14 million viewers in 210 countries followed the group stage of the women’s soccer Champions League via various channels. A total of 158,930 visitors romped around in the stadiums at the 47 matches, which results in a manageable average of 3381. In the knockout stages the numbers will go up significantly because the ladies get the stages they deserve.
This also applies to Arsenal legionnaire Laura Wienroither, who will play for the first time today (9 p.m., DAZN) in the quarter-final first leg against VfL Wolfsburg in the sophisticated London Emirates Stadium, the home of the “Gunners”, which can accommodate 60,260 fans. “It will definitely be a special experience, but also a change. We are very happy,” said the 23-year-old from Frankenburg.
Normally, the women of the red and white are in action at Meadow Park, the home of fifth-rate Boreham Wood FC, which opened in 1963. There are only 1700 seats, a maximum of 4500 spectators can be admitted.
Everything is different this week. Because after the Wolfsburg game, the match in the English Women’s Super League between leaders Arsenal and (unloved) city rivals Tottenham – who is the employer of ÖFB team captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck – will also take place on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.
In any case, the relatively moderate entrance fees (starting at twelve pounds) are tempting. “We enjoy this appreciation, women’s football has a special status on the island,” emphasized Wienroither. Not only there.
85,000 at Camp Nou
The Champions League season record of 18,344 visitors at the game Paris Saint-Germain against Real Madrid in the Prinzenpark will not last much longer. All 85,000 tickets for the quarter-final return match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid on March 30th at the magnificent Camp Nou have already been sold. FC Bayern Munich, Juventus Turin, Olympique Lyon and VfL Wolfsburg are also opening the stadiums normally reserved for men for home games in concert with the big players.
The premiums can’t keep up with the arenas yet. In the “premier class” the men collect 39 times the women. 15.64 million euros for a starting place in the group phase are compared to 400,000 euros.
Nevertheless, the development is going in the right direction. The prize money has been quadrupled for this season. UEFA is distributing a total of 24 million euros: 18.5 million goes to the clubs, depending on success, 5.5 million to clubs from the leagues of the Champions League participants, who have to invest the said sum in the promotion of women’s football – no, they are allowed to.
Women’s Champions League, quarter-finals, first leg: evening matches: FC Bayern Munich (WENNinger, Zadrazil) – Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid – FC Barcelona. Today, 6.45 p.m.: Juventus – Olympique Lyon; 9 p.m .: Arsenal FC (Zinsberger, Wienroither) – VfL Wolfsburg. Second leg on 30./31. March
Source: Nachrichten
