UEFA now invites a big-name band to perform in its increasingly glitzy pre-match Champions League final ceremony -- with mixed reactions. UEFA's marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said that, in the case of Champions League final, the idea was to appeal to a broader range of people than would normally watch a match. "The Champions League final is not comparable to any league game; there is a diverse audience because it is on a neutral ground, you have a neutral audience, the fans from both clubs in equal numbers, so the atmosphere is different." He was confident that the pre-match Champions League show would eventually enjoy a status similar to the Super Bowl halftime performance. I think it is starting to bring new audiences in, which also expands the audience and the passion for football."

Source: The Star May 16, 2019 11:03 UTC