Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
By Jon Clarke in Bilbao
ENGLISH soccer fans flew to all parts of Spain as well as Portugal, France and France in order for the all Premiership Europa League final to be held this week.
Spurs fans and Manchester United supporters had to come up with creative travel plans to get to the big game that took place in the Basque Country on Wednesday.
With most unable to get flights to Bilbao – or refusing to pay the €600/700 cost one way – they were flying into airports including Valencia, Faro and Malaga and getting connecting flights today and tomorrow.
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It was, after all, €1,400 euros just to fly Tuesday to Thursday return from Manchester.
At least one quarter of those on a Malaga-bound flight to Bilbao that left early Monday morning, were going to the game.
Volotea passengers arriving at the weekend or early in the morning make up half of the Volotea customers.
“I had two flights in the morning,” said Pete Jones (24), a Spurs supporter from Essex. “It was only a vaguely affordable way of getting here.”
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He said many of his fellow fans were flying to Biarritz and even Nice and driving ‘up to five hours’ to get to Bilbao for the game.
Leo Doran said he flew into Malaga Sunday, but that he was forced to fly home via Tenerife.
He explained, “It was really cheap. Just 50 quid and we got a night on Tenerife.”
Then there was the issue of accommodation with hotels – even three star joints – charging well over €1,000 a night from Tuesday to Thursday.
The best recommendation on Booking.com was two star Hotel Goien which cost €2,138 for two nights.
Four star Barcelo Nervión weighed in at €3,665.
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Incredibly, even student accommodation at San Mamés University residence was costing €2,000 for two nights.
Doran, 26, continued: “We had to stay in Santander.” It’s only about an hour on the bus. We’ll return to Bilbao Wednesday.
“I have no idea what we will do after the game to get back home.”
Up to 15,000 Spurs and 10,000 United fans are expected to attend the game without tickets.
Officially, each club received 15,000 euros with another 20,000 euros going to neutral supporters at UEFA and officials.
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The move caused considerable anger among both sets of supporters, with many having to pay touts well over €1,000 a ticket. Often much more.
One reseller, Gert Landon, based in Brussels, managed to acquire six tickets, when the official opening date to buy ‘fans first’ tickets opened on April 11.
The tickets, which cost from just €40, were being sold this week from €600 to €2,000 online.
This match is notable because not only does it guarantee entry into next season’s Champions League but also it features two teams that are in the Premier League bottom quarter.
The Olive Press is covering the game as well as the buildup over the course of the week.
