MVM EHF FINAL4 lifts women’s handball to new heights

This is the first time that the WOMEN’S EHF Champions League culminates in an EHF FINAL4-weekend and is not decided by home and away matches between the two eventual finalists.

After four potential organisers entered the race to host the event in autumn 2013, it was eventually the bid supported by the Hungarian Handball Federation that won and brought the event to Budapest and the 10,000-capacity Papp László Sportaréna.

Another milestone was reached when Hungarian energy company, MVM Magyar Villamos Művek Zrt., jumped on board at the beginning of April to become the event’s title sponsor.

"We are convinced that this event will be a great success in its first year. Handball has a huge following in Hungary. We’re looking forward to a fantastic atmosphere in Budapest," says EHF President Jean Brihault.

"When the European Handball Federation opened the bidding process in 2013 to organise the event, we dared to hope that we could host the best women’s teams from the continent in the top handball event of the year,” says Ivan Vetesi, President of the Hungarian Handball Federation.

"Everyone in the background has been working hard to organise an event on the first weekend of May, which is worthy of the sport, the teams, as well as the European and Hungarian Handball Federations."

In the first semi-final on Saturday, 3 May 2014, Györi Audi ETO KC play against FC Midtjylland at 15:00 hrs (local time) followed by the second semi-final, WHC Vardar SCBT against Buducnost, at 17:30 hrs. On Sunday, 4 May 2014, the match for third place throws off at 14:30 hrs, the final starts at 17:00 hrs.

And to save the best for last, some very few tickets are still up for grabs. Prices start at 9,900 Forint (approx. 32 euro) for Category 4 tickets and go up to 34,990 Forint (approx. 112 euro) for Category 1 tickets. Visit www.ehfFINAL4.com to get to the ticket shop.

Women's handball in the spotlight

When the MVM EHF FINAL4 throws off on 3 May, the four teams taking to the court will enjoy unprecedented media coverage. Over 200 media representatives, working for written media, online, TV and radio, will cover the event and bring it to worldwide attention.

Several European TV stations such as DR and TV3 in Denmark, Alfa TV in FYR Macedonia, TV 2 in Norway and beIN Sport in France plus Al Jazeera in the Middle East and Africa as well as beIN USA for the North American market will broadcast the matches.

Overall the broadcast of the MVM EHF FINAL will reach 130 million households. A total of 13 cameras, including two High-Pan models, will be in use, providing a spectacular and diverse range of TV pictures for those watching on television and via ehfTV.com, the EHF’s online TV platform, that will stream all four matches live.

Spectacular entertainment in and outside the arena

The MVM EHF FINAL4 will open with a spectacular show, involving 3-D animations projected onto the court, 40 dancers and an appearance of Bogi, national finalist in the race for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Adidas, WOMEN’S EHF Champions League partner, will set up stands where fans can get all the latest official merchandising such as polo shirts and hoodies – and as special guest adidas brings Hungarian football freestyle champion Kitti Szász to Budapest on Sunday to show her skills during
the final’s half-time.

The party around the first MVM EHF FINAL4 is sure to throw off also outside Papp László Sportaréna with thousands having the possibility to follow the action from the fan village.

A huge screen will be set up just outside the arena, showing Saturday’s semi-finals as well as the match for third place and the final on Sunday.
On Saturday night Hungarian band, Music Café, and DJ Izil will get the crowd rocking in the fan village, and there is plenty of activation going on – besides several food stands that will offer Hungarian specialities.