The official Eurovision Song Contest pop-up store, the only one of its kind, will be located at Liverpool ONE from May 1 to May 14, as the city hosts the international competition on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine.
The 1,400 sq store is located on Manesty’s Lane and features a full range of Eurovision merchandise, including mugs, caps, hoodies, t-shirts, and limited edition replicas of the Eurovision Song Contest trophy. The design of the store was inspired by the theme ‘You’ll never sing alone’. Fans will also be able to buy a variety of novelty items to help them celebrate at home in Eurovision-style.
The M&S Bank Arena Liverpool will host the Eurovision final on May 13 and the semi-finals on May 9 and 11. According to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, these events will immediately boost the local economy by £25 million and increase tourism revenue by 5% annually, which will result in an additional £250 million in spending by 2026.
Liverpool ONE has launched a comprehensive schedule of music, art, and community-led events to help visitors to the city immerse themselves in the competition, anticipating a 25% increase in foot traffic during Eurovision.
Highlights include the installation of ‘Instagrammable’ floral displays throughout Liverpool ONE that were inspired by the colours of the Ukrainian flag, the return of Liverpool ONE’s Tickle the Ivories pianos for a three-week period, and the reopening of Liverpool ONE’s tourist information centre as the main hub for everything Eurovision.
Additionally, during the week of Eurovision, Chavasse Park, which is located in the centre of Liverpool ONE, will host a full week of free musical, theatrical, and dance performances. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK stars will be a part of EuroCamp Presents’ first three days of arts, cabaret, and music performances in collaboration with Culture Liverpool. Staged performances featuring upcoming local talent will be presented over the course of the final four days in collaboration with community-led organisations like the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and others.
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:
“We strive to place community and culture at the heart of everything we do, so it was vital that our Eurovision schedule had these things in abundance. We are also working on the legacy post-Eurovision and how such a major event can influence the transformation of spaces and wellbeing opportunities across Liverpool ONE.”
The Eurovision store is the latest in a series of pop-ups in Liverpool ONE, including the overwhelmingly successful, two-day activation of online contemporary clothing and footwear brand, ARNE, on Peter’s Lane in March. They followed MerseyMade’s double residence, first on Peter’s Lane and then Manesty’s Lane, with the locally-run store featuring the work of artists and artisans from across the Liverpool City Region.
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