UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Dazvillain]

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/29/v-sports-announces-the-reduction-of-its-stake-in-vitoria-sport-clube---futebol--sad/

Reduced our holding to 29% by giving 17% back and no director on their board

[Dazvillain]

With that news, it quickly reduces Johan Lange’s global perspective . I wonder wether he actually will remain around now in new regime

[Border villan]

This is to ensure our place in Europe cannot be removed because of controlling 2 clubs in the same competition, nothing to do with Lange’s position.

[Matt C]

So Chelsea and Abu Dhabi can own stakes all over the place but this is the one the regulators look at?

[algy]

So Chelsea and Abu Dhabi can own stakes all over the place but this is the one the regulators look at?

Assume the problem is that there's 2 clubs in the same competition.  Which isn't a problem for Chelsea/Strasbourg as they both finished in the bottom half last season.

[The Man With A Stick]

So the finals going to be in Athens, AEK Stadium. 31,000 capacity, improvement on the 19,000 one in Prague for the West Ham game.

Yet the stadium they're using in 2025 is a 45k seater.  Not that we'll have to worry about it. 

You'd think any European final, regardless of the clubs, would fill a 60k stadium.  Even if two tinpot clubs got through you'd expect locals might be interested in attending.

[Brazilian Villain]

So the finals going to be in Athens, AEK Stadium. 31,000 capacity, improvement on the 19,000 one in Prague for the West Ham game.

For anyone here thinking of booking a hotel room for the Final dates I'd get on it sooner rather than later. I booked mine 2 weeks ago, €150 per night and cancellable a day in advance of check-in. Just checked availability, that hotel is now booked out and the two other IHG hotels have doubled in price.

[olaftab]

Similar to BV, I have booked a Marriott in central area cancellable up to 27 May at £137 per night.

[Holte L2]

Similar to BV, I have booked a Marriott in central area cancellable up to 27 May at £137 per night.

Snap. I booked the Electra Palace.  £300 for two nights.

[Dave P]

I've booked an apartment in the centre of Athens for £41 with free cancellation.  Sure this will be as good as gold.

[ChicagoLion]

I've booked an apartment in the centre of Athens for £41 with free cancellation.  Sure this will be as good as gold.

It’s called a Tent.

[pauliewalnuts]

If we get to the final against another side with a bit of support, don't be surprised if they cancel all your reservations and quadruple the price closer to the date.

[algy]

I've booked an apartment in the centre of Athens for £41 with free cancellation.  Sure this will be as good as gold.

My dad worked in Athens for a short while back in the mid 70s.  He reckoned you could sleep on someone's roof for 3-4 drachma a night.  Said it was fine as long as it didn't rain, and you were OK sleeping around some pretty sketchy folk.

Dunno if that's still a thing, but if it is then there's always that option.

[Brazilian Villain]

If we get to the final against another side with a bit of support, don't be surprised if they cancel all your reservations and quadruple the price closer to the date.

Yeah, that's a possibility and I think it's allowed under their T&Cs. Something similar happened with the hotels in Liverpool after it was announced as the Eurovision host, but hoping my elite status with IHG protects me to some degree. If they do cancel it (and Villa don't get to the final) I'll be looking for 'compensation' points for a free night elsewhere. Still, nothing to be lost by booking now and see what transpires.

[Risso]

It's only a 30,000 seat stadium and Athens is a popular tourism destination so they should be able to cope with the visitors I'd guess.