International reporting
UK: Football vital to Liverpool's economy
Audio 02:37
Supporters hold up club scarves in the stands at Anfield, Liverpool's home stadium.
© AFP / OLI SCARFF
By: Emeline Vin Follow
3 mins
English club Liverpool face Real Madrid this Saturday in the Champions League final.
The former jewel of the industrial and imperial United Kingdom today owes its worldwide notoriety to its football club, which came second in the Premier League.
Emeline Vin went to the city in the North West of England which has made sport its economic asset.
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Flags, scarves, caps in the colors of the
Reds
cover the walls of Fred's barnum.
This street vendor may be a supporter of Everton, the other club in town...
“
Without Liverpool FC, I wouldn't have a job.
I hope they win from a business perspective only
!
There alone, we only have special Champions League products
: scarves, flags, dated t-shirts.
Only the fans are missing.
A Champions League final is good for any city
!
Full of tourists, full of supporters who come from everywhere… I hope they will come and spend some money.
»
A reputation that goes around the world
Even for away games, fans come to enjoy the atmosphere in the pubs.
In the city, the Anfield club is nicknamed the “
tourist club
”, with strong fanclubs around the world… David and Valery made the trip to Romania, just for their club.
At home, in Arad, they run a supporters' association: “
We drink beer there, we sing hymns and we support Liverpool.
We love the atmosphere of the club, we don't miss a match there.
It comes to us from our fathers, it's a heritage if you will
”.
They bring back in their suitcases half a dozen jerseys in the colors of Liverpool, and a flocked hat with the date of the Champions League final.
The final precisely, Larry, tattoo of the club on the nape of the neck, will attend it in Saint-Denis: “
We have just arrived from Australia, from Melbourne.
It's the first time we've come, we're going to Paris afterwards
!
We've been fans since birth.
Look, I have them under my skin
!
»
The city's main source of income
Football brings millions of visitors to the city of 470,000, as James Wood, head of advertising campaigns for Visit Liverpool, explains.
“
Football is essential for our tourism economy.
Liverpool have a global impact, fans all over the world, we have visitors from all over the world.
For example, Liverpool has a higher proportion of Norwegian tourists than any other city, and that's because of football.
Every game Liverpool play, the city is full of Norwegians, because there is a very strong fan base there.
»
Hotels, restaurants, transport, museums: 6,000 full-time jobs depend on football in the city.
It is as a tourism professional that James Wood will support the
Reds
this Saturday: “
Every time Liverpool play well, and that has been the case this season, it brings money to the city and it strengthens our reputation.
In the future, I think it will bring us even more tourists
”.
The city is now investing in a new stadium for its other club, Everton, to make it a tourist attraction too.
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