Employees at Manchester United will not be granted free tickets for the upcoming Europa League final. This decision stands in sharp contrast to Tottenham Hotspur, who are reportedly providing complimentary tickets to their approximately 700 full-time staff members.
Manchester United is set to face Tottenham in the Europa League final on May 21st. The match will take place at Bilbao`s San Mamés Stadium, which has a capacity of 53,000. UEFA has allocated around 15,000 tickets to each club for the final.
While Spurs are offering free tickets to all their full-time employees, United is not following this approach. According to reports, Man Utd plans to conduct a ballot for a limited number of staff tickets, meaning most employees will not have the opportunity to attend the match in Spain.
Instead, United reportedly intends to host a viewing event in Manchester for the majority of its staff. Plus-ones will also be welcome at this event, though only staff members are expected to receive free drinks.
Manchester United emphasizes that its primary focus is on maximizing the availability of tickets for its fanbase, especially given the high demand from around 50,000 season ticket holders compared to the 15,000 ticket allocation for the final.
A spokesperson for the club stated, “Our overwhelming priority is maximising the number of tickets available for our fans.”
United employs roughly 900 people, slightly more than the 700 Spurs staff members who will receive free tickets. This decision marks a notable change in practice compared to previous Champions League finals where Man Utd covered staff travel, accommodation, and meals.
This shift is seen as part of the broader cost-cutting measures implemented since Sir Jim Ratcliffe`s minority takeover was announced in December 2023. Ratcliffe and his Ineos group have initiated significant cost reductions, including nearly 500 redundancies, ending free staff meals, cancelling the staff Christmas party, and stopping access to private chauffeurs and company credit cards.
Even the paid ambassadorial role held by legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly discontinued. Last season, Ineos also required staff and players` families to cover their own transport costs for the FA Cup final.
Despite these cost-saving efforts, the club announced plans in March to build a new £2 billion, 100,000-seat stadium. These off-field financial adjustments coincide with the team`s struggles on the pitch, currently sitting 15th in the Premier League table. The Europa League final now represents a crucial opportunity for manager Ruben Amorim and the team to secure European football for next season by winning the trophy.
