Aston Villa's fan park for the Europa League final against Freiburg has been moved to the Utilita Arena after the original venue, Luna Springs in Digbeth, had its licence suspended following a double stabbing last weekend. Supporters who already bought tickets for the event will still be able to use them at the new venue, and additional tickets will go on sale.
Doors for the Villa final fan park will open at 17:00 BST on Wednesday, with general admission prices starting from £18.75. The switch comes as Villa fans prepare for the club's first European final since 1982, when they beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam to lift the European Cup.
Villa reached this year's final after beating Nottingham Forest 4-1 on aggregate, setting up a night that is expected to draw thousands of supporters to Istanbul. The move to the Utilita Arena gives organisers a larger stage for what has become one of the most anticipated dates in the club's modern history.
The relocation also follows pressure on Birmingham City Council to begin preparations for the final to be publicly screened in a suitable and accessible location. Alex Yip said the city should be proactively supporting and facilitating celebrations, adding that this would represent a historic moment not only for the football club but for Birmingham itself.
Mike Kill said the energy and buzz around the occasion cannot be lost, describing it as such an important moment for West Midlands and Villa fans in particular. He said people want to be able to watch Villa come home with the trophy and argued the final could have a huge economic impact, with millions of pints sold and potentially millions of pounds in extra spend over bars.
Yip said the event should bring together residents from every background in a safe environment, and said Birmingham is capable of hosting and managing major public events. He added that Villa's famous 1982 European Cup triumph remains one of the proudest moments in the city's sporting history and that another European final would place Birmingham firmly back in the international spotlight.
