Fans ignore downturn for showdown in Rome

"This is the pinnacle of football for European clubs. Fans see it as a one-off situation, they have saved to go to this kind of event," Mark Roberts, senior consultant in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, told Reuters.

"They will continue to spend as if nothing was happening in the economic climate."

Holders Manchester United and Barcelona have been given some 20,000 tickets each from the 67,000 available for the sold-out match at the Stadio Olimpico.

Another 10,000 tickets were put on sale for neutral fans in March while the remaining have been allocated to European football federations and commercial partners.

While loyal fans are a safe bet to fill the stadium, crisis-hit corporate clients may have been more reluctant to snap up expensive premium seats.

"Money in businesses is tight," said Paul Blakey, senior lecturer in Sports Sciences at the Northumbria University.

"UEFA may have over-estimated the value of their product. Prices for fans and corporate hospitality will need to be considered in the next two seasons."

Apart from the match itself, Rome is also likely to draw supporters and tourists to its renowned monuments, also featured in the new movie Angels & Demons.

For last year's Champions League final between United and Chelsea in Moscow, visiting supporters spent around £624 each during their time in Russia, according to analysts' estimates.

"Rome is potentially an easier destination to get to and in terms of flight times is quite centrally located," Roberts said, predicting that Rome could cash in as much as Moscow.

Fans staying at home and watching on television will also play a key role in the economic success of the final.

"The broadcasting revenues are the most significant revenue stream," Deloitte's Roberts said.

Manchester United and Barcelona have more than 80 million supporters across Europe, according to German consultancy group Sport+Markt.

In Italy, almost half the population will show an interest in the event while about 35 million Britons watched the all-English final last year.

Final facts and figures

• Tomorrow's final will be the 54th since the competition started in 1955-56 with Barcelona appearing in their fifth final and United appearing for the fourth time. It will be the last final played on a Wednesday. From next season's final in Madrid, the match will be played on a Saturday.

• Manchester United have won all three previous finals in which they have competed, in 1968, 1999 and 2008. Barcelona have won two finals, in 1992 and 2006 and been runners-up twice in 1961 and 1994.

• It is the fifth successive season that England have been represented in the final following Liverpool (winners 2005), Arsenal (runners-up 2006), Liverpool (runners-up 2007) and last season's all-England final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

• Manchester United are attempting to become the first club since the Champions League started in 1992-93 to retain the European Cup and the first since Milan did so in 1989 and 1990. The last club to finish as runners-up the season after winning the trophy were Juventus, who won in 1996 and lost in 1997.

• United are unbeaten in their last 25 Champions League matches, a record for the competition. They last lost to Milan in the semi-finals in 2007.

• Rome will be staging the Champions League final for the fourth time following previous finals in 1977, 1984 and 1996. An omen for United could be that Liverpool won on the two occasions that an English club played the final in Rome in 1977 and 1984.

• London's old Wembley Stadium staged more finals than any other ground, hosting the finals of 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978 and 1992. Paris has also staged five finals but at different stadiums. Wembley will host the final again in 2011.

• Last season, United manager Alex Ferguson became the 16th man to win the European Cup more than once following his first success in 1999.

• If Barcelona win, manager Pep Guardiola, aged 38 years and 129 days, will be the youngest manager for 49 years to lift the trophy and the third youngest of all time. Miguel Munoz was 38 years and 121 days old when he led Real Madrid to their 1960 triumph.