Two postulates approved by the municipal parliament support the approach. The competition would take place at the Hallenstadion, the largest indoor arena in Switzerland with a capacity of 15,000 spectators. The neighboring fairgrounds would welcome the media. The Eurovision village would be located in the Landiwiese park, on the left bank of the lake.
Bern and Biel make common cause
The cities of Bern and Bienne will submit a joint application file, under the slogan Bern United. They benefit from the support of the Bernese Executive Council. According to a press release also published this Thursday, the main event would take place in the new exhibition hall in the capital and events linked to the competition would take place in Biel, the city of the artist Nemo, who won the competition in Malmö in last May.
The City of Bern intends to contribute to the costs for a sum of 7 million francs and the City of Bienne for one million francs. The government will submit to the Grand Council a request for a framework credit, in particular for costs arising from security measures.
The hopes of Geneva and Basel
For several weeks, Basel and Geneva have also announced their willingness to host 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 financial demands of the event generated. The SRG will make its decision at the end of August, in consultation with the European Broadcasting Union.
