Eurovision 2021 - Netherlands - NPO/AVROTROS/NOS

I believe for 1997, like the previous couple of wins earlier in the 1990's - the National Lottery ran a scratchcard promotion, which paid a significant contribution to the staging. - as well as instant cash prizes, and offering entry into yet another lottery draw to win pairs of tickets to The Point (now 3arena) for the main final night show itself.
Sir Terry mentioned in one of the introductions during the run of three hostings on the bounce, that there were 500 winners in the audience that night, as via the lottery they 'help to pay for all of this'.

It also begs a question I have. In the (un)likely event of Ireland winning it again - where would they host it from?

There simply would be no point in holding a 'beauty contest' of other cities in the country, Dublin is the only one really capable of hosting the modern day competition (so, sorry Millstreet Co Cork) and The Point is the largest indoor arena big enough - even though the area around it has changed significantly since 1997, so much that where the OB broadcast compound was, is now 'The Point' Luas (tram) stop.

Think you've answered your own question then.

Someone on one of the many previous Eurovision threads pointed the start of the contest’s “modern age” to Oslo 1996, also the first contest I remember watching as the Gina G hype in the UK was huge for seven year old me. Comedic presenters, a virtual scoreboard (admittedly never used again!) and generally a much fresher feel than anything we’ve seen before.

1997 and especially 1998 modernised things further, only for there to be a noticeable step backwards with 1999’s much more traditional-looking and smaller contest in Jerusalem, though even that had two major innovations dropping both the live orchestra and language rules. Then Stockholm put on an incredible show in 2000 and the contest never really looked back after that, even the much lower budget Tallinn and Riga contests feeling like a lifetime away from just a few years earlier.

Malmo 2013 saw one of the most recent innovations when it removed the arena seats completely and had the first audience standing area instead, giving it much more of a gig atmosphere and something every contest has followed since, though audience had often stood from the chairs in previous years too.

That was me! What particularly struck me about the 1997 Contest was how good Carrie Crowley was as hostess. It’s fair to say that all the hostesses of the RTE contests were excellent. The scoring process last night was seamless. The video links worked with absolutely no delays. Compare that with the dogs dinner of the voting that we saw last week from 2015! The analogue production in 1997 clearly meant no digital delays.

As great as Petra Mede is these days she is really just a throwback to the really good and competent presenters of the pre 2000s.

The only issue with these contests nowadays, of course, is that you would already know the winner by the end of the voting, which you would up until 2016. And the lack of a semi-final as well. And, come to think of it, you never see any flags in the crowds until the early-2000s either...

Mans Zelmerlow talk on BBC Sounds

Need your #Eurovision fix?

Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw is on my BBC Cornwall show this Saturday to talk about winning it in 2015, and how it changed his life.

Can't wait until then? Our whole chat is also online right now.

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— Jack Murley (@jack_murley) April 23, 2020

Many reports from fan sites that Rotterdam has given the go ahead for the required 2021 contest funding. Nothing seemingly official released though, one additional concern from a couple of sources casting doubt on NPO/AVROTROS/NOS; ability to host in May 2021, so the calendar might be adjusted.

An announcement should be made before the month is out though.

Yes, Rotterdam additional 6.7 million made available for next year. The final decision will probably be made in mid-May:

"In order to give a definitive answer about this, we must first answer a number of organizational, production and financial issues," the organization tells the NOS.
https://nos.nl/artikel/2331497-rotterdam-wil-songfestival-weer-organiseren-legt-nog-eens-6-7-miljoen-euro-opzij.html

There are also plans that the Dutch healthcare workers will receive free tickets or will be honored extra during the show.

I don’t wish to be overly negative but I wonder if it will be possible to hold the Contest next year. International travel, even within continental Europe, may not be normalised for a long time.

Prelim dates for 2021 in Rotterdam is already being discussed on various fan sites with the grand final suggested for 15May21

Looked at hotels last night and they're either mega expensive or sold out already!!!

Booking hotels with free cancellation also now seems very thin on the ground

Nothing official though

Looking forward to tomorrow nights #EurovisionAgain: hope its Birmingham 1998

I'd not be booking anything in the next 18 months or so you're not sure you can cancel.

In the case of Eurovision and indeed Euro 2020, the Olympics and other postponed events you'd hope they'd be a bit of joined up thinking so those with tickets, hotels and flights for this year are in a position to be able to transfer them to next year if they wish.

Yeah. As regards Eurovision, if you didn’t get a ticket for 2020 don’t bother with 2021 as tickets are likely to roll over. The additional tickets not sold yet for 2020 will likely be allocated for good causes, medical staff etc next year.


And yeah, I’d not be booking anything any time soon. This ain’t gonna disappear quickly. With the disruption that coronavirus will cause for the foreseeable future will national broadcasters run the risk of asking for new songs when it’s possible the Contest could possibly be cancelled? There’s a huge cost in all that organising.