MONACO (AP) — The men’s Champions League final is three hours ahead of the 6pm kickoff in Central Europe, UEFA said Thursday.
It’s good for families and children to attend and monitor TV, use public transport after the game, and fans party after the game in Host City, European soccer organizations said.
The previous start will be used in the next final on Saturday, May 30th at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The finals have been held on Saturdays since 2010.
A 9pm kickoff in recent years means a game where you have spent extra time, and penalty shootouts will barely end by midnight local time.
“The new kickoff times also coincide with the more accessible broadcast window, with a particular focus on reaching even wider globally to the final TV and digital audience and attracting younger audiences,” UEFA said in a statement.
The decision was achieved after consultations with Football Supporters Europe Group, UEFA’s official liaison on fan issues.
“Previous kickoffs make day trips more feasible, less stressful about travel, allowing fans to enjoy the opportunity without worrying about late-night logistics,” said Ronan Evain, executive director of FSE.
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