Scottish press speculate on Glasgow hosting Eurovision 2023

Scottish media have been speculating on the possibility of Glasgow hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in the event that Ukraine would be unable to, after the city’s arena blanked out its schedule for May of next year.

The Scottish Daily Express are reporting that the OVO Hydro Arena, famous for being used as the venue in the Eurovision Song Contest: Story of Fire Saga movie, has cleared its schedule for May 2023, suggesting that there may well be some form of agreement in place with the BBC to use it as the venue in the event that Ukraine may not be able to host the contest.

Further, a member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow, Kaukab Stewart, tweeted following the final that Glasgow would be willing to host the 2023 contest in the event of it going to an open bidding process.

The venue sits on the banks of the River Clyde in the largest Scottish city and holds 14,300 spectators. A Glaswegian hosting would be the first in Scotland since the contest went to Edinburgh in 1972.

Ukraine’s national broadcaster UA:PBC and the EBU begun negotiations on Friday for the contest to be held in a “peaceful Ukraine” next year, but given the difficult situation in the country, many other broadcasters have offered their services for next year’s hosting as a back up option.

It is speculated that the contest may well be co-hosted by UA:PBC in another country if talks are unsuccessful but this situation is a way off at the moment. Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom have so far indicated they could host or help with hosting the 2023 contest if Ukraine are unable to.

Would #YOU like to see the contest held in Glasgow if Ukraine cannot host? Where do #YOU think the contest will be held next year? Share your thoughts with us on our forum HERE or join the discussion below and on social media!