Aston Villa will hold a parade in Birmingham on Thursday to celebrate their Europa League final win. The city council confirmed the parade following Villa’s 3-0 victory over German team Freiburg. This win marks their first major European trophy since 1982.
Parade Route and Schedule
The parade is scheduled to begin at 16:30 BST on Thursday, starting on Branston Street in the Jewellery Quarter. The route will proceed through Sand Pits, Broad Street, and conclude in Centenary Square. Fans are advised that they do not need to travel to specific locations, as screens will be positioned throughout the route.
The parade will consist of three open-top buses. The lead bus, coloured blue, will carry media. Following will be a claret bus carrying the players, and a third blue bus will carry staff.
Fan Engagement and Celebrations
A trophy lift will take place as the centrepiece of the parade. According to Aston Villa, there will be opportunities for supporters to engage directly with the team along the route. Fans at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena celebrated as they watched their team score in the final.
Changes to Original Plans
Following the team’s win, the club released a statement. It explored recreating the 1982 European Cup celebrations by taking the players to Victoria Square and erecting a stage in Centenary Square. However, due to ongoing works and safety concerns at Victoria Square, and advice from authorities around overcrowding at Centenary Square, these proposals were ruled out.
The club apologised to fans still in Istanbul who would not be able to attend the parade. They stated: “The club is grateful for the support and co-operation of the local community and authorities for accommodating the unavoidable disruption from the parade.”
- The parade will be broadcast live on VillaTV, as well as on YouTube and across the Club’s social media channels.
- Aston Villa are covering all costs associated with the event.
The parade is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes. Supporters are encouraged not to drive to the event.
Road Closures and Parking Restrictions
Birmingham City Council have implemented temporary parking suspensions and road closures across several streets in the city centre. These roads will be shut from 10:00 until 22:00 BST, with parking bays on the roads suspended too.
Temporary parking suspensions and road closures will be in place across several streets in the city centre.
The club is aware that some supporters who made the journey to Istanbul may not be back home in time for the parade.