Europa League Final Expected To Net Dublin $16 Million

DUBLIN, IRELAND - NOVEMBER 20: The UEFA Europa League Trophy and official Molten match ball are shot ... [+] at the Aviva Stadium on November 20, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. The Aviva Stadium will host the UEFA Europa League Final on May 22, 2024. (Photo by Karl Bridgeman - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Dublin is preparing to host the final of European soccer’s second-most prestigious continental tournament, as the UEFA Europa League final comes to the Irish capital.

It is expected to be a boost for the city both in a sporting profile and commercial sense as fans from Germany, Italy, Ireland, and some from across the Irish Sea in Liverpool, arrive for Wednesday’s game at the Dublin Arena on Lansdowne Road.

German Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to complete an unbeaten season in all competitions by lifting the trophy, before they face FC Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday.

But the Italian Serie A side Atalanta, which knocked Liverpool out of the tournament at the quarterfinals stage, under wily head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be looking to spoil the party.

Liverpool was widely expected to reach this final, and many of its fans had pre-booked accommodation in the city in hope and expectation.

But Jürgen Klopp’s final season in charge of Liverpool didn’t quite go as hoped towards the end of the campaign.

The team fell away in the Premier League title race, leaving Arsenal and Manchester City to battle it out. They were knocked out in the English FA Cup quarterfinals by Manchester United and exited at the same stage versus Atalanta in Europe.

Liverpool’s potential presence will still affect what this final looks like, though plans for a live broadcast of the game in the city for the large contingent of Ireland-based Liverpool fans, and many of those making the relatively short trip across the Irish Sea from England, have been shelved.

The prospect of a huge Liverpool presence in the city meant that Croke Park, a stadium further north in Dublin which usually hosts Gaelic games, was to show a live broadcast of the game, but that will no longer be the case.

A fan zone has been set up at Dublin Castle for supporters arriving prior the game on Tuesday and Wednesday, and though Liverpool will not be present, the hosting of the final will still have a big impact.

It is expected that it will bring around $16 million into the city across the next few days, mostly from fan spending.

“There are also hidden benefits to hosting the event, including increasing the profile of the city for such a large sporting event,” said Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town, which looks to promote business and hospitality in the city.

“Demonstrating Dublin’s ability to manage such a large event will increase our potential to attract other high-profile sporting and non-sporting events in the future.”

Hotels were met with a number of cancellations once Liverpool was knocked out of the tournament, but were expected to reach capacity again once the two finalists were known.

No doubt some Liverpool fans will still attend as admirers of their former player—now Leverkusen manager—Xabi Alonso.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - MAY 21: Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Bayer Leverkusen, gives the team instructions ... [+] during a training session ahead of their UEFA Europa League 2023/24 final match against Atalanta BC at Dublin Arena on May 21, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

In many ways, the matchup between the sides from Germany and Italy is more manageable and more suitable for Dublin.

Though the city would have been confident it could have dealt with a busier event in Liverpool’s presence amid the extra hype around what could also have been Klopp’s final game, this should be a much more comfortable affair.

“This is a very exciting week for Dublin as we welcome football fans from all over the world to Ireland for one of the world’s biggest football matches,” said the managing director of Dublin Airport, Gary McLean.

“Hosting big matches like this helps put Ireland on the map and the Dublin Airport team is proud to be playing a key role in facilitating the arrival and departure of up to 30,000 fans.”

Displaying a match ticket will give fans free public transport to the game on matchday via buses or trains, although it is recommended that fans walk from the city center to the stadium where possible.

Ireland will also be hosting the 2028 European Championships alongside the UK, and this final is seen as a precursor to another huge soccer event on these shores four years from now.

"As Ireland looks forward to co-hosting EURO 2028 with the UK, it is wonderful to see our capital city showcased this year, with our hosting of the UEFA Europa League final," said Minister of State for sport, Thomas Byrne.

“In order for Ireland to both attract and ensure the success of major international sporting events, significant work and preparation over many years is undertaken.

"I am glad to note the support and role of the Government of Ireland, Dublin City Council, state agencies and authorities, in making Dublin’s hosting of the UEFA Europa League Final a reality.

"I hope all football fans, both at home and abroad, enjoy this exciting final.”