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Bilbao Prepares for Europa League Final as Fans Face Soaring Costs

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur supporters encounter travel and lodging expenses exceeding £3,000 while the city enacts extensive security measures for Wednesday's match.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Preview - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Bilbao, Spain - May 20, 2025 Fans gather in Bilbao ahead of the final REUTERS/Pankra Nieto
Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Preview - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Bilbao, Spain - May 20, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur fans and signage are seen in Bilbao ahead of the Europa League final REUTERS/Pankra Nieto
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Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Preview - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Bilbao, Spain - May 20, 2025 General view inside San Mames stadium ahead of the final Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Overview

  • Last-minute travel costs for English football fans have surged, with flights to Bilbao exceeding £1,800 and hotel rooms priced at over £1,200 per night.
  • Bilbao has fortified the San Mamés Stadium with a three-metre fence and deployed over 3,000 police officers to manage the influx of more than 50,000 fans.
  • Fan zones featuring giant screens and 60,000 litres of beer have been set up outside the city centre to accommodate supporters without tickets.
  • Limited hotel capacity in Bilbao has forced many fans to stay in distant regions such as Cantabria, Gipuzkoa, and Álava, over an hour's drive from the city.
  • The airport expects triple its usual flight volume, including 174 private jets, while border controls have been reinforced by the Spain National Police.