Bilbao believes that the return on the UEFA Europa League final will be ten times higher than investment
Elkarrekin Bilbao and EH Bildu have asked for more detailed data on the environmental impact, the real employment generated and the city model that is projected.
The Bilbao City Council Government Team has presented the provisional impact balance of the2025 UEFA Europa League final, which took place last May and highlights the economic return that multiplies by ten the public investment (four million euros). TheCouncilor for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism and Employment, Kontxi Claver, has explained that the event generated 400 contracts per year, with 75% of the awards made to Basque companies, for the benefit of the local economy.
According to shared data, on 20, 21 and 22 May commercial activity increased by 12% over theprevious week and 25% on the day of the final.
The City Council has pointed out that the hotel industry was "the sectorthat benefited the most "with a 70% increasein operations. In areas such as Amezola it rose to 300% . There were also positive impacts on neighborhoods such as Basurto, Casco Viejo, Indautxu or Bilbao la Vieja, which, according to Claver, shows that "the economic benefit goes beyond the center and also reaches neighborhoods that are usually excluded from such events."
In addition to the economic return, the City Council has highlighted the welcome of the citizens, according to surveys with a level of satisfaction of 92%, and 80% are committed to continuing to organize such events, and 53% of the people who slept in the Basque Country "took advantage to enjoy gastronomy and participate in the cultural offer".
However, the opposition has criticised the lack of information. Elkarrekin Bilbaohas called for the appearance of Councillor Claver to report on the impact of the UEFA Europa League final in 2025. Unfortunately, almost two months after the start of the event, 'there is no more information on this'.
EH Bildu, for his part, has warned that the city has "a limit" and that it is necessary to "reflect on the events" that the city wants to host. He has also criticized the municipal government, which "bases its analysis on complacency and only sells the goodness of such and such events, ignoring Area B and the negative effects on citizens." He has denounced the "absolutely disproportionate" increase in accommodation prices on the days of the event.
ThePeople's Party councillor, Angel Rodrigo Izquierdo, for his part, has expressed his "slight disappointment" at the lack of data provided by the City Council.
The final report on the full impact of the UEFA Europa League final will be released in the autumn.
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