Stand Up For Southport Blog by Andrew Brown
The Eurovision Song Contest has been a breathtaking event for the Liverpool City Region.
The obvious short term effects are economic, with NatWest estimating the event will have generated up to £40 million in tourist revenue. Of that, about £28 million is expected to have come from overseas visitors, although those figures may be very conservative.
An additional 500,000 visitors came to the Liverpool City Region to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest, early footfall figures suggest.
Although the economic impact and full evaluation will not be known for a few weeks, early footfall data and figures from Merseyside Police suggest that, over the two weeks of the festival, an additional 500,000 visitors came to Liverpool – compared to the 100,000 forecast.
That will have had a substantial impact on our region’s hotels, restaurants, bars and other local businesses.
Visitors said that the region was “full of love, compassion and joy”.
The longer term impact is far greater and more important.
With 150 million viewers tuning in worldwide, the Liverpool City Region has been front and centre on a truly global stage.
And what a party the region has thrown.
Our area has been alive with people from around the world enjoying the sights.
It has been great to see eye-catching cultural events such as the floating earth in the Albert Dock in Liverpool; the large Nightingales dotted around the city; and Eurovision events taking place across the region for people to enjoy.
A huge and positive impression has been made on everyone visiting and watching. Let’s hope they’ll be coming to visit soon!
I was fortunate to be able to enjoy one of the Eurovision events at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, the rehearsal for the second Semi Final.
The excitement of people there was huge. It was a flawlessly staged event. No other city could have staged Eurovision as well as Liverpool did.
It has given the whole region a bounce.
During the day before the Eurovision grand final, I was in Southport town centre as a judge at the Southport Calling event.
The free, fun celebration of Eurovision was organised by Southport BID and involved a whole day of local talent with some superb singers, dancers, choirs and bands featuring people of all ages.
I really enjoyed seeing Holy Trinity Primary School in Southport working with Southport BID to record iconic ABBA 1974 Eurovision-winning song Waterloo, in seven different languages, all spoken by children at the school.
Eurovision was a chance to celebrate Europe’s diversity, friendship and togetherness.
It was brilliant to see other Eurovision themed events happening around Southport, as local businesses and organisations pitched in to get involved.
Southport BID organised a Eurovision Family Trail, with 12 venues taking part.
Southport Market staged a Eurovision Bloopers show, while Southport Coaster held a Marie La Rae Eurovision Special and The Bold Hotel welcomed people to an Abba Disco Bingo Eurovision Special.
The Atkinson invited people to a Eurovision Craft Workshop, an 80s Mania Multi-Tribute Concert and a Ukrainian Photography Inspiring UK Words installation.
A Eurovision themed event took place at Southport Pleasureland, while Eurovision quizzes were staged at The Windmill pub and the Southport Coaster pub.
Eurovision has given a huge boost to the Liverpool City Region, putting smiles on people’s faces and a big boost to our local economy.
Hopefully it’s left a lasting impression on the millions of people who visited or enjoyed watching.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
