Following the EBU’s announcement stating that Eurovision “cannot be held in Ukraine”, attention diverted to the United Kingdom looking to host next year’s contest. Representatives for various cities have spoken of their interest, one of which is Sheffield.
Twinned with Donetsk
Although faced with a lot of competition, it would be fitting if Sheffield were to host Eurovision 2023. The city has been twinned with Donetsk in Ukraine since the 1950s, as both are known for their mining and steel heritage.
In addition, there’s even a street in Sheffield named after its twin city:
Local Councillors are interested
Along with – what feels like – almost every other city in the United Kingdom, Sheffield may look to support a bid to bring Eurovision to South Yorkshire. Councillors Ben Miskell and Minesh Parekh are just some of those who have spoke about their interest on Twitter.
What could Sheffield offer?
The Utilita Arena has a capacity of over 13,000 and has hosted everything from concerts to ice hockey matches, as explained further by Mirror’s Whitehall Correspondent, Mikey Smith.
It has the media infrastructure, the transport links, the Peak District on the doorstep if you want somewhere to do drone shots, and an unparalleled combination of industrial and cultural history.
Mikey Smith on Sheffield’s host city potential
Moreover, the arena has 5 hotel partners, giving visitors a good choice of where to stay during Eurovision week. While Doncaster Sheffield Airport is the only airport nearby, you can still catch a taxi to the city which would take no longer than 30 minutes. Alternatively, Leeds Bradford Airport and East Midlands Airport are only less than an hour away from the arena.
On top of that, did you know that it’s the greenest city in the UK?
A plethora of potential host cities
In the United Kingdom, many cities have reported their interest in hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Below, you can see a map of all current bids. ESCXTRA.com will bring you updates on all of the bids in the upcoming days.
Would you like to see Sheffield host Eurovision 2023? Let us know in the comments!
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