Super Cup fans arrive in Salzburg as hotels sell out

The first fans for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint Germain and Aston Villa arrived in Salzburg on Tuesday, ORF reported. About 25,000 spectators from Britain and France are expected in total.

Football fans, festival guests and tourists converged in Salzburg’s old town. A festive atmosphere took hold at Residenzplatz, where a fan festival with live music began in the afternoon.

“We came to win the Super Cup,” said John Davis, a fan from Birmingham, England. His fellow supporter James Crawford said it was his first visit to Salzburg. Although the weather was hot, he said he felt welcome and would recommend the city.

Tourist Ashraf Elsawad from Egypt said he discovered the festival after visiting the fortress. “I am delighted by the atmosphere, also for my son. We can take a photo with the trophies. That is very exciting because he also plays football,” he said.

Hotels fully booked

Local hotels reported full occupancy and welcomed the event. “The rush for rooms from today until after the match was enormous,” said Ernst Pühringer, the tourism sector spokesman and a hotelier and restaurateur.

Restaurant operators said the presence of English and French fans was clearly noticeable. Yvonne Rosenstatter of Tourismus Salzburg GmbH said the visitors were expected to stay for two or three nights.

The fans were also spending money, Rosenstatter said. As good hosts, tourism representatives hoped the French and English visitors would return with their families after the Super Cup and enjoy Salzburg’s way of life.

Salzburg police have prepared a large deployment for the expected influx of fans on Wednesday.