Football fans in Manchester in the run-up the UEFA Cup Final on Wednesday 14 May will have the chance to see what it’s all about – the UEFA Cup itself.
The UEFA Cup is on display in the Sculpture Hall in Manchester Town Hall and entry is free.
The Town Hall will be open to visitors between 9am and 5pm on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 May.
Manchester is continuing its huge preparation for the big match, with thousands of fans of Rangers FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg expected to will gather at fan zones in Albert Square, Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens.
Big outdoor screens will show the match in the evening and for those arriving early, there will be entertainment throughout the day, including showings of a UEFA football film, music on stage, and wandering comedy and street theatre performers.
Thousands more fans are expected to flock to pubs and clubs that will be screening the match for those not lucky enough to have a ticket for the big game at the City of Manchester Stadium.
With tens of thousands of additional visitors expected, city leaders are advising everyone to allow extra time for journeys and to make greater use of the excellent bus, train and tram services to minimise their journey times.
Major events bring in millions of pounds to Manchester's economy, supporting local businesses and jobs for local people.
For more information about Manchester's plans for the UEFA Cup Final visit http://www.manchester.gov.uk/
The heaviest Cup
When the captain of the winning side climbs the steps at the City of Manchester Stadium, he'll need to be prepared to lift the heaviest of UEFA's trophies.
It tips the scales at 15 kilos and, if you want to calculate how much champagne it holds, the measurements are 65 centimetres high, 33 wide and 23 deep.
The trophy, a silver cup on a yellow marble plinth, was designed by Swiss artist Alex W. Diggelmann and crafted by the Bertoni workshops in Milan.
Unlike other cups presented at the finals of European club competitions, the UEFA Cup has no handles. Like all the best designs, it looks simple. Just above the plinth, a group of players seem to be jostling for the ball. In fact they are supporting the octagonal 'cup' that is emblazoned with the UEFA emblem.
The tournament regulations state that the UEFA Cup is handed to the winners to keep for one year and that each champion is entitled to keep a four-fifths size replica which, at the moment, costs something over €2,000 to make. The original, by the way, cost something like €14,000.
The regulations also state that the trophy will be handed to any club which wins the UEFA Cup three times in succession or five times overall. So far this has not happen ed! It means that the UEFA Cup is the oldest trophy still up for grabs in club competitions.
Media contact: Martin Hellewell