Malmö 2013 – In a surprise announcement, it was revealed by Swedish broadcaster SVT this morning that next year’s ESC finals will be held at Malmö Arena. SVT received bids from Stockholm and Malmö (with Gothenburg pulling out at the last moment). The arena has a capacity of only 15,500, meaning final tickets could be in high demand, and hotels are already filling up.
“It was not really an easy decision,” Martin Österdahl, Executive Producer of the 2013 contest says.
“We chose Malmö because there is a very good infrastructure and we have good experience of holding Melodifestivalen [the Swedish national selection] and the Eurovision Song Contest there,” he explains. “The choice of Malmö is based on an overall assessment of the environment in which we think is best for the format of the Eurovision Song Contest, both in terms of TV shows and on the preparations.”
“We are very pleased to have a Host City already at this stage. It shows the deep commitment SVT and the whole of Sweden have to host a great Eurovision Song Contest in 2013,” says Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor on behalf of the EBU.
So what can Eurovision fans expect of Malmö? It is the “capital” of the Swedish southernmost province Skåne and is called the City of Parks. It has an international airport 20km from the centre of the city, and is home to nearly 665,000 people. It’s linked to neighbouring Copenhagen (Denmark) by the Öresund Bridge, and of all Swedish cities has the highest concentration of restaurants per capita. It has the tallest building in Scandanavia; the Turning Torso.
If hotels are filling up quickly in Malmö, look at Copenhagen. Links between the two cities are good.
It is quite a surprise that Stockholm was not chosen, but fits in with the EBU’s desire to downsize after the extravagance of Baku. Stockholm’s Friends Arena will be used for the Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s national final. Many Eurovision fans will be relieved that this year that they can book very affordable accommodation this early in the year.
Check out these links for more information about the city of Malmö which will become our home next May:
The Eurovision Times 
Thanks Sweden for chosen the closest city for me :D
all at Roselil’s! :D
Exactly Morgan :D
exxxxxxxxxciting!
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