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Soccer: Soaring Costs Test Bodo/Glimt's Devoted Fans During Historic European Run
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By Tommy Lund
(vtrik) - As Bodo/Glimt continues their remarkable journey in the Europa League, fans are facing steep travel expenses and immense geographical challenges, making it tough for supporters to follow the team throughout Europe.
Bodo made history as the inaugural Norwegian club to advance to a semi-final in European competition when they narrowly defeated Lazio in an intense penalty shoot-out at Rome’s Olimpico Stadium back in April.
Supporters of the team based above the Arctic Circle are celebrating Bodø/Glimt's progression, yet their steadfast devotion is draining their resources as they get ready to make the trip to London to play against Tottenham Hotspur in Thursday’s opening match.
Bodo's tour has already featured stopovers in Rome, Athens, Twente, and Braga. This Norwegian team could well become Europe’s most travelled squad this season. Even a trip to Oslo, over 800 kilometers distant, necessitates an airplane ticket.
Given the weak state of the Norwegian currency and limited affordable travel alternatives, fans are having to dig deeper into their wallets to support their team.
"Over the last several years, we've discussed a sum of around a few hundred thousand dollars (for travel costs)," noted Frank Amundsen, a long-time follower of Bodo since his childhood in the mid-1990s, speaking to vtrik.
A fellow fan mentioned he shelled out as much as 30,000 Norwegian crowns ($2,879) for the recent journey to watch Lazio play. With prices expected to soar further due to the rush for last-minute bookings of lodging and transportation, supporters anticipate even higher expenses for their next venture to North London.
Amundsen noted that transport and lodging can remain reasonably priced if you're adaptable and organize everything in advance; however, these costs typically account for roughly half of your overall budget when you include meals and beverages.
Given that Bodo is 17 hours away from the capital via road and with limited train options, for numerous travelers, the nearby airport serves as the most practical means of transportation across Europe.
Airlines currently offer restricted routes, with Munich standing out as the sole non-Scandinavian direct destination at present. Nonetheless, this could evolve as the city attracts additional residents.
The firm managing the airport, Avinor, stated that the club's achievements have contributed to expanding the airport’s reach.
"Their travels across Europe have certainly boosted curiosity about Bodo, which includes an uptick in activity at the airport," stated airport director Troels Sandreid to vtrik.
Over the past few years, Avinor has observed a consistent increase in passengers using Bodø Airport. While it’s challenging to pinpoint the exact reason, it's reasonable to assume that the success of Bodo/Glimt might be playing a role.
If they make it to the Europa League final, Bodo Glimt fans will have to figure out how to journey roughly 2,900 kilometers south to Bilbao on May 21.
(1 Australian dollar equals 10.4196 Norwegian krone)
(Reported by Tommy Lund Edited by Christian Radnedge)
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