Birmingham City Council has been urged to screen the upcoming Europa League final that could see Aston Villa win their first European trophy in over 40 years.
Villa overwhelmed Nottingham Forest and beat them 4-1 on aggregate to secure their place in the final, which will see them play Freiburg in Istanbul.
Ahead of this momentous match for both the club and city, there have been calls for the game to be publicly screened to create an inclusive and accessible celebration for fans.
Councillor's Open Letter
Coun Alex Yip, the outgoing shadow cabinet member for communities, wrote in an open letter: “May I urge the council to begin preparations for the final to be publicly screened in a suitable and accessible location.
“This would represent a historic moment not only for the football club but for Birmingham itself.
“Aston Villa is one of England’s most historic football institutions and one of the founding members of the Football League.
“The club is globally recognised, boasts millions of supporters worldwide and carries the name of Birmingham onto the international stage every week.
“Villa’s famous 1982 European Cup triumph remains one of the proudest moments in the city’s sporting history and another European final would place Birmingham firmly back in the international spotlight.”
Benefits of Public Screening
Coun Yip went on to say that the benefits of Birmingham “proactively supporting and facilitating celebrations” would include the economic impact through increased footfall in the city centre; increased tourism; positive media exposure and “significant civic pride and morale”.
He added that it would “bring together residents from every background in a safe environment” and reinforce Birmingham’s reputation as a city “capable of hosting and managing major public events”.
“A public screening in the city would create an inclusive and family-friendly celebration accessible to supporters who may not be able to travel abroad for the final,” Coun Yip said.
