The city of Basel is preparing to live agitated days. To the festivities surrounding Eurovision Song Contest, whose final will take place on Saturday May 17 at the Halle St-Jacques, should be added those expected, the title of Swiss champion of FC Basel. Problem: Barfüsserplatz, a traditional rallying place for Basel supporters to celebrate the big victories – are generally about twenty thousand – was appointed official place of Eurovision, and renamed “Eurovision Square” for the occasion.
Because of the European musical event, the FCB will play its next three games outside. In Lugano on Saturday, in Lausanne next Wednesday and in Berne against Young Boys, Sunday May 18.
But, depending on the results, it can be officially crowned Swiss champion for the 21st time in its history after each of these meetings.
This weekend, for example, FC Basel will be crowned champion if he wins in Lugano on Saturday and that, on Sunday, Servette does not beat Young Boys. We could therefore attend a spontaneous surge of Basel supporters in the city center from 6.30 p.m. (just after the end of the Servette-Yb match) to acclaim Shaqiri & Co. to the Casino balcony, as usual.
But this same Sunday, tens of thousands of people are expected in downtown Basel for the ceremony and the opening parade of Eurovision. The stores will be open and the trams will not be able to circulate in the city center from 1:15 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., according to the Basler Zeitung. In addition, jazz concerts are scheduled from 2 p.m. to midnight on the stage that was installed right next to the casino. It is a safe bet that these concerts will be interrupted, even downright canceled, if the place should be invaded by Basel supporters …
If the FCB was to be crowned next Wednesday after its Lausanne match, the players would not be back before 2 a.m. There may be fewer people than on Sunday, since we will be on the week and second in the second night.
But we know the attachment of Basel fans to their club. They will want to celebrate a title that has been leaking them for eight years at all costs. However, trams and buses will run 24 hours a day during Eurovision, obviously passing through the Barfüsseplatz.
On the side of the Basel authorities, we must therefore pray so that FC Basel is not crowned Swiss champion too quickly. Ideal? That he cannot celebrate his title before Sunday May 18, after the 37th and penultimate day.
Eurovision Song Contest will have completed the previous evening, and the Barfüsseplatz will then be completely given to the Basel team and its fans …
