The private sector is to underwrite Liverpool’s Eurovision fan park and has made a contribution to the city’s wider staging of the European song contest.
It was confirmed yesterday that Liverpool Council will front up a capped amount of £2m to put on the biggest musical contest on the continent. In May 2023, representatives from 37 countries across Europe will descend on the city to compete for the title, won by Ukraine earlier this year.
The amount put up by the city council is to be match funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Further financing will be provided by external sources, such as the BBC, European Broadcasting Union and government. Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, the organisation supporting hundreds of businesses across the city, said he was “delighted” to bring the private sector, business, leisure and hospitality sectors together to be part of the Eurovision bid.
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Mr Addy told a culture and visitor economy select committee hearing that the BID company had made a £300,000 contribution towards staging the song contest and would also underwrite the fan zone that will be situated on the Pier Head. Last month, contract details revealed when and where the public will be able to visit during the festivities.
Liverpool Council went out to tender for a stewarding and security firm to oversee the site it will manage at the Pier Head from May 5-13 next year. The semi finals are scheduled to take place on May 9 and 11 before the grand final on Saturday 13th.
Culture Liverpool has also released a number of roles it is recruiting for ahead of the song contest. Confirming the amount the council will spend, Cllr Harry Doyle, cabinet member for culture and visitor economy, said it was significantly lower than the reported £48m spent by Baku when Azerbaijan hosted the contest a decade ago.
The figure of £2m is capped for the council and 70% will be from earmarked reserves for covid-19 sector recovery as well as contributions from the city’s culture budget. A total of £250,000 will be allocated this year, with a further £450,000 identified from next year’s pot.
It is hoped the city could make around £25m from Eurovision next year with an estimate made that visitor numbers could rise between 5% and 15%. Cllr Doyle described the song contest as “one of the best investments the city has made.”
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