Eurovision 2022: Bologna enters the ESC 2022 host city bidding race

Eurovision 2022: Bologna enters the ESC 2022 host city bidding race
Monday, 12 July 2021

  • Bologna is the third city to officially submit its application for hosting the 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy next year. 

    And then they were three! Following Turin and Pesaro , Bologna becomes the third city to join the bidding race for the Eurovision 2022 host city. With the deadline for applications expiring this evening at 24:00, tomorrow we will have a clear picture on which other cities will be joining the host city race. 

    The official application that puts Bologna among the candidate cities to host Eurovision 2022, was sent in this morning under  the support of the Mayor Virginio Merola and the President of Emilia-Romagna Stefano Bonaccini.

    The Mayor himself announced the city's candidacy through his social media accounts by saying: 

    "Today I signed the letter sent to RAI via which #Bologna is a candidate city to host the Eurovision song contest for 2022.
    On the other hand, our city Bologna, UNESCO City of Music, has all the characteristics to host such an important event that the Bolognese would welcome with great enthusiasm.
    The preliminary work began the day after Måneskin's victory in the last edition and we are ready, in collaboration with the Region, to provide Rai with all the clarifications that will be asked of us.
    After the victory of # Italy at the European championships we have another opportunity to make our country loved in the world!"

    Based on Bologna's submitted bid the grand final of the next contest will take place on May 14, 2021 which means that the whole event will unfold over the first two weeks of May next year. While several local media outlets are mentioning these dates, no official confirmation has been released yet either by RAI or the EBU. Usually the decision for the host city and the dates has been released for previous editions in the middle of the summer or the last week of it or even in September is some occasions.

     

     

    Bologna's bid to host Eurovision 2022

    One city that has attracted the attention as a potential ESC 2022 host city from the first day after Manskin's victory, is Bologna in which is located one of the major arenas in Italy, but that's go and see which facts make the city a serious candidate for the next contest. 

     

    The potential Arena

    The main concert venue is the Unipol Arena, located in Casalecchio di Reno, about 12 km from Bologna central station. Depending on the configuration, it can count on a capacity of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 spectators. It can be reached from Bologna with special extra-urban bus lines or via the railway line. Structure height : 30 meters.

    Lo splendido sold out di Ultimo all'Unipol Arena | Unipol Arena

     

    International connections 

    The city has a wide number of international connections through the G. Marconi international airport which is very close to the city. In just 7 minutes, thanks to the Marconi Express (train on monorail) you can reach the central station of Bologna. Alternatively, bus connections are available.

    Accommodation capacity 

    In terms of accommodation capacity, Bologna can count on over 24,000 beds and 12,800 rooms in hotels and similar structures (latest Istat data).

     

     

    The Eurovision 2022 host city bidding race

    The Italian broadcaster, RAI, kicked off on July 7, 2021 the bidding process in seek of the next Eurovision host city. 

    The Italian broadcaster has released the tender for the Eurovision 2022 host city bidding process, inviting the cities that ambition to host the next contest to send in their applications from July 7, 2021 until July 12, 11:59 pm. All applications should be sent to RAI via email at the following address: [email protected].

    The cities that want to host the competition should meet EBU's requirements and rules and contribute financially to the event's  organization. A total of 12 Italian cities declared their desire to host the next competiton, as soon as Maneskin were crowned winners in Rotterdam. These are: 

    • Rome
    • Turin
    • Milan
    • Bologna
    • Pesaro
    • Florence
    • Rimini
    • Reggio Emilia
    • Verona
    • San Remo
    • Naples
    • Bari

    However, not all fo them seem to fulfill the conditions set by EBU in order to be a sufficient host city for Eurovision 2022. Namely, four cities only seem to meet EBU's requirements: 

    • Rome
    • Milan
    • Bologna
    • Turin

    In the past years when the contest was a hosted in Italy, it took place in Naples, in 1965, after the victory of Gigliola Cinquetti and in Rome in 1991, after the victory of Toto Cutugno.

     

     

    News Source: ilrestodelcarlino.it/ Eurovoix

    Cover: getbybus.com / Images: trentinovolley.it