Nottingham City Council says that it may submit a bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. That’s after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed on Monday that the United Kingdom will host the contest amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A city council spokesperson said: “Nottingham has great credentials to host a prestigious and internationally popular show like the Eurovision Song Contest.”
“It would be a fantastic honour and boost for the city, placing Nottingham on the world stage as the televised broadcast reaches over 180 million viewers.”
“The city is perfect for visitors with plenty of things to see and do, is compact with a superb green travel network and has great transport links for national and international visitors.”
“We look forward to the publication of the detailed bidding criteria and process to then consider whether we will be able to formally apply to be the host city.”
Details of this potential bid remain under wraps. But the city’s most acclaimed music venue is Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.
Opened in 2000, it has hosted artists including Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Elton John, Lady Gaga, and One Direction. Little Mix welcomed a crowd of 15,685 back in 2018.
Plenty of A-listers will be performing there in the coming months. They include Sean Paul, Ne-Yo, George Ezra, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Kaiser Chiefs, Florence + The Machine and Sugababes, who recently said they don’t want to perform at Eurovision.
On the Visit Nottinghamshire web site, the official tourist board makes much of the area’s storied history. It says:
“A green city with a legendary past, a vibrant culture and a bright future. A creative destination of rebels and pioneers, and the home of Robin Hood. Nottinghamshire is one of the UK’s top destinations, and a warm welcome always awaits.”
“Whether you visit Nottinghamshire for a weekend break or a day out with the kids at top attractions, you can see world class sport, amazing live performances, excellent nightlife and cutting edge art in outstanding venues. Taste fine dining at Michelin star restaurants, shop at high street favourites and unique independents, and enjoy local produce in traditional market towns.”
“Rousing stories of rebellion and virtue are written into our DNA – visit the enchanting Sherwood Forest to walk in the footsteps of Robin Hood, learn of castles torn apart by civil war, or enjoy a cocktail in one of the city’s cave bars. You can even trace the daring footsteps of the Mayflower Pilgrims from Nottinghamshire to the Americas, before learning how Nottinghamshire innovations like MRI scanners have helped change the world for the better.”
Are you ready to follow Robin Hood to Eurovision? What do you think of the venue? Let us know down below!
I lived and worked in Nottingham for 20 years. It’s a lively city, but its crime rate is very high for a UK provincial city. It is the home of Britain’s most famous serial killer, Dr Harold Shipman, who grew up and went to school there. To be fair, he concentrated his murdering on old ladies from East Manchester and Cheshire, and he’s dead now anyway, so Eurovision fans would probably be safe, except if there are any Harold Shipman tribute acts still loitering about in Nottingham. By the way, Robin Hood was from Yorkshire, and Sherwood forest is a… Read more »
Nottingham all the way. Love from Armenia
If Nothingham hosts, I wish that someone brings a song called ”Robin Hood”. Azerbaijan, I have my hopes high. 😉
I’m very happy with UK as host, hope next year will be great, even though so many things can go wrong : restrictions, v i r u s coming back, the queen…. Sorry for being depressing.
I mean a dead queen won’t stop eurovision. EBU would sue for millions. Most logical thing to happen would be BBC delaying the broadcast.
Also don’t forget she is immortal.
Yeah! Why not!
I’ve never been there, but it seems to have it’s charms