UEFA stadium categories

UEFA stadium categories are categories for association football stadiums laid out in the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations.[1] Using these regulations, stadiums are rated as category one, two, three, or four (renamed from elite) in ascending ranking order. These categories replaced the previous method of ranking stadiums on one to five star scale in 2006. A stadium must be category four to host games in the playoffs of the qualifying stage for the UEFA Champions League or any game in the main competition.[2] Category four is also required to host any game in the main competition of the UEFA Europa League[3] or the UEFA European Football Championship.[4]

General

If a retractable roof is present, its use will be directed by consultation between the UEFA delegate and the main assigned referee.

Although the minimum stadium capacity for category four is 8,000, no stadium with a capacity less than 35,000 has been selected to host a UEFA Europa League Final, and no stadium with a capacity less than 60,000 has been selected to host a UEFA Champions League Final, since these regulations were introduced in 2006.

After the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, UEFA President Michel Platini stated that he wanted European Cup finals to be held at stadiums with an average capacity of 70,000 to solve security issues.[5] Both the Santiago Bernabéu and Wembley Stadium, hosts for the 2010 and 2011 Champions League finals, respectively, have capacities greater than 70,000, as does the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, which hosted the 2009 Champions League Final. Wembley Stadium, the venue of the 2011 and 2013 Champions League Finals, holds 90,000 spectators. Allianz Arena, the host venue of the 2012 Champions League Final, holds 70,000 spectators. But Estádio da Luz, contradicts this rule, as this stadium hosted 65,000 spectators at 2014 UEFA Champions League Final, making the final bid's capacity requirements still unclear.

Here is a full list of European stadiums by capacity (along with UEFA category) to demonstrate which stadiums could be in contention to host future Champions League finals.

Differences between categories

Criteria Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
Field of play 100 to 105 m long, 64 to 68 m wide 105 m long, 68 m wide
Minimum size of referee's dressing room n/a 20 m2
Minimum floodlighting to suit broadcaster 800 vertical lux to fixed cameras

500 vertical lux to mobile cameras

1200 vertical lux to fixed cameras

800 vertical lux to mobile cameras

1400 vertical lux to fixed cameras
VIP parking 10 50 100 150
Spectator standing allowed yes no
Minimum Seated capacity 200 1.500 4.500 8,000
Minimum total VIP seats 50 100 250 500
VIP seats for visiting team 10 20 50 100
VIP hospitality area n/a 400 m2
Minimum media working area 50 m2 100 m2 for 50 people 200 m2 for 75 people
Minimum number of photographers n/a 15 25
Minimum space for main camera platform 4 m2 for at least 1 camera 6 m2 for 2 cameras 10 m2 for 4 cameras
Minimum number of seats in the press box 20, 5 with desks 20, 10 with desks 50, 25 with desks 100, 50 with desks
Minimum number of commentary positions 2 3 5 25
Minimum number of TV studios 1 room that can be converted 1 2 2, at least 1 with a view of the pitch
Minimum post-match interview positions n/a 4
Minimum outside broadcast van area 100 m2 200 m2 1,000 m2
Minimum number of seats in press conference room 1 30 50 75

See also

References

  1. "UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations Edition 2010" (PDF). UEFA. March 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  2. "Regulations of the UEFA Champions League 2010/11" (PDF). UEFA. March 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  3. "Regulations for the UEFA Europa League 2010/11" (PDF). March 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2010–12" (PDF). UEFA. September 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  5. "Update 1-Soccer-Platini wants Champions League final at weekend". Reuters. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
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