ESC: Basel wins, Geneva goes home empty-handed

– Eurovision Song Contest comes to Basel – Geneva loses

The SRG awarded the world’s largest song competition to Basel. It will therefore still take place in German-speaking Switzerland on May 17, 2025. This represents the city at the bend of the Rhine.

Posted today at 10:01 AM

this ESC-Spektakel It will be held in Basel’s St. Jacobs Hall next May. This beats out Geneva’s Palexpo Center, even though it is much smaller. Basel can accommodate about 10,000 visitors, while Geneva can accommodate 15,000.

Nevertheless, the SRG steering committee, led by managing director Gilles Marchand, decided to support Basel. This is the first time that the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in German-speaking Switzerland.

The first “Eurovision Song Contest” (then called “Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson”) was held in Lugano in 1956. In 1989, it was Lausanne’s turn. Celine Dion won in Dublin with the song “Nepartez pas sans moi” and brought the spectacle to Switzerland.

Now it is Basel – and German-speaking Switzerland. This may well have played a role in the decision, especially since German-speaking Switzerland has a greater interest in the ESC than French-speaking Switzerland.

“Crossing Borders” received positive reviews from SRG

This time around, Nemo made that goal possible with a win in Malmö, Sweden. The singing prodigy would have preferred that the ESC be held at her home in Biel, along with Bern. But the federal city failed, as did Zurich. Both candidates withdrew from the race in mid-July. Only Basel and Geneva made it to the final.

today SRG announced the final decision on the Rhine Bay city. According to an SRG press release, it was a close race.

The ESC Live shows will take place at the St. Jakobs Hall on May 13, 15 and 17. If you can’t find a place, the song contest can only be viewed via public viewing at the “Joggeli” football stadium. At least that’s what the people of Basel think. The media center will be located at the St. Jakobs Arena ice rink.

The Border Triangle application, with the motto “Across Borders”, was clearly well received by the SRG. In this way, the people of Basel are sending a signal that is consistent with the ESC: internationalism, openness and tolerance.

Basel is also financially generous. They are prepared to spend 30 to 35 million francs on infrastructure, security, event support, transportation and destination marketing. This money will soon be discussed in parliament.

Even the senior vice president of Basel is from ESC

Resistance in Basel was limited. Here, the ESC was even well received by the SVP. Marcel Dettting described the ESC as an “embarrassing rainbow incident” The SVP president of Basel City campaigns for the song contest. His party does not want a referendum.

On the other hand, the Federal Democratic Union (EDU) wants to collect signatures in Basel. The people of Basel should reject the loan at the ballot box. Of course, the smallest party is not a heavyweight in Basel either. But she mentioned that there are more than 100 people willing to collect signatures for the ESC loan. Many of them live in other cantons but are willing to get involved in Basel. The EDU accuses the ESC of conveying occult and satanic messages, while the EDU itself stands for Christian values.

However, even if the loan is rejected in the referendum, the ESC will take place. The only question is who will pay for what.

ESC is good for tourism and business

Hotels in Basel for next May have long been booked almost completely. It’s not just the fans who booked their rooms early. The Basel Tourismus also booked many rooms. The people of Basel want to make sure that there are enough rooms for the delegations and employees of major events. And not just on the date of the event. You’ll need several weeks ahead of time due to the extensive preparations that need to take place.

These guests alone are expected to provide around 40,000 overnight stays. You can also eat something during your stay and visit one or two Basel attractions. Just like many visitors who come to ESC. This is of course making the Basel industry happy, and strong sales are expected in May next year.

But most people will be watching the spectacle on screens. Basel expects to be able to put its best foot forward to an audience of more than 150 million people. And who knows: maybe some of the prestige and attention will radiate to other parts of Switzerland, too.

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