Overview
- An application is before Hamburg’s Bezirksamt Mitte, with approvals still required from police, fire, harbour and transport authorities, according to the district office.
- Police union chief Horst Niens warned the event could attract far more people than the planned 10,000, raising concerns about managing large crowds.
- Hamburg is negotiating terms and signals it will not match Berlin’s prior subsidy of roughly €0.5–1 million, saying any contribution would require prominent staging of the city.
- Plans call for a floating stage in front of the Westfield Center, build-out starting December 22, and a December 30 rehearsal with audience before the live broadcast.
- The Hamburg Left is urging the Senate to end talks, while ZDF says it is only purchasing broadcast rights and names DEF Media as the organiser, leaving total costs and payers unresolved.