Melodifestivalen 2022 is due to begin in little more than one month, however Swedish media is reporting that the six shows may not be able to take place as planned. Media are suggesting that Sweden’s new restrictions for large events mean that holding the Melfest arena shows may not be economically viable with a reduced audience.
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reports that several sources with good insight are claiming the the Melodifestivalen tour may be cancelled. The alternative would be to hold all the Melodifestivalen shows in a single venue.
This follows new restrictions for live events in Sweden.
On 23 December, the Swedish Health Agency introduced new restrictions aimed at decreasing the spread of Covid-19. The new rules mean that for events with more than 500 attendees, there has to be social distancing between groups, and with no more eight people per group.
Aftonbladet notes that this would severely limit the number of people allowed in the audience of each Melodifestivalen show. In an example, Linköping’s Saab Arena would normally house a Melodifestivalen audience of 5900. However, under the new restrictions that would be reduced to around 1400 people.
The source also noted that an audience of that size won’t be profitable for SVT. They told the newspaper, “It’s not possible to do an arena show for 1,400. It won’t break even so it will go bust. This is a disaster.”
Other sources also confirmed that holding the Melodifestivalen arena shows with a drastically reduced audience did not make good financial sense. “There is no economy in it, it would just be insane to play for empty arenas,” said once source.
The show must go on
However, Melodifestivalen project manager Anette Brattström hasn’t called off the tour. Regarding claims of potential cancellation, she said, “That’s not true. As long as the restrictions do not prevent us from going out into the country, the tour will be on.”
Live Nation, the organisers of the Melodifestivalen tour ticket sales also said it was incorrect the tours would be cancelled. A spokesperson said, “We are reviewing different scenarios for the implementation of the Melodifestivalen tour, but we are working towards it happening as planned. In addition, it is still too early to know what will happen with restrictions after January.”
Aftonbladet notes that ticket sales usually cover the costs of holding the Melodifestivalen shows, however Live Nation also makes money through sponsors who are on site in the arenas, promoting products off-camera to the Melodifestivalen audiences.
A source said, “If SVT were to push through that the tour should still be carried out, but without an audience or with a minimal audience in the arenas, Live Nation and [event organisers] Blixten will lose. They will never agree to that. Not a chance.”
Aftonbladet has also spoken to record company staff involved with Melodifestivalen 2022 entries. One person said, “It would not come as a shock if they were to cancel. We were probably rather surprised that they dared to go ahead with a tour. But we have received zero info.”
SVT reportedly have a plan-B, with all Melodifestivalen shows being held in the same location. All shows for Melodifestivalen 2021 were held at the Annexet venue in Stockholm, however so far there is no confirmation of a backup venue for 2022.
What do you think? Should the Melodifestivalen tour be cancelled? Or should it go ahead with small audiences? Tell us your thoughts below!
for a second i thought it said “no melodifestivalen in 2022?” and i almost jumped out of my seat in a mixture of joy and confusion
Why would it bring you joy?
Is Covid still a thing? I thought all the health experts in here yelled that the pandemic would be gone by the summer of 2020.
But in Sweden, it is the case that events and concerts with more than 500 people must show vaccine passes, sit still and keep their distance. It has worked very well in Sweden
No one really said so. Because then we would have ESC 2020 instead of that Shine a Light stuff
I’m talking about the people here who demanded ESC 2020 to take place in September of 2020 because “the pandemic will be over by then”.
Nobody expected covid to change the rest of our whole lives at the beginning mr know it all.. It’s logical people werent rooting for this to still be the #1 day topic begin 2022.
Of course not rooting for. But some people were just less realistic in the beginning of the pandemic
I Just hope eurovision 2022 wont get cancelled like in 2020
No way it will be cancelled but it could be like Rotterdam if the situation isn’t good enough in May
I think they will find a way to have Eurovision happen, even if things get worse. They managed to do it for 2021, I’m sure they don’t want to cancel the contest ever again
I know, that’s what I meant
i really hope you are correct 🙂
Martin literally confirmed in an interview that the EBU is having 2 scenarios for ESC2022 (Probably a normal contest and a Rotterdam like one)
just googled and found a interview with him 🙂
https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2021/12/eurovision-2022-two-scenarios-are-being-considered-for-turin/
I read that in Sweden events with 500+ participants can go ahead with green passes and an only seated audience so I don’t see here a problem on holding Melodifestivalen as usual (Unless they tighten restrictions in the next weeks)
500+ requires seated audience and distancing. They might not be able to pack enough people in the arena to cover costs.
Yes. The deltävlingar are taken place in smaller arenas. With smaller bubbles of maximum 8 people like the current restrictions requires, the small arenas of about 6000 people will be reduced to around 1500 people. It just won’t be profitable. (Not my calculations, I read that on the news.)
The restrictions are until January 16th and the tour starts in February so there could be time to have a tour. Everyone has said the tour is still going on and plans for it to go on. And if both LiveNation and the projectleader has denied cancelation then why report about it?
You have to remember that every booking of a venue costs a lot, ao basically a part of buying a ticket is also covering that cost. If they really go with a drastic audience reduction, they would need to rise the prices.
the one-venue-only scenario could be done actually like it was last year, with of course some differences:
-instead of Annexet, a somehow bigger venue is used (Globe Arena a.k.a. Avicii Arena is the most likely, Friends Arena will be far too big)
-some audience are put in place, similar to what was done for Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam (or probably slightly bigger audience with different seat setting)
Like I said below you can have a tour if you have Covid Green pass, seated audience with one meter apart. So there should be no problem. That is why they introduced this system in order to avoid further close-downs of cultural events
No problem unless you need to actually cover costs. The tour is not cheap and having 50% less audience can be a major issue.
I am Swedish and here at events and concerts with more than 500 people, everyone must show vaccine passes, sit down and keep a distance of one meter. That’s what i think they can do.
And also show negative covid test (as ESC did)
No really! You’re from Sweden, nobody would never have guessed that! Seeing your bad comments on this blog about all the others except Sweden lol.
So?
So no need to specify
I dont get it. If Anette says this is not true, why do they publish an article about this then.
Can’t Aftonbladet just wait until they give us REAL confirmation about this.
The rules say that for events for more than 500 attendes you need to show your Corona Green pass and all attendes must be sitting down, spread out. So they could tehnically do it. Besides the restrictions are only until January 16th and the tour doesnt start until February. I dont think SVT would have tour if they are not sure it wil go ahead.
Technically yes, financially not so much. I guess they’re going to stall until they know what’s gonna apply in February. But I don’t expect the tour to go on under current rules.