Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its largest stadium hosted football matches at Euro 2012. And if our readers have their way the city of Lviv will soon add another line to its CV: host city of Eurovision 2017!
Back in May we asked you where you’d like to see the contest next year and Lviv — Ukraine’s seventh largest city — won the day with more than 50% of all votes.
Lonely Planet has described the city as “the country’s least Soviet” and one that “exudes the same authentic Central European charm as pre-tourism Prague or Krakow.”
Located just 70 miles from Poland, it was once the capital of the Kingdom of Ruthenia (duh) and was later part of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. Some glorious Austro-Polish architecture remains, visible in lovely green-domed churches, among other things.
Its location in the western reaches of Ukraine could play in its favour. Many fans want to be as far away from the conflict in the East as possible.
Journalists covering the event may also appreciate the relatively smaller size, which could make it easier to get from the press centre to EuroClub. The nightmare of missing buses in Copenhagen still lingers on our minds…
The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, previously told Ukrainian media that Lviv is prepared to host Eurovision 2017 to the highest of standards, adding that Arena Lviv, one of the venues used for UEFA Euro 2012, would be more than suitable. As with the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, officials would need to install a roof ahead of Eurovision.
Kyiv — or Kiev if you’re feeling Western — came second with 27% of the vote, followed by Odessa at 12%. Dnipro earned 2% and Kherson just 1%.
Eurovision 2017 host city: Poll results
1. Lviv 948 votes, 53.44%
2. Kyiv 476 votes, 26.83%
3. Odessa 221 votes, 12.46%
4. Somewhere else 79 votes, 4.45%
5. Dnipro 33 votes, 1.86%
6. Kherson 17 votes, 0.96%
What do you think of the results and where do you want to go? Do you think Lviv can take the cake? Or does the capital Kyiv have this on lock?
considering waste amount of oil money Azerbaijan has it is funny to compare it to Ukraine so don’t get your expectations too high. On the other hand Lviv is so cheap compared any other potential candidate city in Ukraine, not even comparable to overpriced Baku. So if you are budgetary traveller you will enjoy it, but if you’re accustomed to 5* then not so much maybe. Lviv is favourite tourist destination internally for Ukrainians ony rivaled by Odesa (because of sea cost) and Kyiv as capital.
actually Deban pronounces it right. Sorry William 🙂
Lviv. Best not Kyiv because it’s not the safest at the moment. Furthermore, we’ve already been to Kyiv in 2005 for Eurovision so going to Lviv will be something different. Also, Lviv is close to country borders such as Poland, Slovakia (which also might persuade them to participate again as it will be cheaper to get to ESC, same with Moldova) 😀
BTW.. Kyiv is a safe city!, there is no war and the Eurofans tourists can come safely here. The only places in Ukraine were still in war are Luhansk and Donetsk! I don’t recommend you travel to those cities.
I don’t think that Lviv would be chosen as ESC 2017 venue! The Ukrainian government & NTU already has chosen Kyiv as official venue and most likely ESC 2017 will be held at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex – where the Eurocoup 2012 final was played here, and according with some Ukrainian friends, they have told me that this stadium is the only one capable of hosting this major event in Ukraine.
@Glorious
Maybe you won’t believe but Russia is one of my favorite countries at Eurovision too.
But my personal viewpoin is that Russia has deserved some rest for at least one year. For your and my (maybe) fortune I am not the one to make the final decision=)
Let us not discussing Russia in this topic=)
@oooops
In 2014 Crimea rejoiined Russia. Willingly.
Plum, according to most UN nations(that means also my country Sweden), Crimea is Ukrainian.
@Mark
Maybe in 2018!
Can we go to Lisbon, just once?
@Plum
So you can withdraw if you like, I don’t really care (although Russia is one of my favorite countries at Eurovision).
@Glorious
It is just how the things stand, no politics=))
Lviv – very russophobes => Russia may refuse to participate
Sorry guys…love you, but ain’t gonna be in a 70k stadium, roof or not
Lviv is my absolutely favourite. I hope this city would prepare Eurovision at next year:)
@Plum
Come on, don’t take things so politically!
How would Lynda Woodruff pronounce L’viv?
@Ben Rafter
And what will you prefer Russia to do?
My personal opinion is that Russia mustn’t participate.
@oooops
How do you imagine ESC 2017 in Russia after what happened in 2016? Crimea is a part of Russia,is irrevocable=))
For everyone
I’ve heard to not offend Ukrainians, use Kyiv as it comes from the Ukrainian spelling of the work. Kiev comes from the Russian. Obviously popularised when it was part of the Russian and Soviet empire. So it’s best to use Kiyv. It has nothing to do with it being a western vs Eastern spelling.
Maru fr The countries i mentioned that i want them to win are all western 🙂
+OR
Yeah, I totally agree with you! 😀 Everybody want more variety!
But I like the western countries a little more…
?Maru fr
So what if Sweden gave good show?? other countries can do that as well…
Its time for other countries to win, that will make the eurovision much more interesting
It’s a challenge to prounounce Lviv, I say Lee-Viv but I could be wrong.
+OR
Why? The Eurovision in Sweden this year was the best! 🙂
Though, it`s interesting to see how it will be in other countries! (for a change)
‘Lviv’ is pronounced like [l’we:v], like ‘L’ + last 3 letters of ‘Tel-Aviv’
LIVE! LOVE! LVIV!
No more scandinavian countries to win…its too boring.. And predictable..i want next year ireland, u.k., italy france or israel to win..
I really hope sweden will not win they should take a long break
Lviv by far, but I would be totally fine with Kiev as well
@Ben Rafter
That’s true.
I’m so happy. Hope Ukraine will choose Lviv as host city. Love that city and those people.
Interesting to see if Russia will participate or not – this will prove if they care about politics more than the music in a song contest.
ninasublatti, Australia will make Asiavision next year, so they will most likely not get invited. So I guess that if you are right, we will win 3rd time in a decade. It is good, but we will probably be the maddest country in Europe when we don’t qualify next time. Eurovision is one of the only things we are really good at, and that is why we take it so serious.
@ninasublatti
Why are you so sure?
So, are there organization processes already?
I think Kyiv will easily take it away from Lviv. Did even people compared locations of both stadiums? At least Kyiv saved by having another sites if idea of that big venues will fail.
Plz let Crimea host so you can show Russia that Crimea belongs to you!(After seeing that Russia is planning JESC national final in Crimea)
Please, I hope not! Otherwise, Kiev will be a sunken ship! 🙁
Lviv or in German called Lemberg would be amazing. Beautiful Austrian architecture, it feels very cosy and Central European and much less like the Wild East. I would consider going there. I think from Austria it is only a couple of hours carride through Slovaquia and Poland and you are there. But I guess my car would get stolen immediately and my insurance doesnt cover countries like Ukraine.
Lviv would definitely be a great host city, it’s closest to other European countries, not to mention probably the safest right now.
The stadium will require a roof though and I don’t see Ukrainian television spending so much money on a roof. The organisers said that it would not be as big as Stockholm or Copenhagen and would be more along the lines of Malmö or Vienna. Although Lviv would be great, I think realistically, Kyiv will be the most likely hosts. Probably at the 10,000 seater Convention Centre or the Palace of Sports.