Club issues statement on EL Final

[Zenith]

Arsenal.com

Club disappointed for travelling fans

Statement from Arsenal Football Club:

“Everyone at Arsenal is delighted to have reached the Uefa Europa League final and we are all very much looking forward to the match against Chelsea on Wednesday, May 29.

"However, we are bitterly disappointed by the fact that due to transport limitations Uefa can only make a maximum of 6,000 tickets available to Arsenal for a stadium with a capacity of well over 60,000. Time will tell if it is even possible for 6,000 Arsenal fans to attend the match, given how extreme the travel challenges are.

"We have 45,000 season-ticket holders and for so many fans to miss out due to Uefa selecting a final venue with such limited transport provision is quite simply not right. The reality is that whoever reached the final would not be able to meet demand from their supporters.

"We have received many complaints from our fans about this and we fully share their concerns.

"On behalf of our fans, we would like to understand the criteria by which venues are selected for finals, and also how supporter requirements are taken into account as part of this.

"Moving forward we would urge Uefa to ensure that supporter logistics and requirements are a key part of any future decisions for final venues as what has happened this season is unacceptable, and cannot be repeated. We would be happy to join any future discussions to avoid this situation happening again."

[StLGooner]

UEFA don't care if anyone is at the game as long as they got their money already.

[Zenith]

According to UEFA, Baku's airport can not cope with a sudden influx of 68,000 travelers, hence only a maximum of 13,000 tickets are allocated for a stadium that can hold 68,000 attendees.

UEFA are neglecting the basics of logistics, denying tens of thousands of willing Arsenal/Chelsea attendees in the process, whilst actively supporting xenophobia.

All this while pedaling the #EqualGame hashtag/slogan.

[UFGN]

So obviously the club will be arranging charter flights to help out?

No?

Well shut up then

[DiamondGooner]

Well I had no intention of going so boycott the fkin place and let the EL wear their shame.

............. however saying that, its not like we hit Euro finals every year, don't want to spoil the occasion for our lads, they don't deserve that.

[Highbury Hillbilly]

The final will look like a sparsely attended Serie B match because I doubt the Azeri locals are getting discounted tickets; they're probably paying scalp prices to get the ones set aside for 'corporate partners' who have no interest in actually attending.

Set the venue to almost anywhere else in a proper footballing country and it'd be a packed house.

[StLGooner]

I know a city in the middle of the good ole USA that could have hosted it................................

[LMAO]

I know a city in the middle of the good ole USA that could have hosted it................................

Agree. Chicago would be a great place, especially this time of year.

[StLGooner]

I know a city in the middle of the good ole USA that could have hosted it................................

Agree. Chicago would be a great place, especially this time of year.

Might have to give out bullet proof vest first............................

Although St. Louis ain't much better.

[Royal Gooner]

We can't do much about it besides not vote for Azerbaijan in Eurovision! That'll teach them!

[starmandb]

I know a city in the middle of the good ole USA that could have hosted it................................

Agree. Chicago would be a great place, especially this time of year.

FedEx field Washington any good to you?
We are playing Real Madrid there in a friendly on 23rd July
Bout the same as us going to Liverpool

[DiamondGooner]

We can't do much about it besides not vote for Azerbaijan in Eurovision! That'll teach them!

................. nobody was going to vote for them anyway.

[theHotHead]

I don't understand how all of a sudden Baku can't cope with a large influx of foreigners, it seems to do just fine when they host the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

[LMAO]

I know a city in the middle of the good ole USA that could have hosted it................................

Agree. Chicago would be a great place, especially this time of year.

FedEx field Washington any good to you?
We are playing Real Madrid there in a friendly on 23rd July
Bout the same as us going to Liverpool

FedExField is a f***ing terrible time. I grew up near DC and my dad is a big Redskins fan, so he dragged me along with him a few times per season.

The stadium isn't even in DC proper; it's in the middle of nowhere in Landover, Maryland. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but the nearest DC metro station is about a mile walk. No public buses go there. Traffic is an absolute nightmare, and if you're driving, parking is ridiculous and overpriced—even for American standards. Uber goes there now for special designated pickup and drop-off, but I don't know how that is since I haven't been there in years, although from what I hear, it's not the best.

The stadium experience sucks, which is tragic for it only being almost 22 years old. The stadium is a soulless chunk of concrete and has no character, the food is stale and way overpriced, the field quality is usually terrible, and some of the seating sucks.

I know they're playing at FedExField instead of at Nats Park (baseball stadium 1.5 miles from the National Mall) because of money, but honestly, the friendly should be at Nats Park since it's a much better experience for fans.

[starmandb]

As a London taxi driver uber is like garlic & a cross to me
I understand the logistical problem of getting to places on the outskirts
Is it better in New York though?
I went to see oasis at meadowlands when I was there in 98 & it was so well organised with buses from grand central
I am in Rome this week and have the opposite problem
We are close to the parliament building and all major tourist sites but have overthought it trying to follow maps & got lost looking for things that are literally 5 mins away
It's a fantastic fussy city
I last was here in 75 with my uncle
My aunt married an Italian
It was a lot easier with him guiding the way
We got on a bus yesterday for a trip to the beach counted 7 stops as told and ended back where we started
Eating drinking and strolling became the order of the day