After Måns Zelmerlöw won the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with “Heroes”, Sweden partied all night. But as officials sober up they now face the difficult task of organising the 61st edition of Europe’s favourite TV show. SVT knows how to do that, as it hosted the contest back in 2013 in Malmö. Unlike some other hosts, Sweden actually turned a profit from Eurovision. Will they make their fortune again next year?
It’s expected that several Swedish cities will bid for the honour to host Eurovision 2016. Malmö, Gothenburg, Stockholm or even Jukkasjärvi, or like Lynda Woodruff would proudly say, Jachundahovi.
Malmo Arena during Eurovision 2013. Photo: Ralph Larmann
We’re pretty sure Malmö won’t be asked to host again so soon. Melodifestivalen tours the country in six different cities every year because SVT wants to spread excitement and involve the entire country in its Eurovision selection process. Letting Malmö host again so soon would seem counter to that mantra.
Stockholm seems the most reasonable bid for the next contest. Since the “Heroes” victory a few days ago, the capital city has already informed SVT that it would like to host the contest next year. Stockholm is an international transport hub with links to the whole world, and a much wider range of clubs and bars and restaurants for Eurofans. Plus there’s the Abba Museum and a Greek Mamma-Mia! themed tavern run by Eurovision winner Bjorn Ulvaeus. Table for 20, please!
The contest is traditionally held in the host nation’s capital. After Stockholm missed out last time, now would be the perfect opportunity. Also, it will cost less, as SVT will not have to ship people and expensive equipment somewhere far-flung.
There are three arenas that could welcome the contest in Stockholm, though the word on the street is that the Tele 2 Arena is the front-runner.
TELE 2 ARENA
The brand new and easily accessible arena with rectractable roof is located right next to Globen, the venue for Eurovision 2000, in the heart of Stockholm. Built in 2013, Tele 2 Arena serves as a football and concert hall. It can hold up to 45,000 and its location makes it ideal for artists, journalists and tourists: None of them want to trek to an island in the middle of nowhere to get to the shows or rehearsals (hello, Copenhagen).
Capacity: 45,000 (for concerts)
Accessible via: metro (Globen Station)
Notable events: Avicii, Madonna, The Roling Stones
ERICSSON GLOBE ARENA
Built in 1989, Stockholm’s oldest arena can host events ranging from Eurovision to concerts to ice hockey and figure skating championships. It is the world’s largest hemispherical building. In 2000 Swedes demonstrated against hosting Eurovision at Globen because it was so expensive. The arena is relatively small — it holds 16,000 for concerts — so might feel a bit claustrophobic.
Capacity: 16,000 (for concerts)
Accessible via: metro (Globen Station)
Notable events: Eurovision 2000, MTV EMA 2000, Melodifestivalen (2000-2012), Eminem, Cher, Celine Dion, Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga
FRIENDS ARENA
Friends Arena is the biggest retractable roof stadium in the Nordic countries. It opened in October 2012 with a special show attended by Icona Pop, Loreen, Roxette and many other famous Swedish artists. It’s located in Solna, a bit outside of Stockholm city centre. Even so, Friends has hosted the final of Melodifestivalen for the past three years, so SVT knows how to work with it very well. As anyone who has been to Melodifestivalen recently knows, it takes forever and a day to get there, which may make Eurovision feel a bit less connected to Stockholm.
Capacity: 65,000 (for concerts)
Accessible via: railway (Solna Station)
Notable events: Melodifestivalen (2013-), Swedish House Mafia
Although Gothenburg has not been ruled out, Stockholm seems the most likely choice and Tele 2 Arena the most likely venue.
What do you think? Any Swedish readers want to give us their opinion? Let us know in the comments box below!
Why didn’t SVT take Friends Arena in 2013? They said it’s to expansive but they take it in their national selection every year since 2013.
I think Tele 2 Arena would be the best choice. Not to big (like Copenhagen 2001) and not as small as Vienna or Riga. And: You can get easily to it (why said nrk in 2010 Bærum is Oslo?)
Hopefully it will be in Tele2 arena because it’s a nice arena and Stockholm is a beautiful capital to host Eurovision in.
Gothenburg would also be a good host city but the problems with Scandinavium is that it’s older and smaller than the other arenas and the ceiling is to low. It must be at least 15 meter and in Scandinavium is the lowest parts 13 meter..
The pitch size of both Friends and Tele2 is 105m x 68 m (7140 m2) *fact*. But there is a capacity difference between them. But anyway the stage won’t be placed on the bleachers right haha.
Love both to be the venue. (y)
I will be really pissed off if it is not Tele 2!!! All other arenas, except for maybe Friends, would be a big disgrace!!!!
Stockholm 2016!!!!
Wow!!!!
Tele2 arena:45.000 people
Friends arena: 64.000 people!!!!!!!
Huge
And the winer ESC 2016 is AZERBAIYAN
@ Eglaf
Are you nuts. I had to goole Ullevi and it seems that’s actually a stadium. Without a freakin roof!!!
