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 30,000 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] The hosts for the finals between 2009 and 2013 (Stadio Olimpico, Santiago Bernabéu, Wembley Stadium and Allianz Arena) all had capacities of at least 70,000, but the 2014 host (Estádio da Luz) contradicted this "rule" as it holds 65,000 spectators. This makes the final bid's capacity requirements unclear.
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
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