For the first time in European Championship history, this year’s tournament will see matches take place across the continent, with 12 nations set to host fixtures.
And while it might be fun to sing in the stands of the Stadio Olimpico, it might not be as friendly on the pocket as taking the train to Wembley. But if your heart’s set on watching the games, it’s worth working out the costs before you get swept up by football fever.
Tickets
Uefa has pledged that over 80% of Euro 2020 ticketholders will be made up of supporters and the general public for the 44 matches. Many tickets were priced as low as €50, although a category-one ticket for the final at Wembley was a more eye-watering €945.
Although the majority of tickets have now been sold, another batch will go on sale in April once the final four teams have been decided in March’s play-offs. Uefa has said a reselling platform will be created to give fans that missed out in the ballot another chance to secure a seat.
Travel
Unless you live within a stone’s throw from one of the stadiums, you’ll need to bear in mind the cost of travel. If you are heading to a game at Wembley Stadium or Hampden Park, travelling by train might be the cheapest option. It might also be worth seeing if your local football club is taking a coach to the matches – the journey may take longer, but it could end up being cheaper than the train and you’re guaranteed a seat!
If you’re travelling further afield, use flight comparison sites before you jump on a plane for Bilbao or Bucharest. You may find that your nearest airport and the airport closest to the stadiums might not be the cheapest to fly to or from, so do some researching. And don’t forget to use your credit card to ensure you’re protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Accommodation
Undoubtedly, hotels in the host cities will be expensive. In fact, it might be worth looking for accommodation further afield with venues like Copenhagen, Dublin, Rome and London notoriously costly, before factoring in a major event hiking up prices further.
Using websites like Airbnb, you may find that people are renting out rooms, and even entire houses, at a lower rate compared to hotels. Alternatively, you could save with a hotel chain membership card. Groups such as InterContinental, Wyndham and Accor often give preferential rates to members.
Watching the Euros could be a costly affair, but with careful planning you could save on last-minute, rash transactions – and maybe have enough left over for a pint at Wembley!
