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Eurovision 2025: New Details About the Arena, EuroClub, and Eurovision Village!

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What will the arena hosting Eurovision, the Eurovision Village, and the EuroClub look like in Basel, Switzerland, the country hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2025? These and more were discussed in the “Schweiz aktuell” program on SRF 1, which aired a feature this week on the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel. Among other things, the first glimpses of the venues hosting the competition and related events were presented.

The Eurovision Venue

The feature revealed information about the main venue, the St. Jakobshalle, an arena in the Basel area where the contest will take place. Thomas Kastl, the venue’s director, shared the timeline, stating that the hall will be reserved for approximately 7.5 weeks for the contest, with construction beginning on April 7. As previously reported, the roof of St. Jakobshalle will require temporary reinforcement to accommodate the contest’s needs. Normally, the roof can support 120 tons, but the contest requires 280 tons of equipment. A steel beam support system will be used to strengthen the roof for the event.

The Eurovision Village

Regarding the parallel events in the city, the program presented details about the Eurovision Village venue. In Basel, the Eurovision Village will be held indoors rather than outdoors. Lorenz Schibler, the project manager for “City Venues ESC Basel” revealed that up to 12,000 people can be accommodated in the exhibition hall. The space will feature one large main stage, several smaller stages, food stalls, viewing areas, and collaborations with various organizations. The Eurovision Village is expected to cost 2 million Swiss francs. Operating hours will be from noon to midnight, with free entry and a diverse program including performances by charitable organizations, theaters, and schools. Additionally, the Turquoise Carpet 2025 is anticipated to be the largest in Eurovision history, ending at the Eurovision Village.

The EuroClub

The EuroClub will be located right next to the Eurovision Village. Melisa Kaymaz, president of the “Eurovision Club Switzerland” shared her expectations for the EuroClub’s program, saying the goal is to host various performances by Eurovision artists, including an appearance by last year’s winner, Nemo. Up to 3,000 people will be able to enjoy the EuroClub each day.

Safety and Accommodation

Finally, Letizia Elia, director of “Basel Tourismus” spoke about safety, noting that “preparations are being made seriously.” Additionally, in collaboration with local hotels, more rooms will be made available for visitors, with prices ranging from 250 to 450 Swiss francs for four-star accommodations.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: esc-kompakt.de

Eurovision 2025: Soon to be announced – stage, tickets, and the presenters!

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As 2024 comes to a close, preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel are already underway. Switzerland is getting ready to host Europe’s biggest music celebration, and some details about the competition are gradually being revealed.

According to the Swiss newspaper Blick, Edi Estermann, Head of Communications for Eurovision 2025, confirmed that on Monday, the organizers from SRG will present the stage design, visual identity, sound, and ticket information for the contest.

However, the names of the presenters who will host the grand competition on television will remain a secret for now. Specifically, the names will be announced in January. Estermann revealed that the hosting role has generated a lot of interest, describing it as

probably the most sought-after job in the Swiss entertainment industry right now

In an online poll conducted by Blick, 45% of users expressed their preference for long-time SRF presenter Sven Epiney to take on the hosting role. Epiney has been commenting on the contest since 2008 for SRF and is seen as a key figure for Eurovision in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. For many, it seems clear that he should host the contest in Basel.

However, his potential selection has also been met with some internal criticism from SRF and SRG. What works for the Swiss audience may not necessarily be suitable for the international stage. A long-standing commentator is seen as the face of Eurovision, but that doesn’t automatically guarantee the role of host. This was evident after Conchita Wurst’s victory in 2014. The following year, there was great surprise in Austria when Andi Knoll, who had been commenting on the biggest TV entertainment event in the world for ORF audiences since 1999, was not part of the presentation team in Vienna.

In any case, all that’s left is to wait for the official announcements in January, when the names of the hosts for Eurovision 2025 will be revealed.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the updates!

Source: Blick

Eurovision 2025: 66,57% voted in favour of the Basel referendum for the funding of the contest

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As we have already informed you in previous articles, Swiss citizens were called on Sunday to decide on the funding for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. After two weeks of postal voting, the results were just announced, showing that the majority voted in favor of public funding, with 66.57% of the votes supporting the decision to fund the contest.

Specifically, as presented in the analytical table and graph below, the results show that the total number of votes counted reached 57,358. Of these, 38,186 votes, or 66.57%, were in favor of the funding, while 19,172 votes, or 33.43%, were against it. Overall, the voter turnout for the referendum was 57.15%.

