The challenge of organizing major international events, UEFA 2025

One of the great challenges of the day was managing mobility. The Telecommunications area of IDOM participated in coordinating the massive arrival of fans by air and managed the operation of 9 airports (the main ones being: Bilbao, Vitoria, and Santander, as well as six additional airports for aircraft parking). They also ensured the efficient connection of these airports to the public and private transport network to Bilbao.

This was all accompanied by: 

• Exhaustive traffic plan

• Reinforcement of public transportation

• Priority attention to accessibility

• Separation of fan

• VIP, and partner parking lots

• Reservation of public spaces

• Access routes

• Deployment of support staff

• Reinforcement of the ticketing and fare system

• Park-and-ride system for 300 buses

• System of fan unloading and collection docks

• Lockers, personalized signage, a bus management application

• Public information platforms, and coordination of flows with the airports

Additionally, IDOM played a pivotal role in designing, planning, and coordinating mobility. They developed the Mobility Concept and the Operational Support Plan for the event, as well as the days before and after. This success was made possible through the collaboration of our Telecom, ITS & Security, and Airports divisions, showcasing our capacity to overcome complex, large-scale challenges.

At the same time, IDOM’s Consulting area has provided Project Management Office (PMO) support to Bilbao Ekintza for organizing the event. This support has consolidated the activity developed by the different working groups, collaborating in preparing the Security (SSNS) and Medical documents, promoting communication between the main stakeholders for internal project management, and drafting a regulatory and procedural risk plan. Bilbao Ekintza was also accompanied at high-level meetings with UEFA, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the Basque Government, and other key event stakeholders. Additionally, a document was drafted to protect the intellectual property rights of UEFA and its sponsors.

Recognition has come swiftly: the responsible institutions — the RFEF and UEFA — have publicly congratulated all the participating teams for their professionalism, coordination, teamwork, and involvement. As Martin Kallen, the Director of UEFA Events, conveyed through the Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto:

“At the local organization level, the work being done is top-notch. Organization, security, mobility (transport operators, airports), cleaning services, fan meeting points (the best I have seen), city dressing…”

From IDOM, we would like to congratulate and thank all the institutions and professionals involved.

Bilbao and its major events continue to be an international reference!