Football legend Gary Lineker, former England and Chelsea player Graeme Le Saux, women’s England coach Hope Powell and London Mayoral Advisor Kulveer Ranger, joined forces at City Hall ahead of tickets for the UEFA Champions League men’s final going on sale next week.
Guests were the first to hear the news that London will play host to a free eight-day UEFA Champions Festival in Hyde Park in the run up to both the women’s and men’s finals at the end of May.
With just over 90 days to go until the build up to the final and the beginning of the UEFA Champions Festival, the design of UEFA ticket was unveiled as it was unfurled by abseil down the façade of City Hall.
The free Hyde Park festival, created by UEFA with the support of its key sponsors, including brands such as Sony, Playstation and Ford, and run in association with the Mayor of London, will offer something for all the family. The football-related festival will run from the 21st May, through to the men’s final at Wembley on the 28th May. The festival site will consist of live football areas, five aside tournaments and master classes, alongside a wide range of entertainment and bars, plus a dedicated UEFA travelling museum which will give fans an opportunity to get close to the UEFA Champions Trophy; all in all making Hyde Park the ultimate football fan’s destination.
Graeme Le Saux, the official Festival Ambassador announced at the press conference that “Visitors and Londoners will be able to visit the festival site which will be packed full of exciting events, inspirational football activity and master classes.”
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “We are home to footballing giants and this is the contest of Europe’s best. Londoners are incredibly passionate about football, not least because our capital contains some of the best clubs in Europe. So with our enviable pedigree in running top notch sporting occasions, and our passion for the beautiful game, there can be no better city to host the UEFA Champions League finals; all eyes will be on Craven Cottage and Wembley and rightly so.
“Add in London’s cultural mix, and whoever reaches either final, they’ll be playing to a packed stadium in front of a home crowd; how many other European capitals can to make such a promise!
“So as the excitement builds and you can’t wait until kick off head instead for Hyde Park and soak up the atmosphere at the wonderful, free, UEFA Champions Festival that I am delighted London is hosting.”
In addition to visiting the free Champions festival in Hyde Park, Londoners and visitors will also have the opportunity to watch the Women’s Champions League Final on Thursday 26 May, hosted by one of London’s five premier league football clubs, Fulham Football Club, at the Craven Cottage Stadium. Tickets which are already on sale are £5 for adults and as cheap as £3 for children. (See notes below)
Iain Edmondson, Head of Events for London at Visit London (the official visitor organisation for London) added: “The range of activities taking place across the end of May demonstrates the passion of London and Londoners for the beautiful game. The celebrations will combine iconic landmarks like Hyde Park and Wembley with community activity – connecting people to football and connecting communities across the world. With tickets to the Women’s final selling at such a reasonable price it’s a great way to see a world-class event in one of London’s great football grounds“
