Lisbon is viewing the Champions League final on Saturday between Real Madrid and Atlético as "a day of Iberian fraternity," according to J.L. Guerrero of AS. It will be an "opportunity to show Hispano-Portuguese pride to the 500 million spectators that will watch the game worldwide." The city is designating various areas as Real and Atlético fan zones, as well as making its Plaza de Comercio the site of a Champions Festival. In the "spirit of the Iberian Peninsula's [failed] candidacy for the 2018 World Cup, the Portuguese Football Federation bought 34,000 train and metro tickets to distribute among the visiting football fans on game days." Lisbon's Municipal Chamber "will reinforce the public transportation" (AS, 5/21). The EFE reported a study published on Wednesday by the Portuguese Marketing Administration (IPAM) said that the average fan visiting Lisbon will spend approximately €1,000 ($1,370) per day over the weekend. That cost will include an average hotel room price of €800 ($1,100), €50 ($68) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, €50 more on tourist activities and €5 ($7) to travel through the city. To all of this, "fans will have to add an additional" €70 ($96) -- at least -- to spend on tickets for the match (EFE, 5/21).
