Barcelona City Council and Barça agree to keep metro open for the Spanish Super Cup

Barcelona (FCB).- FC Barcelona and the City of Barcelona have reached an agreement which will guarantee public transport to and from the Camp Nou for the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup. The match featuring Barça and Atlético Madrid is scheduled for next Wednesday at 11pm. Normally Barcelona’s underground transportation ends at midnight on weeknights and the City Mayor, Xavier Trias, had requested the Spanish Football federation (RFFE) to reschedule the match to an earlier time. However the RFFE refused and Trias warned that they would not prolong the metro’s operational hours, as each extra hour costs around 30,000 euros. Last year, Barça also played the Spanish Super Cup at 11pm and attendees had significant problems on their return trip from the match because the metro service had already closed. Finally, this year FC Barcelona and the City Council agreed that the sports club will contribute 30,000 euros to subsidise part of the cost of extending the metro’s operational hours so that fans can use the public transport system to watch the match at the Camp Nou. However, FC Barcelona emphasised they have no say in the designation of kick-off times.

The City and FC Barcelona have worked to find a satisfactory solution, which has resulted in the monetary contribution being made by the sports club. Barcelona City Council, through Mayor Xavier Trias, asked the Spanish Football Federation if the match could be held at a more reasonable time, but the request was denied. FC Barcelona has no say in the designation of kick-off times. However, given the inconvenience a 11pm kick-off time can have on the club’s members and fans, FC Barcelona have worked to find a solution to the necessity of having public transport available beyond the established normal hours of operation set by the City of Barcelona.

Mayor Trias thanked FC Barcelona for its sensibility to find a solution to the mobility needs generated by the Spanish Super Cup match and declared that FC Barcelona once again has shown its commitment to the city. Barcelona City Council highlights the importance of the agreement and it reiterates the necessity to continue working with all affected parties to address changes in football schedules.