the comments below or on our Twitter page.
Off-topic: Please make an article about Verka Serduchka being featured on the Hollywood movie “Spy”. Here’s an after-party video of her with main star Melissa McCarthy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2GLftHkO-s
I actually live in Sandviken – and it’s CRAZY that my little hometown is going to apply for hosting the ESC 2016. We’re just like 22.000 people living in town, so it would be the biggest thing ever. Fun facts: * We hosted semi 2 of Melodifestivalen 2010, Eric Saade actually had his breakthrough in Sandviken. Saade’s performance in Sandviken’s arena: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZG0P87pKI4 *Sandviken is actually the hometown of Malena Ernman (who represented Sweden in the ESC of 2009) *Follwing artists has had concerts in the arena: Twisted Sister, Scorpions, Bryan Adams, Lauryn Hill and 50 Cent. But I honestly think… Read more »
I hope wee will go the Tele2 Arena! It’s amazing, not so small like in the last years and Stockholm is a amazing city 🙂 Hope they take the Tele2 Arena 🙂 But I think the ESC should be cheap for SVT so they take the Göransson Arena….
Sandviken joins the race!
http://esctoday.com/104533/eurovision-2016-sandviken-enters-the-host-city-race-with-goransson-arena/
@ Chad
I am with you. Why all these “y’all”s?
I think there is a lot of manipulations in this issue. I recommend to wait bfor the SVT&EBU and act accordingly
@ MTD
Be sure that Australians won’t mind if it’s in Linkoping or Valletta.They think Australia is 15 min from UK with the ferry.
http://www.lifo.gr/guests/viral/57813
Tele2 Arena would be a good choice. Not just the venue, but Stockholm in general.
PROS of STOCKHOLM:
1. Hotel rooms
2. Decent venues
3. Thriving cultural and music scene.
4. Good choice of restaurants and bars.
5. A well connected International Airport (Arlanda)
6. Excellent transport links
7. Previous experience in hosting large scale events.
8. General infrastructure.
Stockholm it is!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Robyn – as that one obnoxious reader who occasionally comments with a bit of fluff, I hold the power to make the executive decision that, effective immediately, WiwiBloggs, LLC will revert to the term “y’all” as the second person plural at risk of…well…exactly nothing because I have no leverage. /s/
Again with the bloody y’alls. You don’t have to force them inTo every article
Now i seriously want 4 Linkoping to win the bid and host the 61th Vision 🙂
This swedish town has never hosted the Vision when all the 3 others have..
Stockholm in 1975 & 2000
Malmo in 1992 & 2013
Goteborg in 1985
Uh, I would like to be Linkoping, just for the sake of reading the negative backlash from fans all around Europe (and Australia). 🙂
Tele 2 Arena ~ Stockholm
Globen ~ Stockholm
Scandinavium ~ Gotenburg
Saab Arena ~ Linkoping
Malmo Arena
WHICH one of these will win the bid to host our 61st Vision of Gay Love…?
We will find out soon 🙂
I want so badly Eyrovision 2016 to be held in Tele2Arena!!!!!!! But I think that SVT will pick Gothenburg…
Please let it be Tele2 Arena.
Jeez! Just as I have been getting over my post-Eurovision depression, we have this drama! Okay, I hope Tele2 can sort something out, I would prefer either Tele2 or the Globen as venues.
I really hope SVT celebrate Sweden’s recent Eurovision success’ somehow..maybe an interval act at the 2016 contest, bringing back Eric Saade, Loreen, Robin, Sanna and Mans for a medley of their Eurovision songs or something… :/ just a thought 🙂
Come on Sweden, you always boast with how much you love the ESC 😀
Look at us – even we Germans managed to get a football stadium as venue in 2011 (although Germans are far more crazy for football)
@Xepher It’s most likely Tele2 Arena because it’s nearer to Stockholm then Globen and Friends Arena. This article should help: http://wiwibloggs.com/2015/05/26/discuss-stockholm-eurovision-2016-tele-2-arena/96389/
I like the tele2 building the most, it looks really well done. You are right, who CAN say no to eurovision?? (Apart from most of the microstates and Slovakia)
For some reason I’m starting to root against my hometown and want Gothenburg to win. I don’t know why but I do.
So, Tele2 is no longer longer the Messe Wien of 2015-2016.
For those that are new to this, the Messe Wien in Vienna made a bid for Eurovision 2015. But subsequently withdrew their bid to host ESC 2015.
I think it will be Stockholm, but not Tele2, but probably Globen, the last few years proved you don’t need a giant sized arena to host the contest, any arena that can hold 10K or so can host it. Some need to know its not only the arena you need to host it, but the city itself. The city needs to have a lot of hotels for all the countries, delegations, tourists, etc. reliable transportation, airport, tourist options, etc. Stockholm seems the best choice of it
I really want the Tele2 to host. It seems pretty lame for a stadium like Globen or Scandinavium to host when they both did so a looong time ago, especially the latter in 1985! To host the 2016 contest there seems a bit of a joke. Also the Saab arena, Linkoping just doesn’t have the balls behind it as an appropriate host city…sorry!
Come on, it HAS to be Tele 2
yes!!! make it happen svt
yes yes yes .. i want to visit stockholm and if it tele 2 it means more tickets and more chances to get some !!!!!
this is what i want from eurovision 2016
i want a 2011/2014 style eurovision stage and a 2013 Eurovision quality production and presenter
all finished off with an amazing 2012 Eurovision winner like loreen..
eurovision needs an even stronger winner who will make as big an impact as abba, Celine dion
Well that’s put Göteborg’s Scandinavium back down in the odds. It’ll most probably be here as the EBU and SVT favourite to host.
I’d still prefer a non-Stockholm event. I’m always partial to a smaller city hosting, but Tele2 looks glam
I hope they will be able to solve it with Tele 2 Arena. But I’m still not sure if they really want a huge arena? Globen or Scandinavium seem more likely.