I agree with almost everyone here about Tele2. But, I think that this year it will be Gothenburg. For me, it’s pure logic. So: Stockholm 1975; Gothenburg 1985; Malmö 1992; Stockholm 2000; Malmö 2013. As you can see, both Stockholm and Malmö have hosted the ESC twice. And that’s not the case with Gothenburg. Scandinavium is great, it has similar capacity to Malmö Arena. Also, Gothenburg is well connected with the world with its two airports, it has more than enough capacity to accomodate every single fan that will go there. On the other hand, Gothenburg has Ullevi. But, I’m… Read more »
Malmö is’nt any applicant for ESC 2016 but Gothenburg and Stockholm could share the costs even if they must build a stage each and pay for the transport. ESC 2016 Semi final 1 and 2 in Gothenburg and the big finale in Stockholm. So Stockholm pay 15 million euro and Gothenburg pay maybe 10 million. If it is only in Stockholm so must this city pay maybe 30 million euro alone. Vienna pay alone 27.8 million euro for ESC 2015 according to Google.
Probably Stockholm, I don’t think they wanna miss another opportunity to host. Tele2 Arena seems perfect, but either way SVT will produce a great show.
In my opinion Friends Arena is the best, yes it’s a bit far from Stockholm but this will make a huge profit for SVT and the EBU by the amounts of fans (i mean 65000 people in one arena that’s A LOT of Eurovision fans :P)
Well since Malmo hosted the Vision 3 years ago it was obvious that would withdraw from the bid to host next year’s Vision..
I want LOREEN to serve as the GreAtY hostess of next year’s EuroVision! <3
I honestly like all the arenas. I always wanted the Friends Arena in Stockholm to host, even in 2013. The Tele2 Arena isn’t that bad but I would prefer the Friends. But now that I’m seeing that The Friends Arena isn’t that convenient, i’m quite dissapointed. But I still prefer The Friends. I #Eurovision2016 to break RECORDS. I believe that if we go to the Friends, we will have the biggest arena ever in the Eurovision. And anyway, the record is 38,000(#Copenhagen2001). I would also not mind if we go to The Globen, we already know what it means to… Read more »
Jukkasjärvi… XD But since its location is in north, maybe it’s an opportunely for Jon Henrik being willing coming back to fight for ESC2016!
Stockholm maybe the best choice, after all there’re so many good arenas there. Gothenburg han’t shown its glow yet, maybe this time it’ll be given a chance 🙂
And I miss Lynda Woodruff!!! Is she able to host or at least the green room?
SVT’s show in 2013 was a bit underwhelming. It didn’t have the sparkle that we were expecting, and which DR and ORF delivered the following years. Hopefully, SVT will up their game next year with the Tele 2 arena – it’s the perfect size and location (Friends Arena is a bit too far out). Praying for some of the following hosts: Sanna Nielsen, Måns Zelmerlöw, Robin Paulsson, Gina Dirawi, Sarah Dawn Finer or maybe Petra Mede, although it may be too soon for her again, especially with Greatest Hits in March.
Friends Arena would be perfect choice. I hope they choose well.
It wasn’t the arena that bothered me I thought it was a nice change having a small arena as the big ones were starting to get silly.However stage wise malmo was rubbish just look at the led screan they had it was cheap looking. Compare that stage to the year after there is a massive difference. However I do think doing it that way doesn’t get a country in debt but makes them profit.
Tele2 arena please.
Sure, it would be nice to see the show in Tele2, but hey, that is a big arena, and it needs to be filled with people/audience even in the semi-finals. To say that Globen will feel claustrophobic after you just stated that it is the biggest spherical building in the world, and also that it takes 16000 people during concerts, which is bigger and more than the arenas the last 3 years is just silly and stupid. I believe Globen will be the best choice, it’s a fantastic arena, perfectly suited for Eurovision also today!
Swedish were little cheapo in 2013.In 2014 Denmark threw a great show!!And this year Austria failed to do something good.I hope it’s Stockholm and i hope it will be like Dusseldorf.Germany did great!
I think Gothenburg and the arena Scandinavium. But I hope for the east coast this time and Stockholm.
Guys, don’t forget that the winner is only *invited* to host. They can totally decline the invitation if they want to, and it happened quite a lot in the history of the ESC (although not in the recent years).
Saying that small and poorer countries don’t participate cause they are afraid of winning and hosting is therefore not true.
Don’t get me wrong I do love an impressive stage and big contest but I think that it’s absolutly true that actually a country should not be in debt after hosting the contest. It should be a prize to win. Also smaller countries should not feel swamped if they win. Swedens contest was brilliant TV. Perfectly focusing on a fun evening of entertainment. As was the following year impressive staging. At then end of the day I live it all. But it’s refreshing when a country makes money from it as it raises the profile in all the tabloids and… Read more »
We can expect great production once again so I’m happy about that.
The stage back in 2013 was okay, but I’d love to see what they can do with a bigger stage.
I hope it goes to Stockholm either in the Tele2 or Friends, simply because it will mean more chance of a ticket and I’d really like to go next year. If we want countries like Bosnia to come back to the competition, and want smaller countries and micro states to join too, we can’t recreate the Beijing Olympics every year. Countries need to know that if they compete, they can compete to win and host the show without going in to massive debt. I thought Malmö was great and was a perfect piece of TV entertainment, compared to the emotionless… Read more »
I really liked the 2013 contest in Sweden (that’s actually the only thing comforting me from Il Volo’s defeat). They made it simple and classy, the arena was beautiful and Petra was the perfect host. The visuals with the butterfly were nice as well.
