Thanks to an increase in ticket prices, UEFA expects record gate receipts of $22.59 million from the Champions League final at Wembley in May.

Category 3 tickets for last year's final in Madrid between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich cost $155, compared to this year's $235 (and $120 in 2009). Tickets go on sale at UEFA's Web site Feb. 24.

The two finalists will receive 25,000 tickets apiece for their supporters. They have the option of buying a Category 4 ticket for $130, but UEFA did not say how many of those cheaper seats would be available. Neutrals are excluded from Category 4, meaning they will have to pay $480 for a Category 1 seat, $362 for a Category 2 and $242 pounds for a Category 3.

“Last year there was already an increase, a more significant increase compared to the year before,” UEFA’s competitions director Giorgio Marchetti said. “If you look at other comparable events in football, the Champions League final is still priced below that.