Pie chart showing the percentage of votes. 66.57% voted Yes, while 33.43% voted No.

 

Detailed statistics chart showing the breakdown of votes. 57,358 votes were cast in total: 38,186 for Yes and 19,172 for No.

With the “Yes” vote prevailing, funding for the Eurovision 2025 in Basel can now proceed. As a result, the city will host both the main events of the contest, such as the performances at St-Jakobshalle, as well as parallel activities like the Eurovillage and Arena+.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: Basel

Basel Announced as Host City for Eurovision 2025!

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Basel has been officially selected as the host city for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, as announced just moments ago by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Swiss public broadcaster SRG-SSR.

Selection Process

Forty days ago, Basel and Geneva emerged as the two finalist cities in SRG-SSR’s selection process to determine the host for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in Switzerland next May. After weeks of anticipation, the mystery has been solved, and Basel will welcome the biggest televised event in Europe next spring.

Dates

The 69th Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled for the second/third week of May. The first semi-final will be held on Tuesday, 13th May, the second semi-final on Thursday, 15th May, and the grand final will take place on Saturday, 17th May.

Venue

The contest will be hosted at St. Jakobshalle, an arena located in Münchenstein, near Basel. Primarily used for indoor sports and concert events, St. Jakobshalle originally opened in September 1976 with a capacity of 9,000 people. Following renovations, the venue can now accommodate up to 12,400 spectators and has hosted numerous concerts and sports events, including the Swiss Indoors men’s tennis tournament.

Statements

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest said:

”The EBU is thrilled that Basel has been selected as the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The Contest was born in Switzerland in Lugano back in 1956 and it’s great to be bringing it back to its birthplace almost 70 years later.’

Basel’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the ideal setting for an event that celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders.

With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Basel reflects the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s exceptional St.Jakobshalle venue and outstanding hospitality will ensure a memorable experience for delegations, artists and fans alike.

Following Contests in the Italian and French speaking parts of the country in 1956 and 1989 we’re also excited to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to German Switzerland for the very first time.

Together with Host Broadcaster SRG SSR and the city of Basel we will create a spectacular celebration of music on the banks of the River Rhine that resonates far beyond the stage.’

Conradin Cramer, President of the Government of Basel said:

‘It is a great honour for Basel to be able to host the world’s biggest live music event! We are looking forward to this fantastic opportunity to present Basel to the world as a cosmopolitan city of culture in the heart of Europe. As an open city in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, we overcome borders of all kinds every day. This fits in perfectly with the Eurovision Song Contest. We are already looking forward to welcoming our guests from all over Europe: welcome to Basel!’

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, SRG SSR’s Joint Executive Producers of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, added:

‘We were impressed by the quality of the cities’ applications! All 4 cities, and especially Geneva and Basel in the final round, fought for the title of “Host City” with creative approaches and a very constructive approach. Such commitment is by no means a matter of course. Our thanks therefore go to all the cities that applied. We look forward to working with you to make the ESC an unforgettable experience for the whole population.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6ff8tNCY2M

What Do You Think?

How do you feel about Basel being chosen as the host city for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Basel and Geneva: Finalists for Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Host City

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Basel and Geneva have been selected as the two finalist cities in SRG’s ongoing process to determine the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland in May 2025. The final decision will be made public in late August.

Selection Process Details

Cities had until the end of June to submit their bids to SRG, based on a comprehensive set of requirements. The evaluation focused on:

  • Arena concept
  • Public transport links
  • Sustainability
  • Available hotel accommodation
  • Security and waste disposal plans
  • Investment
  • Event experience
  • Citywide support and enthusiasm

Thorough Assessment

Proposals from Basel, Geneva, Zurich, and Berne/Biel were carefully examined by an ESC core team working group. The review included both quantitative and qualitative factors, as well as the cities’ commitment and innovative ideas to ensure ESC 2025 is a standout event.

The review process was overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Following the recommendation of the core team, the ESC 2025 Steering Committee, led by SRG Director General Gilles Marchand, chose Basel and Geneva as the leading candidates.

Significant Investment – Economic Opportunities

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, co-executive producers of ESC 2025, personally informed the finalist cities of their status and outlined the next steps. The project team remains available to assist Zurich and Berne/Biel with any planned Eurovision-related activities, such as public viewings.

Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest is a major investment but promises substantial economic benefits. According to a study by the University of Liverpool, the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 brought an economic boost of EUR 62 million to Liverpool. In May 2023, 175,000 hotel rooms were booked in the city, and 600 jobs were created over the year.

Celebrating Diversity and Unity

The Eurovision Song Contest in May 2025 aims to be a grand celebration for the host city and an event that promotes diversity, music, and culture. It seeks to unite people and foster a sense of community.

Stay updated with Eurovisionfun for all the latest news on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: SRG-SSR

Εurovision 2025: The two potential host-cities will be anounced this Friday

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The Swiss newspaper “Blick” reports that the SSR-SRG will select tomorrow evening the possible cities that will host Eurovision 2025, reducing the number of candidate cities from four to two. The official announcement on the selected cities will be made on Friday 19 July.

A total of four cities are bidding to host the upcoming 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich, Bern (together with Bienne) and Basel. Geneva and Zurich are the frontrunners and favourites to advance to the next stage of the race to host Eurovision 2025. Both Geneva and Zurich are bidding to host the event with strong bids and significant financial contributions.

A steering committee overseen by the business firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers will determine the city that will host Eurovision 2025. This committee, headed by Gilles Marchand (CEO of SRG), will meet tomorrow Thursday 18 July and will come up with two candidate cities.

The Eurovision 2025 committee is composed of the following members:

  • Gilles Marchand (SRG Director General)
  • Nathalie Wappler (SRF Director)
  • Mario Timbal ( RSI Director)
  • Beat Grossenbacher  ( SRG Chief Financial Officer)
  • Bakel Walden (SRG Director of Development & Services /Eurovision Reference Group Chairman)

The city that will host Eurovision 2025 is expected to be revealed at the end of August.

Switzerland will host the Eurovision Song Contest following Nemo‘s victory with his song “The code” at Eurovision 2024. This will be the third time in the history of the contest that Switzerland has hosted the contest as it has been the host country in 1956 and 1989.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: ESC Kombakt

Switzerland: Calls for referendums against hosting Eurovision 2025!

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The Federal Democratic Union (UDF) is challenging the funding allocated for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 organization. The party has announced the launch of referendums, with the Alemannic Federation of Taxpayers, closely aligned with the Swiss People’s Party (UDC), primarily targeting Zurich’s candidacy.

The ultra-conservative evangelical party UDF criticizes the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) for evolving into an event with “increasingly anti-Semitic incidents” and “more satanic and occultist contributions.” They cite protests in Malmö, Sweden, against Israel’s participation in the last ESC due to the Gaza war as an example.

According to the UDF, such manifestations predict a high-security risk for the ESC in Switzerland next May. The party aims to coordinate the collection of signatures against the funds allocated for the potential hosting cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern/Bienne.

Referendums Planned in Zurich and Bern

On Tuesday, UDF sections in the city and canton of Zurich decided to launch a referendum against the city’s 20 million francs funding framework, approved last Wednesday by the legislature. This money is intended to co-finance the event if Zurich is chosen as the host city for the ESC. The cantonal parliament also approved a 5 million francs credit on Monday.

Last Wednesday, the UDF sections in Bern decided to initiate a referendum against the credits for the joint candidacy of Bern and Bienne. In Bern, UDC and Alternative Green politicians have already submitted a referendum text. At the cantonal level, the UDC and UDF will call for a referendum if the nearly 30 million francs credit is approved by the Grand Council.

“The canton of Bern still has significant debt and some of the highest taxes in Switzerland. In this context, we want strict financial policies,” stated UDC National Councillor Manfred Bühler on Tuesday evening in Forum. He affirmed that the UDC Bern‘s opposition is motivated purely by financial concerns, not socio-cultural conservatism.

However, Cyprien Louis, co-president of the Bern Greens, countered that “the economic, visual, and audiovisual benefits that such an event can bring to the region” should also be considered.

UDF Geneva Supports the Contest

The UDF is also targeting the funding for the Geneva and Basel candidacies. In these cities, the funds have yet to be voted on by their respective parliaments.

However, in Geneva, even the UDF is enthusiastic about the potential of hosting the Eurovision. “The UDF Geneva is excited about the local economic benefits of such an event, whether cultural or sports-related. We regret the disappearance of events like the Geneva Motor Show, which hinders the local economy,” explained Lionel Dugerdil, president of UDF Geneva, in the 12h30 program.

