BUDAPEST - THE ULLOI UT - CAPACITY: 18,100 ALL SEATER 

About the Ulloi Ut
The Ulloi Ut, despite its small capacity, is one of the most famous stadiums in Hungary.  It is also the second most important stadium in the city behind the Puskás Ferenc National Stadium.  It is located in the south east of the city.  The stadium is an open air affair with three stands uncovered, and unusually the main covered stand behind the goal.  It is the south stand that is the most historical in the ground, with some of the original architecture both inside and outside the stadium.

Another unusual feature is the huge floodlights that lean ominously inwards, and are a defining monument of the whole region.  The stadium is known for its passionate fans across the whole of Europe.  Despite the problems they currently face off the pitch, the hardcore fans known as the Zöld Sasok, or Green Eagles still generate an intimidating atmosphere for visiting fans.  On occasions this has boiled over – such as the UEFA Cup match with Millwall in September 2004 when a number of the English fans were attacked in the stadium.

In years gone by big inter-city derbies were played at the National Stadium, the Puskás Ferenc which holds 66,000 spectators.  The stadium is located a few miles north east of the Ulloi Ut and can be reached by local train or metro to the Stadionok stop.  A point of trivia about the Ferenc is that it doubled as the Olympic Stadium in Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film Munich.

Who plays there?
Ferencvarosi Torna Club, or FTC as they are more popularly known, were Hungary’s most famous and successful club.  Whilst the latter is still true, the fame has been replaced by infamy as in May 2006 a decision was made to relegate the club after continued financial irregularities, the first time in their history they have played outside the top division.

The club were originally admitted into the Hungarian league in 1901, and soon starting reaping the success that would characterise their history.  In that first decade the club won the title on five occasions.  To date they have won 28 Championship titles, the last one being in 2004.  Based on their current situation it is not likely that they will repeat this feat any time soon.  They have also won the Hungarian Cup on twenty occasions. 

They are also the most successful Hungarian team in terms of European competition having won the Fairs Cup (the pre-runner to the UEFA Cup) by beating Juventus in 1965.  In 1996 they qualified for the Champions League group stages for the first time, gaining 5 points from their group matches with Real Madrid, Ajax and Grasshoppers.  The following season they lost in the qualifying rounds to Göteborg. 

In May 2005 they met Sopron in the final of the Hungarian cup at the Puskás stadium.  In a stormy match three Ferencvaros players saw red cards in a game which saw them lose the cup.  As a mark of protest, the management and the remaining 8 players refuse to attend the medal presentation, leading to further censorship for the club.

How to get there
The stadium is located in the south east corner of the city, adjacent to the main road which gives its name to the stadium.  It is also within a short walk of Népliget metro which is on Line 3 (Dark Blue), and the International Bus Station.  Journey time from the city centre is around 15 minutes.  Trams also run down Ulloi Ut from the old town on a regular basis, stopping at the stadium.

Getting a ticket
Hungarian football is currently in a state of crises.  Crowds are down by over 11% year on year, and the average attendance in the Arany Azsok Liga have dropped to an all time low of less than 3,000.  Since their enforced relegation Ferencvaros’s crowds have dropped to below 3,000 meaning that there are plenty of seats to be had on a match by match basis.  Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office at the stadium in the run up to the game, or alternatively you can email the club on ftc@ftc.hu. 

Ticket prices range from 1.600Ft in the side stands, to 400Ft behind the goal.  A safe bet for the neutral is in sectors A and B in the corner of the main stand which cost 1.100Ft. 

Getting around
Public transport in Budapest is well covered with services provided by BKV, who operate the buses, trolleybuses, trams, suburban railway lines, the metro and boats around the city.  The tram network is extensive, and reliable despite poor track infrastructure and an ageing fleet. Routes 4 and 6 combined form the busiest traditional city tram line in the world, with 50-metre long trains running at 60 to 90 second intervals at peak time.  There are 3 metro lines and a 4th is about to be constructed. The Yellow line, built in 1896, is one of the oldest lines in the world.