Football fever has swept across Britain, bringing with it a substantial economic boost.
Football fans have contributed approximately £3.1 billion to the British economy over the past month, with significant spending anticipated for the final match.
Massive Spending on the Final Match
For the upcoming final on Sunday night, where England faces Spain, spending is expected to hit £405 million in pubs and supermarkets.
Over 17 million people are projected to watch the match in pubs, bars, or restaurants, splurging £70.5 million on drinks and £54.3 million on food.
Retailers are poised to gain a £280.1 million boost, predominantly spent on last-minute snacks and drinks for the game, based on research from GlobalData Retail.
Supermarket Sales Soar
Tesco anticipates selling over one million pizzas and 180,000 packs of burgers between Friday and Sunday.
Alongside this, four million packs of beer and cider are expected to fly off the shelves.
Kris Hamer, director of insight at the British Retail Consortium, remarked on the surge, expecting more viewers and increased snack and drink sales for Sunday’s finals.
Boost for Pubs and Bars
Landlords are preparing to serve an additional 10 million pints on match day.
Pubs and bars could witness a 50% sales increase, supported by data from GlobalData.
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, mentioned that pubs will be crowded with fans, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Flight Surge to Berlin
This final marks England’s first major final on foreign soil.
British Airways has added extra flights to Berlin following a 1,000% surge in route searches after England’s semi-final win.
Larger planes are being deployed to cater to the influx of fans travelling to the German capital.
Disruption to Business Operations
The excitement around the final is likely to disrupt regular business activities on the Monday after the game.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) has advised companies to be accommodating to staff, allowing them to work from home if needed.
With the match kicking off at 8 pm on Sunday, normal operations on Monday are expected to be significantly affected.
The Euros have not only showcased thrilling football but also provided a significant economic boost to the UK.
With the final match still to come, more spending is expected, underlining the financial impact of such a major sporting event.