Meanwhile, the Alemannic Federation of Taxpayers is focusing on opposing Zurich’s candidacy. The federation questioned why Zurich taxpayers should co-finance the ESC, calling it “a private event,” and is set to decide on launching a referendum against the city’s funding on Wednesday.

By the end of August, the SSR will choose the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest in consultation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Potential referendums will be possible only afterward.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: RTS

Switzerland: An internal selection for Eurovision 2025 | Song submission will commence soon!

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Switzerland, the winning country of Eurovision 2024, officially starts its Eurovision 2025 journey.

Switzerland will use an internal selection process again in order to select its next Eurovision act. The submission window will open on the 8th of August and is expected to be closed two weeks later, on the 22nd of August.

The selection process

The Swiss entry will be selected by a Swiss audience jury along with a 25-member international Eurovision-expert jury. Along with a Swiss audience jury, an international audience will also have its say on the next Swiss act.

The final decision will be known to public in early 2025.

Nemo won last year’s Swiss internal selection and with their entry “The Code“, subsequently won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest and will now bring the contest back to its birthplace, Switzerland.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: srf.ch

Christina Kitsos: The Greek mayor of the city is ready to host Eurovision in Geneva!

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She is the first Greek woman elected mayor in Switzerland and in fact in one of its largest cities, Geneva. Her name is Christina Kitsos who from June 1, 2024 is the mayor of the city and the one who will make every effort to bring the competition in May 2025 to Geneva.

Will a Greek woman welcome us in Switzerland in 2025?

Christina Kitsos is a child of Greeks and a second generation immigrant. She has been involved in politics since she was very young, in the Socialist Party of Switzerland, passing through all the offices of the local government. Christina’s rise to mayor comes in recognition of her dedication to public service and commitment to addressing key issues facing the city.

The office of mayor of Geneva (maire de Genève) rotates annually among the five members of the council, the city’s executive government. The term of Christina Kitsos started on June 1, 2024 and ends on May 31, 2025. In other words, she will be the one who will conduct the entire process for claiming the organization of Eurovision 2025 in Geneva, but she will also be the mayor of the city, when the 69th Eurovision Song Contest takes place next year.

I was lucky enough to know Christina since I was an elected municipal councilor and we participated together in a conference of young elected officials from all over Europe. I know how much she loves and is connected to Greece and her Greek origins (her father is from Thessaloniki) and I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to go to a city that hosts Eurovision and whose mayor is a young woman , who is also Greek.

Eurovision is a great opportunity to promote Geneva to the world, promoting music as a global language that brings countries together, changes mindsets and transforms perspectives.

Christina Kitsos

Geneva or Zurich?

The municipality, the canton of Geneva and the Board of Directors of Palexpo, the venue that will host the contest if the city wins the event, have joined forces in an effort to bring Eurovision 2025 to Geneva.

After St. Gallen‘s withdrawal from the title race, the only opponent is Zurich, who, according to the bookmakers, is the favorite. Zurich has not yet officially announced that it is going to submit a candidacy, since the city’s municipal council is going to decide on this very soon.

Interested cities have until June 30 to apply, while the decision on which city will host Eurovision 2025 is expected to be announced in August.

Watch Christina Kitsos’s last interview two months ago:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler will be the Executive Producers!

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The SRG Executive Board has appointed Reto Peritz from SRF and Moritz Stadler from RTS as co-executive producers for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) to be held in Switzerland. Both will continue in their current roles but will be substituted for a year to focus on the contest.

Organizing the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2025 in Switzerland is a monumental task. Responding to the ESC Task Force’s request, the SRG Executive Board has selected the individuals who will assume overall responsibility for the world’s largest music event. The role of executive producer will be jointly held by Reto Peritz, 51, currently the Director of Entertainment at SRF, and Moritz Stadler, 38, currently the Head of Operations at RTS.

The Executive Board believes these two media managers are ideally suited for the job, bringing extensive experience with the ESC. Reto Peritz has previously served as the Head of the Swiss Delegation and was an elected member of the ESC Reference Group from 2019 to 2021. Moritz Stadler is a long-time employee of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

While retaining their current roles within their respective business units, Peritz and Stadler will gradually hand over their ongoing projects until June 2025. This transition will allow them to dedicate their efforts entirely to the organization of the ESC 2025.

 

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Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates regarding Eurovision 2025!

Source: SRG-SSR