Bilbao Braces for Influx of 80,000 Fans Ahead of Europa League Final

How the Basque City Is Managing the Surge of Manchester United and Spurs Supporters

As the 2025 Europa League Final draws near, the northern Spanish city of Bilbao is preparing for a massive surge in tourism, with up to 80,000 fans expected to arrive. With Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur clashing for continental glory, the city is facing a serious logistical test—one that UEFA is keen to handle better than previous finals.

A City of 345,000 Welcomes 80,000 Football Fans

Bilbao, with a population of 345,000, is the 10th largest city in Spain and the largest in the Basque Country, a region also home to the popular seaside destination San Sebastian. While it has experience hosting major events, accommodating a crowd nearly a quarter of its population presents a unique challenge.

San Mames Stadium: Capacity and Event History

The San Mames Stadium, home to La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, will host Wednesday’s final. Opened in 2013, the stadium’s official capacity is just over 53,000, but for this final, it has been reduced to 49,600 for safety and logistical reasons.

Past Events Hosted at San Mames:

2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final
2018 European Rugby Challenge Cup Final
2018 European Rugby Champions Cup Final

It was also slated to host four Euro 2020 matches, which were relocated due to pandemic-related restrictions.

Travel Mayhem: Reaching Bilbao Is No Easy Feat

Despite its popularity, Bilbao isn’t the most accessible city for international visitors.

Direct Flights from the UK:

Only three UK cities offer direct flights to Bilbao:
London, Manchester, and Bristol

With the final approaching, Bilbao is expected to experience a record 282 flight arrivals in one day, primarily driven by demand from the UK. That marks a 94% spike in UK-to-Bilbao travel compared to the previous week.

Soaring Prices and Creative Routes

As demand spiked, so did flight prices. Tickets from the UK reportedly climbed to £1,400, with airlines adding extra flights to absorb the rush.

However, high costs and limited options pushed fans to seek creative alternatives:

Alternative Travel Methods:

Indirect flights to nearby Spanish or French cities
Ferry, car, or train routes via France
33-hour ferry journey from Portsmouth to Bilbao
One dedicated Manchester United fan reportedly took a 2,500-mile journey through Dublin, Paris, and Rome before arriving in Bilbao

Transport Bottlenecks on Arrival

Bilbao has one main airport, situated about 12 km from the city centre. While public buses and taxis are typically the preferred method of entry, this week’s surge in demand has overwhelmed the system.

Local newspaper El Correo reported that:

Uber fares rose to over €100, compared to the usual €30
Taxis and public transit are expected to operate at full capacity throughout the week

Learning From Past UEFA Mistakes

UEFA has faced criticism in previous years for failing to handle major events effectively:

2022 Champions League Final (Paris): Disorganized entry, safety concerns, and fan clashes
2023 Champions League Final (Istanbul): Transport chaos and infrastructure issues

Learning from these experiences, UEFA has promised a more coordinated approach for the Bilbao final, working closely with local authorities to manage security, transportation, and crowd control.

Conclusion: Bilbao’s Football Test of the Year

The city of Bilbao stands on the brink of one of the largest sporting challenges in its history. Balancing passion, security, and logistics, the host city’s performance off the pitch will be just as crucial as the action on it.

Whether it succeeds may well influence the location choices for future finals—and UEFA’s credibility in organizing major events.

Bilbao Prepares for 80,000 Fans Ahead of Europa Final