Is Moscow the final straw?

As Chelsea and Manchester United prepare to face off in Moscow, Times Sport work experience girl (and Arsenal fan) Elvira Kemp bemoans the rising cost of top-flight football, and having to turn down the chance to go to the final.

Has the final whistle been blown on following the beautiful game? Horace famously declared “seize the day” but then he wasn’t a Chelsea or Manchester United fan trying to get to Moscow.

Having been offered two tickets to the Champions League final by a Chelsea fan unable to afford the travel cost, my heart skipped a beat and visions of the impressive Luzhniki Stadium raced through my mind, despite my lifelong allegiance to Arsenal.

Why would a Gooner want to travel 1,555 miles to watch two of our fiercest rivals, you may ask. Well, for the love of the game and the once-in-a-lifetime chance of watching footballing heavyweights do battle in exotic surroundings.

But astronomic airline tickets coupled with sky-high hotel costs in the world’s most expensive city soon brought me back to earth with a bump as I realised that a seat in the local pub was the closest I would get to the action.

With return flight packages starting from £900 and the hotels ten miles from the stadium charging £180 a night, maxing out my credit card was not an option for a student in her final year at university, whilst my parents were more concerned with the threat of violence in the Russian capital than putting their hands in their pockets.

With ticket prices at an all time high, there has never been a more financially difficult time to follow top level football. And while Wednesday's final promises to be one of the most exciting matches in the football calendar, the march to Moscow could be the final straw for the regular fan.

Comments

[Elvira]

I don't have an Arsenal season ticket, as I'm studying in Scotland. There is an estimated forty year wait for an Arsenal season ticket.
Sunderland and Newcastle are my nearest premier league grounds and I've been fortunate enough to have splashed out on a couple of derby clashes which were worth every penny. As for Match of the Day, I concur that it is second to none.

Although the UCL final is a once in a lifetime opportunity, it's still out of reach for the majority of the footballing public which downgrades the game.

[Filip]

I love your sentiment on wanting to watch top class football whoever plays it. I always say that I am a football fan first and Chelsea fan second.

Agreed, about the cost in Moscow but then which student could afford it? I went to the final in Glasgow when I still lived at home and it was an unforgettable experience, capped with a Zidane volley. Also tried to get tickets for Manchester final due to AC Milan being my favourite foreign team and the nearby location again.

While at uni, I would have loved to see the other 2 finals involving AC Milan, but I just could not afford it and settled for seeing them on their visit to Manchester last season. This year I am going, due to having a job and still no responsibility beyond paying the rent.

Next 3 finals are in Rome, Madrid and Wembley (hopefully) though. So we will get 3 more easy chances to see the final. How many chances will Moscow football fans get?

[Rob]

And you should know, Elvira. You do, after all, support the most expensive club in the Premiership. How much is your season ticket?

[Football Credit Card]

You need to be rich to be able to support and follow your club. Even sky sports is very expensive. I just stick to my good old 'match of the day'.