The deadline has passed to submit a bid to SVT expressing a desire to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Sweden, as Gothenburg and Stockholm already had bids submitted while Malmö and Örnsköldsvik submitted their bids just before the deadline.
This is the first official deadline in the preparations for Eurovision 2024 since Loreen won in Liverpool in May with “Tattoo.”
Stockholm announced their bid on 7 June, with Gothenburg doing the same on 10 June and Örnsköldsvik on the day of the deadline, 12 June along with Malmö.
Gothenburg was chosen to host the contest in 1985 and, if chosen for 2024, the city plans to use the same arena used almost 40 years ago, the Scandinavium. The arena has been expanded and renovated twice since hosting but was put on a demolition list in May by the city council, who plan to build a new arena with the same name at a future date yet to be revealed.
Stockholm has put on the contests festivities three times, using the Ericsson Globe in 2000 and 2016 and the Stockholm International Fairs in 1975, which was the first year Eurovision took place on Swedish soil. The Globe, now known as Avicii Arena had already been scheduled to undergo repairs in 2024.
If SVT chooses Stockholm, the city council hopes to use the Friends arena as it is the location of almost every Melodifestivalen final since 2013. The Tele2 arena has also been listed as a possible venue in the cities bid.
Football teams based in Stockholm, however, would prefer for the contest to be held in another city. Djurgårdens IF and Hammarby Fotboll use Tele2 while AIK Fotboll uses Friends arena. Both sports teams have vocally opposed the bid for Eurovision to take place in Stockholm, according to Dagens Nyhete.
Malmö hosted the 1992 and 2013 contest, at the Malmö Isstadion and Malmö Arena respectively. They are hoping to host again 11 years later in the same arena as 2013. The Malmö Arena now makes two venues wanting to host that have previously done so and would become the second Swedish city to host Eurovision three times.
Örnsköldsvik plans to use the Hägglunds arena if chosen. The arena has been used multiple times for heats of Melodifestivalen and has submitted bids to host before. Örnsköldsvik is the only Swedish city to bud that has never hosted before.
In 2013 and 2016 SVT announced the host city on 8 July, which is a Saturday this year. The official host city is expected to be named next month, though an exact date has not been confirmed.
Stockholm has hosted The Eurovision Song Contest 3 times: At Stockholm International Fairs 1975 and at The Globe, Avicii Arena, 2000 and 2016. Gothenburg was host in1985 at Scandinavium. Malmö was host in 1992 at Malmö Isstadion and in 2013 at Malmö Arena.