If you think tomorrow night’s Celtic friendly away to Banik Ostrava will be a run-of-the-mill pre-season affair, think again.
It’s shaping up to be quite the event as the club celebrate their 100th anniversary.
The Czech club expect a big crowd at their 15,000-capacity stadium, with the ultras section sold out for over a month and ticket sales strong around the rest of the arena.
Not only that, but they are taking various steps to make sure it feels like a special occasion.
They have advised a dress code, so there is colour coordination in the stand, asking everyone attending to wear a plain white t-shirt or shirt.
The club are also handing out a unique anniversary scarf to every fan that goes through the turnstiles, included as part of the ticket price for the vent. That will bring more colour and spectacle.
There’s also been a request for every support to arrive half an hour before kick-off, with an opening ceremony planned.
There will be an address from celebrity supporter Ondřej Novotný, who runs the Oktagon MMA promotion, before a musical performance from the ultra-aligned rappers Chacharski & Pretorian.
Celtic will then participate in the ceremonial walkout before kick-off in front of a noisy and hyped-up crowd.
Local press are calling it “the biggest game of Banik Ostrava football in many years” this week. [Denik]
It should all create the kind of atmosphere for a ‘real game’ of football, as Ange Postecoglou enjoyed against Rapid Vienna at the weekend.
The Bhoys are exposing themselves to an interesting set of summer fixtures this year, and tomorrow night’s event could well feel like a proper ramp-up in intensity on and off the pitch.
In other news, Report: Celtic ‘not looking’ to sign Jordan Larsson as transfer stance is revealed.
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