Manchester United and Chelsea in Moscow – where they’re staying

Moscow is inundated with tens of thousands of additional visitors right now as two English football teams – Manchester United and Chelsea – meet in the final of the UEFA Champions League this evening.    Whilst  the Chelsea team will be staying in the  Ritz-Carlton  with rates typically starting from 18,000 Rubles a night (approx. $750), Manchester United  are at the four-star Crowne Plaza in the World Trade Center where rates start from a much  more modest 5,400 Rubles (approx. $230).   Could this account for Manchester United’s superior profitability off the football pitch,  or is it simply an indicator of Chelsea owner and  Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s greater  influence in Moscow?   To those of you who will be watching… enjoy the game!