EUROVISION 2025: THE SEARCH FOR THE HOST CITY LAUNCHED

Swiss televisions have launched officially the search for the host city for Eurovision 2025 with a logo that made me think of Istanbul 2004 immediately. I have no idea what skyline is supposed to be there but it certainly doesn't make me think of Switzerland!

Istanbul hasn't been the only city to feature the skyline or similar in their Eurovision branding as also Helsinki 2007 did so, as you can clearly see even today in this blog, lol.

Eurovision song contest is coming back home after this rather chaotic and disastrous 2024 edition as the very first edition took place in Switzerland's Lugano in May 24, 1956 in attempt to unite post-war Europe and bring some entertainment and excitement for the new media called television. Loosley modeled after Italy's Sanremo festival seven countries took part, each with two songs: Switzerland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Switzerland won but the next contest moved to Frankfurt in Germany. And ever since the contest has moved - with a few exceptions - to the winning country. Switzerland won for the second time in 1988 and hosted the contest in Lausanne in 1989. This time both previous host cities have ruled themselves out of the race to host, as has the capital city of Bern.

Zurich is the front runner and apparently the most eager to bring Eurovision in town. Potential arena Hallenstadion has a capacity of 11-13.000. Opened in 1939 and renewed in 2004-05. There's also a new Swiss Life arena opened in 2022 of 12.000 capacity. The Ice-Hockey world championships 2026 will take place there. Zurich has international airport and enough hotel rooms.

Geneva is also not out of the race, being also Ebu's home city. Palaexpo has capacity of 15.000 with halls inside the arena that could easily host up to 2,000 journalists in the press center. Originally built in 1926, current building in 1981 and expanded in 1987, 1995 and 2003. Geneva has international airport and enough of hotel capacity.

Basel hopes to host with St.Jakobshalle and 12.000 capacity. The town may lack accommodation and direct travel connections.

St.Gallen is one of those "let's try it even if we have no chance in hell but hey it's good PR!". Sadly they seem to lack a suitable arena and travel connections. And accommodation. Just to name some key factor. (Update: There's Olma Hall and exhibition center but that doesn't quite change the situation) Even if there's apparently a certain joint aspirations with Liechtenstein that just might or might not try to enter Ebu later this year.

There's also Bern + Biel bid, Biel being Nemo's hometown, considered rather hopeless though.

The decision is expected in August. Until then one can only hope Switzerland would return to national final like in the old good days: three songs in French, three in German, three in Italian and one in Romansh!

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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