Fans ignore financial downturn for Rome showdown

MILAN: The recession will not prevent fans digging into their pockets to enjoy the Champions League final in Rome on Wednesday, experts say.

More than 50,000 paying supporters are expected to travel to the Italian capital this week for one of the world's biggest one-night sporting events.

"This is the pinnacle of football for European clubs. Fans see it as a one-off situation, they have saved to go to this kind of event," Mark Roberts, senior consultant in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, told Reuters.