Every once in a while, you get these host city suggestions where you probably first need to open Google Maps to see where the city is located. The United Kingdom now have one of those bids on the table, as a city councillor from the town of Prudhoe has started a campaign to bring Eurovision to the county of Northumberland.
Prudhoe to host?
Councillor Gordon Stewart has suggested that the county of Northumberland could be the next host of the Eurovision Song Contest. He would then offer his hometown of Prudhoe as the actual city. Stewart, who represents the Conservatives in the city council, said:
With next year’s contest likely to come to this country we must consider Northumberland as a host. Although it will be a lot bigger than the Prudhoe arts trail or music by the River, our county is now very ambitious and residents may feel this could be a fantastic opportunity to put Northumberland on the map bringing more investment and tourism opportunities.
Gordon Stewart on the chances of Northumberland
Cue the tent?
Looking around on the map of Northumberland, it’s very hard to see a potential venue in the county. The largest city, Morpeth, doesn’t have a concert venue big enough for the Eurovision Song Contest. The same goes for Hexham, Prudhoe and Ponteland – the only four cities in the county with over 10,000 inhabitants. This may therefore, if the Prudhoe city council were to proceed with Stewart’s proposal, result in a tent being offered as Eurovision venue.
In terms of the other requirements, Prudhoe would have the important airport nearby. Newcastle is only a few miles down the road, so that would work out. The issue would presumably lie in the hotel room capacity. No data currently exist, but it is fair to assume that Northumberland wouldn’t have enough rooms. That, along with the lack of a venue, will make the bidding process an uphill battle for Prudhoe and Northumberland.
Fifteen cities so far
In the United Kingdom, many cities are seemingly lining up to bring the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 to their cities. Below, you can find the full map of cities lining up. They include cities like Liverpool, Sunderland, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, Sheffield, Manchester and the most recent UK Eurovision host city, Birmingham. Meanwhile, The Guardian have suggested the EU could be preparing a rival bid for Brussels to host. At the same time, Prime Minster Johnson has said he wants the contest to take place in Ukraine after all.
Would you like to see the Eurovision Song Contest in Prudhoe or any other town in Northumberland? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram, @escxtra on TikTok and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite ESC and JESC acts.
