The cities of Bern and Biel will submit a joint application file to organize the Eurovision contest in 2025. Zurich has also officially entered the ranks and joins Geneva and Basel among the official contenders.
Bienne and Berne, which present themselves under the slogan Bern United, are supported by the Bernese Executive Council. The two municipal legislatures and the Bernese Grand Council have yet to decide on the necessary funds.
The main event would take place in Bern in the new multifunctional hall, which should be ready on time. The City of Bienne would host events linked to the Eurovision contest. Organizing this event in the region of origin of the Biel artist Nemo is obvious for the authorities.
Eight million provided by Bienne and Berne
Both cities will provide the necessary funds to host this event. Biel will contribute one million francs and Berne 7 million. The Executive Council will submit a credit request to the Grand Council to meet the high security requirements.
The canton expects a financial contribution from the Confederation to guarantee the level of security. Event organizer Bernexpo will also make a contribution.
Zurich and its Hallenstadion
The city of Zurich advances for its part to have the appropriate infrastructure and attractive sites. It is banking on several festivities sites, as required by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The competition itself would take place at the Hallenstadion, the largest indoor arena in Switzerland with a capacity of 15,000 spectators.
The neighboring exhibition halls offer sufficient space for the necessary television and media areas. The “Eurovision village” would be set up in the Landiwiese park, on the left bank of the lake. It is to host concerts, public viewings and other official events.
The Congress House, also located on the edge of the harbor, would be the venue for other official events.
A loan of 20 million francs
The Municipality is now submitting a framework credit of 20 million francs to the municipal parliament to contribute to the planning and organisational costs. This credit will be issued if the SRG and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) choose Zurich. The Zurich cantonal government welcomes the city’s decision and submits a support contribution of 5 million francs to the Grand Council.
The Zurich application was developed in collaboration with Zurich Tourism, the Hallenstadion SA company, the MCH Foire Suisse group and the Congress House.
Basel and Geneva also in the running
Basel and Geneva are also in the running to host the next edition of the competition. “The canton and the City of Geneva are very enthusiastic and will submit the application file on time, the deadline being set for Friday,” specifies Guillaume Renevey, spokesperson for the Geneva Department of Social Cohesion.
Initially interested, the city of St. Gallen decided not to organize the competition. She cites in particular the heavy demands, particularly financial, that this event generates.
The schedule foresees that in July and August the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the SSR will study the files and carry out on-site visits. The final choice of the host city will be made public by the end of August.
>> Also read: An SSR task force will meet on Monday to prepare Eurovision 2025 in Switzerland
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