I also liked the fact that they had only one host, cause the escalation in the number of hosts is ridiculous. If this keeps on, we’ll have 5 hosts for the ESC 2010.
I’m so hoping for Tele2. Björkman said he wanted the Tele2 arena, so we can hope!
Otherwise I think globen would be a great choice, atleast it’s waaaaaay easier to get there compared to Friends arena.
PLEASE host it in tele2 arena !!! we must need a BIG eurovision again, last 3 years were too small !! and malmo was awful and small and cheap
Where can I vote for the Barbara dex award?????
I really don’t care about the city or the stage, as long as we get Petra Mede back 🙂
They should co-host with Italy – Petra Mede to Rome 2016 ????
They should co-host with Italy – Petra Mede to Rome 2016 ????
I’m another one who also thinks Malmö was great, I liked the stage precisely because it was small and simple, and without the big screens and other distractions, you could really focus on the performers, not on the backgrounds and the lights and the smoke… so I’m up for another small, “cheap” Eurovision.
Either Friends or Tele2 arena. In the past three years the contest have been “small” (Denmark wasn’t small but it wasn’t big either). However I think the best choice is Friends or Tele2! 🙂
Denmark did the best show in my opinion! 2015 was honestly really bad..
Swedne in 2013 hosted one of the slickest ESCs in the millenium… Petra Mede made the show flow on without any annoying bad english pronounciations. And the stage was definitely OK. Look at the stages from Estonia, finland, riga and say that the 2013 stage was “small”.. that is just incorrect.. all acts got enough space to do whatever act they pleased. and they also had a runway…. Swedens hostess Petra Mede has been 100% better than all hosts previous and after since the start of the semifinals in 2004. Petra proved that you can host ESC without doing bad… Read more »
For me from 2010 to 2015 , best stage , presenter had Denmark in 2014.
1. 2014
2. 2011
3. 2015
4. 2012
5. 2010
6. 2013
Sweden is so amazing as a whole country, I wouldn’t object to anywhere.
The Ericsson Globe was the venue for the 2000 Contest if I remember right and that was perfect at the time, could still put on a decent show.
I honestly dont mind which stadium hosts as long as it is in STOCKHOLM and not Malmo or Gothenburg. The 2013 show was awkward with the green room and press centre being almost separate from the actual arena. Both the Friends arena and the Tele2 Arena would be capable of producing a Dusseldorf/Baku/Copenhagen style show which is always welcome. As for presenters, Definitely bring back Petra Mede and then maybe Sanna Nielson/Eric Saade/Danny Saucedo and have Mans Zelmerlow host the green room. Would also be nice to see Loreen again, but that might be asking for too much 😛
The reason why Sweden turned a profit in 2013 is because honestly Sweden hosted the cheapest looking show of the past 5 years. Even Norway 2010 wasn’t that bad.
I dont like stage and presenter in 2013.
If we could see Sweden host one Eurovision great and one disaster in order,
Not good stage 1975, good stage 1985, not good stage 1992 , good stage 2000, not good stage 2013, time is for good stage.
Sir O’What Is It
It is imposible, because cost will be higher because they wili built 3 stage instead of 1 stage. And delegations wili be have cost to go to another city for final.
I read that SVT want Tele 2 Arena in Stocholm .If they want cheaper Eurovison they can host in Scandinavium in Geteborg or Globe in Stockholm.
This is as well about economics. They could share the costs and arrange ESC2016 semi final 1 in Malmö, semi final 2 in Gothenburg and the big finale in Stockholm.
I bet it will be Gothenburg. Small but not too small as Malmo.Swedes proved that they want to host a profitale contest, so they go small and cheappy. Profit will be the main factor once again ,so get ready not to be surprised.
That said, I whould love to be surprised and see Swedes willing to spend money and create the most amazing show we’ve seen in our lifes,cause they can,if they want to.
And Malmö was great. It focused on the Artists rather than their LEDs or whatever. Plus Petra Mede was the best presenter this side of 2000
It’ll probably be in Tele2 though it could also be in Göteborg (Gothenburg) since Sweden likes to share. Both Tele2 and the Scandinavium are similar sizes anywau
Am I the only one who doesn’t think Malmo was a disaster? Whilst Copenhagen was great, that stage ruined the majority of the performances because it was way too big (same goes for Baku). The intimacy of Malmo made it much better because it felt big without having to be with a large crowd packed in the arena. As long as it isn’t a repeat of this year – the lights around the stage just didn’t work because hardly any of the acts used them properly, and there were quite a few times when the arena looked slightly empty due… Read more »
I’m over the moon its back I Sweden and am confident its going to be awesome! Its interesting to see how its changed from Tv focused to how Vienna focused on the event and the crowd. I got that this year more than any other.
the Ericsson Globe looks nice
Malmo was a disaster though, they mustn’t make it cramped