Bus companies have said they are fully booked for next month’s League Cup final in Glasgow.
A number of local hire companies have confirmed all their available coaches have been snapped up by Dundee United supporters ahead of the showdown with Celtic on March 15.
With United’s ticket allocation almost completely sold out, around 15,000 Arabs are expected to make the trip to Hampden Park.
Local bus firms have reported a huge surge in demand, which began almost immediately after the Tangerines beat Aberdeen 2-1 in the semi-final on January 31.
Companies as far away as Edinburgh have been advertising their services to fans given the level of demand.
Dundee-based Nevis Coach Hire has already booked out all seven of its buses.
A spokesman said: “The response has been very good. Every bus we have has been booked out.
“People who went to the semi-final had first pick and they were snapped up quickly.
“It depends on the size of a bus, but a ticket will normally cost between £14 and £20.”
Moffat & Williamson, based near Newport, revealed that United fans had booked out 20 coaches.
A spokeswoman said: “We have had 20 bookings, which basically means we are fully booked.
“The phone was very busy the Monday after the semi-final.”
Bob Costello, owner of Sidlaw Executive Travel, also confirmed that all three of their available coaches have been booked.
He said: “They were booked well in advance.”
A spokeswoman for Airport Travel Dundee added: “We have allocated seven buses to supporters who we took through to the semi-final.
“They had first refusal, but they have all taken up the offer.”
However, despite the high uptake, some bus firms have been accused of deliberately hiking their prices to cash in on soaring demand.
United for All secretary Mike Barile, who runs the Wee Jim’s Tangerine Army supporters club based in the Balmore Bar, said: “The coaches I’m hiring from a company in Auchterarder have cost around £500 each, but one out-of-town company is charging £900.
“It’s outrageous. I can understand the supply and demand situation, but if a company in Auchterarder can do it at that price then why are other companies charging as much?”