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These cities want to host Eurovision 2014

31 May 2013 at 14:21 CEST

We have taken a brief look at each of the candidates to shed some light on their plans for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest should it be held in their towns.

Copenhagen

Denmark's capital and largest city Copenhagen has previously hosted the Eurovision Song Contest twice; in 1964 and 2001. Back in 2001 the competition went down in history as the largest ever, when 35,000 people crammed into the Parken Stadium with its newly installed retractable roof. This is a record that no other city since has managed to break.

Now the city once again hopes to host the Eurovision Song Contest and for many fans especially Copenhagen seems to be the natural choice. However, with no real alternative to Parken being available, will hosting the competition in such a large arena be an option when you consider the much smaller scale of this year's competition just down the road in Malmö?'

Herning

The Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning is one of the favourites to host the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest. The arena is currently Denmark's largest purpose built indoor facility and has room for up to 15,000 people in concert configuration. Relatively new, it hosted the Danish national final, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix this year where Emmelie de Forest's journey to Eurovision triumph began.

The town of Herning is itself relatively small and it is unlikely that it will have enough accommodation in its own right to house the delegations, fans and other visitors to the town. However, Denmark's second largest city Århus has thrown its full weight behind Herning's bid to host the competition and has offered the town any assistance it may require.

Aalborg

Denmark's fourth largest city and previous host of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, Aalborg, also has plans to organise the Eurovision Song Contest next year. The city has an impressive track record when it comes to hosting big events and most recently hosted the Danish national final in 2012 where Soluna Samay stormed to victory with Should've Known Better.

If its plans are accepted by DR the competition would be hosted at the Gigantium Arena, which is smaller than the Malmö Arena but still one of the largest in Denmark. Whether or not the requirements for hotel rooms as set by the EBU can be met by the city is yet to be seen.

Fredericia

Not many people outside of Denmark have heard of this small town in Jutland, just over the water from the island of Fyn, and located conveniently on a transport artery stretching all the way from Copenhagen to the German border. According to its mayor it also has the second best hotel coverage in Denmark. Now the city wants to host the Eurovision Song Contest at its large exhibition centre, MesseC with room for 8000 people.

Horsens

This town in Jutland is previously known for hosting the Danish national selection, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and now they want to host Europe's favourite TV show. Their challenge to broadcaster DR is, "think outside the box", something they will have to do if they accept the town's plans for the contest. This is because Horsens wants to host the competition in a decommissioned prison, which now functions as a sports arena. Whether or not their plans are taken up by DR is yet to be seen!

Malmö... again?

This is what some people have suggested. Although DR have said the competition will be held in Denmark some advocate the idea of it returning to the Malmö Arena, located just 30km from Copenhagen over the Øresund Bridge. Could it be an option?

All of the above is, of course, pure speculation. Danmarks Radio (DR) has launched an in-depth evaluation of each option, the results of which will require the approval of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) before a host city can be announced.