Manchester City are yet to win the Champions League - but a new survey of 2,000 English football fans shows that the Premier League champions are one of the loudest fanbases around.
According to the poll run by Expedia - as part of their "Soundscape of being there" report - 63% of Brits also claim they can easily pick out the iconic Champions League anthem and recognise it in 2.4 seconds. But the travel company also found that 65% of those surveyed don't know the full lyrics to Tony Britten’s song.
And in an even more surprising development, City were voted to be among the loudest supporters alongside Liverpool and Barcelona, while their opponents in next week’s final in Istanbul, Inter Milan, could not even make the top 10.
Respondents also said that atmosphere is an essential part of their matchday experience, with 89% saying good noise makes for a more memorable match with more than two thirds saying supporters can impact the result of a game
Expedia’s report said: “Sound is so important to travelling fans that they prefer the noise of a goal celebration (22%) over someone telling them they love them (19%), the theme tune to their favourite TV show (13%), a beer being poured (9%) or a champagne cork popping (13%).”
Michele Rousseau from Expedia added: “We’re proud Expedia Live is an Official Supplier of the UEFA Champions League and can enable fans from around the world to travel and discover new cities, as nothing beats being there. Travelling to watch a game allows fans to experience new cultures and create special memories with friends and family that will last a lifetime.”
As an official Champions League sponsor, they have teamed up with Patrick Vieira ahead of the Istanbul showdown.
“From my own experience travelling over the years across Europe, the sounds I heard on game day made my experiences truly unforgettable, no matter where I played.” the former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder said. “I loved the roar of the plane taking off for European nights as it signalled the start of the journey, and the buzz of the stadium crowd before kick-off really got the adrenaline pumping.
“Football has so many iconic sounds that create a unique atmosphere, which cannot be replicated anywhere else. When visiting a rival stadium and hearing our fans chanting with such passion was magical, that feeling stays with me. I think the loudest atmosphere I have experienced was at Anfield, the sounds and passion coming from the fans is unbelievable to experience.
“Istanbul is a city filled with so many iconic sounds, it’s bustling, lively and loud in the best way. I remember my visits well, the call to prayer can be heard across the city, the buzz of the bazaars is fantastic. Wherever you are, you’ll hear the street vendors shouting and if you head down to the Bosphorus there will be honks of the steamboats ringing out. If you ever visit Istanbul, you must go and watch a football match there though, as the atmosphere is electric.”
Vieira will be on hand to meet supporters at a special fanzone the day before Pep Guardiola’s team look to win the Champions League for the first time and potentially become the second English club to seal a treble - with the FA Cup final against Manchester United to come first this Saturday.
For fans looking to meet Vieira in person, he will be sharing the sounds that shaped his career and travels at the Expedia Live immersive experience at the UEFA Champions League fan zone in Istanbul on Friday 9th June. To find out more information, visit Expedia Live and for those seeking exclusive tickets to the big event, head to the Expedia Live fan zone to win a pair of tickets.
