Uefa Cup Final will Cement Spain's Growing Love Affair with Glasgow

 

The banners are already fluttering in George Square in readiness for what could possibly be a repeat of the Spanish - German UEFA contest played out at Hampden on 15 May 2002.  And increased activity on flyglobespan’s website suggests that fans of RCD Espanyol, CA Osasuna and Sevilla FC believe they are all still in contention.

 

But there’s still everything to play for, as the first legs of the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup approach on Thursday, 26 April.

 

The last remaining German team in the competition – Werder Bremen - will play Espanyol at the Olimpica de Montjuic stadium in Barcelona, while Osasuna and Sevilla will meet in Pamplona.

 

Meanwhile the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the UEFA Cup Final 2007 in Glasgow are finalising preparations to welcome both the finalists and their fans to the city.

 

For the LOC, the road to final began two years ago when UEFA first announced that the city had been successful in securing its second UEFA final in only five years.  The UEFA Champions League Final played at Hampden on 15 May 2002 was memorable not only for Zinedine Zidane’s winning strike, but also for its lively, festival atmosphere and smooth arrangements.

 

This invaluable experience convinced UEFA officials to locate the UEFA Cup Final in the city in 2007, and they have not been disappointed.

 

Indeed, so advanced are preparations that UEFA Project Leader, Didier Andrist, commented,  “The City is very well organised and so committed to delivering another fantastic final.  We have been astounded by the level of detail provided, and delighted by the diligence, dedication and professionalism of everyone that we’ve come into contact with in Glasgow . 

 

“The model of partnership working in Glasgow is excellent.  And it’s very clear that everybody loves their sport.  I am very much looking forward to what will be a truly great sporting spectacle at Hampden on May 16.”              

 

Joe Aitken, Head of Events at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, concurs, “The Local Organising Committee has demonstrated its event organising skills to perfection with this one.  The LOC - of which GCMB is a member - has had regular meetings with UEFA from day one and on each subsequent site visit the feedback from UEFA has been more and more encouraging.    

 

“The first step in the process was for the LOC to give UEFA’s design team an appreciation of the character of the city, so that they would be able to reflect it in the visual identify for the 2007 final.  And as the logo launched in November last year proved, they have got it spot on.

 

“It reflects the city’s Mackintosh heritage, while at the same time capturing the spirit of the occasion.  This logo has been rolled out for use not only by UEFA, but also in GCMB’s own marketing activities including a dedicated website http://www2.seeglasgow.com/uefa/, which has had 90,000 page views since it was established a month ago.”

 

Other local initiatives include a tour of the UEFA Cup to Glasgow venues, finishing at   Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from 30 April to 15 May.  And a Festival of Football, offering amateur players of all ages and abilities the chance to be part of the UEFA Cup Final experience and to shine at the finale at Glasgow Green Football Centre on 15 May.

 

For Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, however, hosting the UEFA Cup is not just about generating excitement among local people.  There are very solid business reasons for their heavy involvement.

 

Councillor Alex Mosson, Chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said, “It is both an honour and a privilege for Scotland, and more particularly Glasgow, to be hosting another great UEFA football final.  But not only that, the UEFA Cup Final 2007 represents another wonderful opportunity for us to showcase Glasgow’s sporting and tourism credentials to a watching world.  It is estimated that the match will be viewed by a world-wide audience of 800 million in 165 countries.”

 

David Findlay, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, added, “The Glasgow City Marketing Bureau is a key partner in the UEFA Cup Final project and its support in so many aspects has been invaluable. The LOC recognises the global interest in a UEFA Cup Final and the influence that a successful event can have on a positive image for Glasgow in terms of tourism. The 2002 Champions League Final made a huge impact on the events, conference and tourism industry of the city. We hope that the UEFA Cup Final can deliver similar benefits and capitalise on the growing interest in Glasgow as a leisure and business destination. “

 

Following the UEFA Champions League final in 2002, Glasgow has enjoyed a surge in the number of people visiting from Germany and Spain.

 

In 2002, 36,000 Germans visited the city, rising to 77,000 in 2005.  Similarly, visits by Spaniards have more than doubled from 12,000 in 2002 to 28,000 in 2005.

 

New air routes such as those introduced by Ryanair from Dusseldorf and Girona (Spain), by Air Berlin from Berlin and by flyglobespan from Malaga and Barcelona since 2002 have clearly been a factor, but there’s a definite sense that Spaniards and Germans have a better appreciation of what the city has to offer thanks to global TV coverage of the UEFA Champions League Final, and reports about the destination on www.uefa.com.

 

In a season, uefa.com attracts 100 million unique visitors, who look at more than one billion pages.

 

- Ends -

 

 

Issued by and further information from:

Nancy McLardie, Head of PR

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

Tel: 0141 566 0830 or mobile 07710 349394