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Upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel: Already, the Master of Ceremonies is Grooving

Upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel: Already, the Master of Ceremonies is Grooving

Upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel: Already, the Master of Ceremonies is Grooving
Upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel: Already, the Master of Ceremonies is Grooving

Spotlight on Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel: The Groove is Already Gathering Momentum


Exciting Times Ahead: It's official! Basel, nestled on the German border, will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). A video shared by President Conradin Cramer on X platform has the city buzzing, with lovable Grover from Sesame Street, dancing through the town hall, strutting his stuff to Switzerland's winning song from 2024, "The Code." Expect a grand city-wide celebration for both residents and visitors, even those missing tickets to the show.

Basel, the third-largest city in Swiss territory, outshone Geneva in the bid for the event. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Switzerland's SRG media company made the decision. The semi-finals will take place on May 13 and 15, with the final on May 17.

Germany's southern region: Ready for a Boost

Lörrach's Mayor, Jörg Lutz, is confident that the ESC's unique vibe will extend to his town. Tourists can look forward to savoring Lörrach's offerings, hotels, and exploring the town, as Lutz himself enthuses, it has much to offer. Weil am Rhein's Mayor, Diana Stöcker, shares the enthusiasm, hailing it as a major victory for the tri-border area.

The business community in Basel can hardly contain their excitement. Visitors flocked to Malmö this year for the ESC, with around 100,000 attending. With spare bedrooms, locals stand to make a good profit. Even days after Basel's selection, a room in a mediocre, poorly-rated hotel remains available for a hefty 1,000 euros per night. Along the Rhine, hotel ships and campsites are now being set up to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Mixed Opinions Among the Swiss

Social media is abuzz with Swiss enthusiastically celebrating the ESC with memes and emojis. However, Switzerland's political climate reveals a divided opinion. A poll of over 24,000 people found that half were not enthused about the ESC coming to their country. Political tensions regarding Europe's current affairs, such as the Russian war against Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, may contribute to this sentiment.

The ESC's celebration of love in all its forms might be challenging for some. Nemo, a non-binary individual who won in Malmö, has made headlines with their call for recognition of a third gender - a concern for many Swiss voters.

Preparing for the Main Event

The extravaganza will take place in Basel's St. Jakobshalle, with approximately 12,000 seats. A "Plus Arena" will be set up nearby in St. Jakob-Park for public viewing and concerts by former ESC stars. During the show, the "Plus Arena" will be integrated using live switches. An ESC Village will also be established on the exhibition grounds, showcasing events and parties related to the ESC.

Basel anticipates costs of around 30 to 35 million Swiss francs (37 million euros), but hopes to recoup the expenses through fan spending and promoting the Basel region in the long term.

Crossing Borders in Basel

The motto of the ESC 2025 is "Crossing Borders." Basel, with its direct borders with Germany and France and the closely-knit municipalities in the tri-national area, embodies this spirit. This motto also applies to the ESC, aiming to bridge political tensions and unite Europeans through music and love.

A Look Back: Switzerland's Eurovision History

For Switzerland, this is the third Eurovision contest: they hosted the inaugural competition in Lugano in 1956 and also won with Lys Assia. The next host was however Frankfurt. In 1988, the Canadian Céline Dion triumphed for Switzerland and launched her international career. The following year, the contest took place in Lausanne. Germany has only emerged victorious twice: Nicole in 1982 with "Ein bisschen Frieden" and Lena Meyer-Landrut in 2010with "Satellite."

The upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel opens up possibilities for multiple product categories: hotels, tour packages, local attractions, themed merchandise, and services catering to the event. Additionally, local businesses in Lörrach and Weil am Rhein, located in Germany’s southern region, might also reap the benefits of the event.

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