Arsenal have already banked more than £122.6 million from their Champions League run, but the trip to Budapest is a different story for supporters. Hotel rooms for the final night are being listed at prices that bear little relation to the next day, and resale tickets are starting from £5,177. The club gets the windfall. The fans get the bill.

Why Budapest is so expensive for Arsenal fans

Akhil Vyas of the Arsenal Supporters' Trust summed it up bluntly: "You're talking a lot of money." He also said of the hotel prices, "It's cheeky. I get it, it's business, (but) how great is it for Budapest to have a Champions League final there, with all the tourism? It might put people off."

The numbers back him up. A twin or double room at the Expo Tower Hotel is listed at €1,458 (£1,259) for May 30, then €73 (£63) on May 31. At Bohem Art Hotel, the room rate is €1,618 (£1,396) for the final night and €113 (£98) the following day. Booking.com warns that 99% of places to stay are unavailable for May 30 on its site.

Resale tickets are just as punishing. On ticombo, listings are being advertised from £5,177.

What Arsenal’s run has already paid the club

The contrast with Arsenal's side of the ledger is stark. The club have already accumulated over 142 million euros, or £122.6 million, in Champions League prize money. That total includes 40.6 million euros, or £35 million, in performance fees from the group stage and progression to the last 16.

They also received 18.5 million euros, about £16 million, for reaching the final, with another 10.5 million euros, or £9 million, available if they win it. The financial reward for the club is obvious. For many fans, getting to Budapest is the harder part.

There is still one moving piece. The other semi-final is Bayern München versus Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, with Paris Saint-Germain holding a 5-4 first-leg advantage. Vyas predicted prices may fall slightly after rooms are cancelled by supporters of whichever team loses that tie. He added, "There's no regulation or anything like that, so people can ultimately do what they want."

That may bring some relief, but it does not change the picture right now. The final is still a brutally expensive trip, and Arsenal's place in it has already cost supporters far more than the club itself will notice.

FAQ

Why are Arsenal fans facing such high costs to go to the Champions League final in Budapest?

Hotel rooms, flights and resale tickets have all surged around the final. One Budapest hotel had a twin or double room at €1,458 on May 30, compared with €73 the next day, while another was listed at €1,618 for the final night and €113 the following day.

How much prize money have Arsenal earned from reaching the Champions League final?

Arsenal have already accumulated over 142 million euros, which is £122.6 million, in Champions League prize money. They also earned 40.6 million euros in performance fees from the group stage and progression to the last 16, and received 18.5 million euros for reaching the final.

Will Budapest hotel prices fall after Arsenal’s final opponent is decided?

They may ease slightly if supporters of the other semi-final loser cancel rooms, but that is only a forecast from Akhil Vyas. Booking.com still warned that 99% of places to stay were unavailable for May 30.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 9 outlets. How we work →