UEFA stadium categories

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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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