A UEFA Elite Stadium is a stadium which meets the 'Elite' criteria laid out in the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations.[1] Using these regulations, stadiums are rated as Category 1, 2, 3 or Elite (in ascending ranking order). These categories replaced the previous method of ranking stadiums as 4 or 5 star in 2006. A stadium must be categorised as Elite to host the final of the UEFA Champions League[2] or the UEFA Europa League,[3] UEFA's two premier club competitions.
Criteria
The main criteria which must be met, to be categorised as an 'Elite' stadium are:
- Stadia must be all-seated and have a minimum capacity of 30,000
- The playing surface dimensions must be 105 metres in length and 68 metres in width
- The playing surface must either be natural turf or FIFA-licensed artificial turf
- The substitute benches must seat at least 13 people
- The dressing rooms must seat at least 25 people
- There should also be a separate Delegate's Room, Doping Station and First Aid Room
- Stadiums must have CCTV both inside and outside and a 'Security Control Room'
- Must provide seating for at least 1500 VIPs and 200 journalists
- The floodlights must light the pitch to an illuminance of at least 1400 lux
- There must be at least three TV studios within the Stadium.
Although the minimum stadium capacity for Elite categorisation is 30,000, no stadium with a capacity less than 40,000 has been selected to host a UEFA Cup (now known as the 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.[4] Both the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Wembley Stadium, hosts for the 2010 and 2011 Champions League finals, have capacities greater than 70,000,and so does the Stadio Olimpico in Rome which hosted the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final and the Allianz Arena, hosting the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, holds 66,000 spectators.
See also
References
- ^ UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations, UEFA.com
- ^ UEFA Regulations UEFA.com
- ^ UEFA Regulations UEFA.com
- ^ "Update 1-Soccer-Platini wants Champions League final at weekend". Reuters. 30 August 2008. http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_WORLDFOOTBALL/idUKL3082273420070830. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
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