Liverpool blev her til aften afsløret som værtsby for verdens største musikkonkurrence, Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Det blev afsløret af BBC’s mangeårige Eurovision kommentator Graham Norton i showet The One Show.
ESC 2023 afholdes i M&S Bank Arena, som har en kapacitet på 11.000.
Tilbage i august offentliggjorde BBC en “shortlist” med syv britiske byer, som kæmpede om at blive Eurovision værtsby 2023: Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle og Sheffield, og efter en detaljeret vurderingsproces blev de syv byer tilbage i september reduceret til to, Glasgow og Liverpool.
Kandidatbyerne til ESC 2023 er blevet vurderet på følgende krav:
- En indendørs arena med plads til ca. 10.000 gæster
- Indenfor rækkevidde af en international lufthavn
- Hotelkapacitet på ca. 2.000 værelser
- En effektiv infrastruktur
- Venues til pressecenter, Euroclub, Carpet osv.
I aftenens show blev også datoerne for næste års shows afsløret:
- 9. maj 2023: Semifinale 1
- 11. maj 2023: Semifinale 2
- 13. maj 2023: Finale
“Congratulations to Liverpool. They will be an amazing host for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool is such an exciting, warm and vibrant city. It’s the undisputed capital of pop music and is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its twinning with the Ukrainian city of Odesa. I know the people of Liverpool will welcome Europe – and the rest of the world – with open arms, and in partnership we will create something truly special.”
Tim Davie, BBC
“Liverpool is the ideal place to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.”
Martin Österdahl, EBU
“The city is synonymous with music and Liverpool Arena exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale. We have been very impressed with the passion the city has shown in embracing the Contest and their inclusive ideas for placing last year’s winners, Ukraine, front and centre when thousands of fans visit next May.”
“This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the UK in 25 years and, as we work with our Host Broadcaster, the BBC, to celebrate Ukraine’s victory, this unique production promises to be a very special one indeed.”
