Austria 2015: Twelve venues in the running to host!

The Austrian broadcaster, ORF, has announced that twelve venues are in the running to host next years contest. Vienna have six venues in the running - so they clearly want to host. We have a horse racetrack, an airport and an old cemetery park. So, where is the 60th Eurovision Song Contest going to be held?

Let's take a look:

• Graz. Stadthalle Graz has a capacity of 11,000 and it opened in 2002. Meanwhile, it was also one of the venues that hosted the 2010 Men’s Handball Championships.
• Graz. Schwarzl Freizeit Zentrum has a capacity of around 5,000 and it has hosted the Tennis Davis Cup matches. Other cultural events have also been held here during the past. 
• Innsbruck. Olympiahalle was actually built in 1963 and has a capacity of 10,000 spectators. If Vienna don't host the contest, this is where Eurovision is likely to be held. It played host to both figure skating and ice hockey events in the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics.
• Klagenfurt. Wörthersee Stadion is a football stadium with a capacity of approx. 32,000 spectators. It was built in 2006 and is actually the largest venue in the running. Will OFR choose to hold Eurovision in Klagenfurt? 
• Oberwart. Messezentum is a small stadium, located in the small village of Oberwart. It's very unlikely that Oberwart will be chosen but maybe it will happen. 
• Wels. Messehalle has a very low capacity and the Austrian broadcaster are unlikely to select it. 
• Vienna. Wiener Stadthalle is defiantly the front runner. It has a total capacity of 16,000 people and many famous artists have played here - including Celine Dion, Sting, Maroon 5, Whitney Houston, Muse, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Laura Pausini and Robbie Williams. 
• Vienna. Schönbrunn Palace seems fairly unlikely to be chosen as the venue would have to be built outside at the foot of the Imperial Palace.
• Vienna. Heldenplatz is an open square so a temporary venue would have to be built. It would be located infront of the Hofburg Palace - which was where Eurovision 1967 was held. However, it is also known for Adolf Hitler's ceremonial announcement of the Austrian Anschluss to Nazi Germany. Maybe not the best option?  
• Vienna. Trabrennbahn Krieau was built in 1878 and is a horse racing track. Therefore, the construction of an outside venue would be required. The Austrian broadcaster probably won't pick it. 
• Vienna. Marx hall is a former market and a lot of work would have to be done to convert it into a suitable arena for Eurovision. It's also an old cemetery park...
• Vienna. Vienna International Airport. A temporary venue would probably have to be used. It would sure be interesting if an airport played host to Eurovision! 

Salzburg, Linz and Vorarlberg have therefore all ruled out hosting Eurovision 2015. Realistically, it's going to be Vienna. Or maybe Innsbruck? But time will tell....