South Wales Police described the UEFA Champions League final between Juventus and Real Madrid as the "biggest single sporting security operation in the U.K." following the terror attack on Manchester on May 22, according to ESPN.com. The game, which takes place in Cardiff on Saturday, is "expected to attract 170,000 supporters on the day of the game and 200,000 across the week," but police said that "no changes have been made to their plans with searches of drains and underground access points already being carried out in preparation." South Wales Police Superintendent Steve Furnham said that the security operation was "unprecedented," with 2,000 officers reported to be on duty in Cardiff "on the day," including armed officers. South Wales Police will be the "first force to use facial recognition software, which will be linked to CCTV cameras around the city to monitor people who may already feature on hooligan or terrorist watch lists" (ESPN.com, 6/1).
'MAJOR COUP': The BBC reported organizers were hoping for 20,000 spectators at the women's UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff -- calling the figure a "major coup." Olympique Lyonnaise played Paris St. Germain at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday. The FA of Wales said that "about 18,000 tickets had already been sold by Wednesday." Alan Hamer of the FAW said that the women's match "was set to beat previous attendance figures in England, Italy and Germany" (BBC, 6/1).
CARDIFF TOURISM: In London, John Murray Brown reported with a shortage of hotel beds available in Cardiff this weekend, the "biggest concern for city officials is that supporters might simply take the train back to London after the match without spending the night." That "uncertainty raises the question" of whether Cardiff Council's £45M ($58M) estimate of the economic gain from hosting the event will materialize. When Lisbon hosted the match in '14, it netted an estimated €45M. Of this, 54% was spent on overnight stays, 22% in the city's restaurants and bars and 7% on other tourist activities. The strategy of "relying on blockbuster events has been central to Cardiff's tourism plan" since '99, when the city's newly-built Millennium Stadium hosted the Rugby World Cup (FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/1). Brown also reported preparations are "well advanced." London's Paddington Station, "from where many fans will catch trains to Cardiff, is planning billboard advertisements displaying the city's attractions." In Cardiff, buildings are "festooned with banners" and bars and restaurants "can anticipate lively business." Cardiff Council Leader Huw Thomas said, "Hosting the Champions League shows that we can welcome the world's biggest events to our city. Visitors will see the development that is currently taking place" (FT, 6/1).
'BIGGEST FREE PARTY': The BBC reported some "road closures and extra security measures began on Thursday," ahead of the women's final. Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones opened the festival at Cardiff Bay at 11am "after the arrival of the trophies." Jones said that "people would have laughed 15 years ago" if someone had said that Cardiff and Wales would have the ability to host the Champions League final. The FAW called what will follow the "biggest free party the city has ever seen" (BBC, 6/1).
FLOATING MATCHES: The BBC also reported former Juventus and Real Madrid players are "among the ex-players who will take part in a friendly match in Cardiff ahead of the Champions League final." Teams will face off on Cardiff Bay's floating pitch on Friday ahead of Saturday's "showpiece" match. Former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder Luís Figo, ex-Juventus player David Trezeguet and Brazil defender Cafu are "among those in the squads." Former Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueño and Dutchman Ruud Gullit are the managers (BBC, 5/31). The BBC reported homeless people "will play football on the same pitch as some of the world's greatest ever players on Thursday." Their match on Cardiff Bay's floating pitch will be one of the events ahead of Saturday's final. Twenty players will take part, "before 750 from around Wales are whittled down to 16 for the Homeless World Cup in Oslo later this year" (BBC, 6/1).
