Brighton & Hove Albion players are refunding ticket costs for 407 fans traveling to the Arctic Circle for Thursday night's UEFA Conference League playoff against Norwegian side Tromso. The Premier League club announced Wednesday that supporters making the long journey will receive ticket refunds along with scarves and t-shirts as a token of appreciation.

Lewis Dunk, Brighton's captain, emphasized the team's desire to acknowledge fan dedication. "The fans didn't know where they were going until the last minute. It's a long trip for them, last minute to organize," Dunk said on the club's website. "We thought we want to start the season off well for the fans and make a gesture by refunding their tickets as a group."

Brighton's eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season secured them a spot in this two-legged European playoff. Tromso advanced by defeating Romanian club Cluj 7-1 on aggregate. The Arctic Circle fixture marks Brighton's first competitive match of the season, with refunds processed after the game.

"Hopefully the fans appreciate this gesture from the players and it's a good start to a good season with them and we can all enjoy it along the way," Dunk added. Brighton opens their Premier League campaign at home against Aston Villa on Aug. 23.