Congratulations to Liverpool for winning the battle to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest, a hard fought contest with some worthy finalists, with Newcastle among the shortlist. While we didn't win this time, we did at least submit a strong case and were a serious contender.
The outcome will definitely not deter us from trying again, in fact it has made us even more ambitious and determined to pursue and host other world-class events, with the Rugby League World Cup extravaganza being a prime example.
When the Rugby League World Cup rolled into town in October, tens of thousands of international rugby supporters followed. Many hotels across the city reached 100% occupancy for the weekend and shops and restaurants served the needs of this bumper international band of supporters and the people who came to enjoy the atmosphere and fun the games created.
The whole city was swept up in the carnival-style atmosphere, with the activity and business benefits delivered extending way beyond the confines of St James’ Park. There was as much fun and activity to be had off the pitch and out of the stadium as there was on it, with a cultural programme taking place on the Helix and Strawberry Place, as well as the huge Fan Village constructed on the iconic Quayside. The rugby provided a wonderful excuse for a major city-wide party and the celebrations delivered a huge economic boost for Newcastle and the wider region.
In recent years, Newcastle has become the adopted and much-loved home of rugby. This year alone we have also hosted Super League’s Magic Weekend for the sixth time in eight years, before the long-awaited Rugby League World Cup. All events hosted to date have broken records for attendance and have delivered huge and measurable boosts to business and the local economy, as well as putting Newcastle on the sporting map.
What has helped cement Newcastle’s reputation as a world class venue and a spectacular city for events of all sizes is that it is one of the few cities in the UK whose football stadium is still in the heart of the city. St James’ Park stands resplendent in Newcastle city centre with all the city has to offer literally on its doorstep. As residents of Newcastle we can sometimes take this for granted but it is a major plus point in Newcastle’s favour when organisers are choosing venues to host large scale events. A worldclass stadium with capacity for over 54,000 people with bars, restaurants, hotels and shops all within a five minute walk makes it a prime contender for a huge number and different types of event. And, when St James’ Park lands these events, the whole city steps up to put on a show and welcomes the event and its visitors with open arms.
Although we have had resounding success to date, we can’t and won’t rest on our laurels. Events, especially large scale international ones, are years in the making and hard fought for. We are already looking ahead to the future and other international events on the horizon. Newcastle is throwing its cap into the ring to be among the hosts of the Euro Football Championships in 2028. The host nation has yet to be decided but if England is successful, Newcastle is in the running to be the stadium in the North, with Sunderland the other contender. St James’ Park and Newcastle fit the criteria perfectly; it is positioned between Manchester and the Scottish borders, has a world-class stadium, is expert in hosting major events; has exceptional national and international transport links, and an awardwinning cultural and retail offer. We will continue to lend our support to this campaign.
NE1 works hand in glove with Newcastle city council to promote the city’s offer and to support bids for events and other cultural activities, a job that is made easier the more events we host and the experience we accumulate.
Another crucial element in Newcastle’s winning formula for event-hosting is the city’s own programme of events. Having layers of activity happening across Newcastle throughout the year provides a fertile ground for major events, and contributes to a vibrant city.
Milestone events like the Great North Run, with all the pomp and ceremony befitting the world’s most popular half marathon, are a major highlight in the city’s what’s on calendar. NE1’s own Summer in the City events programme provides activities throughout the summer so people know there is always something happening in the city and we intend to build on this year on year. The Quayside, the jewel in Newcastle’s crown, offers the ideal location for many of these events and activities and we have worked hard to make more of this important and valuable asset, a focus that will continue in the future. The millionth runner celebrations, part of the Great North Run event, was recently staged on the banks of the Tyne and the Rugby World Cup Fan Village was positioned there. At Christmas, the iconic riverside also provides a stunning backdrop for Seb-Lee Delisle’s Laser Light City at New Year.
With such a compelling offer, we will continue to promote Newcastle as the ideal city for hosting international events, confident that we have what it takes to win.