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Switzerland: Four cities in the running for Eurovision 2025!

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The deadline for interested cities to submit bids to host Eurovision 2025 draws near, as announced by Swiss public television. According to the website of the Swiss public television, Zürich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern are the four cities competing for the hosting of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest.

The Swiss public television provides us with information regarding the four potential host cities, while presenting their pros and cons.

Bern

The local cantonal government has finally supported the idea of hosting Eurovision 2025 in Bern, the nation’s capital and fourth most populous city, despite Bern’s initial hesitation to submit a bid. For this reason, the local government is negotiating a 7 million euro grant. The proposed venue, Bernexpo, has 9,000 seats, but it won’t be ready until April 2025. A small airport and a limited availability of accommodation is indeed a challenge, though.

Basel

Basel appears to have high expectations for winning the race for the hosting of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. With a capacity of 12,000 spectators, St. Jakobshalle is its candidacy. Basel has experience with these kinds of events, holding a vibrant festival called Art Week each year.

Geneva

For many, the city that serves as the EBU’s headquarters is ideal. Cheap accommodation is guaranteed by its proximity to the French border, and tourists can quickly and easily travel there every day by bus and train. All of the main European destinations are connected to the city’s international airport. Palexpo, which has a 15,000 seat capacity, is the suggested location. The only drawback to Geneva’s candidacy is its lack of vibrant nightlife.

Zürich

The largest city in Switzerland is also the clear favorite to host Eurovision 2025. The city is regarded as the heart of the country’s LGBTQ+ community, and it has unlimited options for accommodation and a major airport. There are two potential venues: the Hallenstadion (15,000 seats) and the Swiss Life Arena (12,000 seats).

The decision is expected to be made in late August.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: SRF

Eurovision 2025: Fribourg will check hosting bid!

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Fribourg could join the list of candidate cities to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

The preliminary examination has just started as confirmed by the CEO of HC Fribourg-Gottéronw, a renowned ice hockey club in Fribourg, John Gobbi.  At the moment there is no formal host bid.  However, the discussions are going on and the city is debating whether or not Fribourg may host Eurovision in 2025.

If Fribourg decides to bid, the most likely scenario is that they offer the BCF Arena, home of the HC Fribourg-Gottéron team to host the event which could hold up to 9,000 spectators which is below the requirements to host the event.  However, one of the problems to be selected is the size of the arena and potential clashes with ice hockey matches.

We are also analysing if the ice rink could meet the size requirements. It is certainly big but there are bigger arenas in Switzerland.

Furthermore, the local government of Fribourg has confirmed its intent to examine whether they are able to place a bid.  Before making that move they will assess if they can meet the accommodation and arena requirements.

Four Swizz cities have already confirmed their intent to become the host city of Eurovision 2025. They are:

  • Basel
  • Geneva
  • St. Gallen
  • Zurich

Source: Frapp

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Eurovision 2025: Lugano and Lausanne will not bid to host Eurovision!

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Lugano was the host city of the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956.  Unfortunately for fans who may wish to celebrate the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in the city where all began, the city has already ruled out a potential candidacy.

According to the Deputy mayor of Lugano, the city does not have suitable venues to host the event:

“Unfortunately, we don’t have venues capable of hosting up to 15,000 spectators. There is the LAC, the Palazzo dei Congressi, the Cornèr Arena, the future sports hall, and even the conference centre, but which will never reach the required numbers.  It is therefore a shame because surely an event with such resonance would have had a great impact, also in terms of visibility, for our canton. But unfortunately, I think it will be difficult.”

Moreover, Lausanne has also ruled out the possibility of hosting Eurovision.  Lausanne hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989 after Celine Dion gave Switzerland their second victory in the contest.  According to the Mayor of Lausanne, Grégoire Junod all potential venues to host the event are already scheduled because the hockey season conflicts with Eurovision:

he only place that could be suitable in terms of gauge would be the Vaudoise Arena, but we are already at the limit of what is required in terms of capacity (…) he main obstacle is the calendar. The venue must be available several weeks before the start of the event and this is not possible due to the hockey season.

Zurich enters the race

The city of Zurich is studying a potential bid to host Eurovision in 2025.  If the city finally decides to submit a formal bid, it will join the cities of Geneva, Basel, and St. Gallen which have already expressed their intention to become the 2025 host city.

According to Le Temps, the city held a meeting to examine the feasibility of their candidature.  The bid will be studied with “high priority” according to a spokesperson of the city.

Source: RCI│24 Heures │Le Temps

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