Tearin' Up the Border: Eurovision 2025 in Basel
The European Song Contest (ESC) is gearing up for a border-brawling affair in 2025, situated right on the edge of Germany in Basel, Switzerland. Tension's high as this city took the crown from Geneva, thanks to the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) announcement. The big finale will rock the stage on May 17th.
Neighboring towns are as hyped as a groupie at a rock concert. Lörrach, just a stone's throw away from Basel, is looking particularly eager. Its fiercely independent mayor, Jörg Lutz, threw his hat in the ring with a smokin' application video. "We're gonna turn that tri-border zone into the 40-nation corner of Eurovision," he boasted. With hotel rates in Basel already skyrocketing to over $600 per night before the announcement, Lörrach's ability to host a horde of visitors is a major sell.
The St. Jakobshalle—a venue known for tennis action—will host the show, with a capacity to shake it down with 12,000 people. Additional revelers can party in the St. Jakob-Park stadium, which can jam-pack up to 20,000 people, with the ESC show broadcasting there as well. Basel's got the estimated costs set at around 37 million euros.
Breaking down Barriers in Basel
The theme of the ESC is "Breaking Barriers". No sweat for Basel, which has been breakin' 'em since time immemorial, thanks to its sexy location smack-dab on the borders of Germany and France. The folks livin' in the tri-border region fold like a deck of cards, workin' so closely together they could almost be twins. "ESC connects and inspires, beyond all borders," the city declared in their application.
The theme jives with the ESC, which is no stranger to political scrappin'. The Russian chicken fight with Ukraine and the clash between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza Strip come to mind.
Switzerland's got the ESC Crown, Courtesy of Nemo
Switzerland's claim to the ESC hosting spot is a direct result of Nemo's victory in the 68th ESC of this year, held in Malmö. This global music competition invites public broadcasting organizations—mostly from Europe and EBU members—to compete for the top honors with their tunes. The winning nation typically hosts the next ESC.
Nemo stole the show with the song "The Code". This gender-neutral maverick, who identifies as neither male nor female, shared their personal journey in the song. Nemo bagged the first place in both the jury and public votes, knockin' Croatia out of the park. Germany's rep, Isaak, ended up in twelfth place.
Basel ain't a stranger to big-time Pharma players like Roche and Novartis. And don't forget about its legendary Fasnacht celebrations, tracin' their roots back to the 14th century, and recognized as part of the world cultural heritage. The Museum Fondation Beyeler for modern and contemporary art in Riehen near Basel is an internationally respected spot too.
This'll be the third time Switzerland hosts the ESC. They welcomed the first competition in 1956 in Lugano and also snagged the win with Lys Assia. Frankfurt took up the mantle after that. Switzerland claimed their second win in 1988 with Céline Dion, kick-starting her international career. The competition migrated to Lausanne the following year. Germany only got the ESC gig twice: with Nicole and "A Little Peace" in 1982 and Lena Meyer-Landrut with "Satellite" in 2010.
The European Union's got Switzerland's back in co-hostin' the Eurovision Song Contest, acknowledging the country's dedication to tearing down barriers through cultural events. In response, various European cities are prepare to team up with Basel during the contest to further foster cross-border relationships.
The Eurovision Song Contest offers a unique opportunity for the European Union and Switzerland to strengthen their alliance, showcasing the shared values that the contest thrives on.
