A UEFA Elite Stadium is a stadium which meets the 'Elite' criteria laid out in the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations.¹

Classification

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 either the UEFA Champions League final,² or the final of the UEFA Cup,³ UEFA's two premier cup competitions.

Criteria

The main criteria which must be met, to be categorised as an 'Elite' stadium are:

• Stadiums 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 and the perimeter must be entirely fence free
• The distance between the goalposts must be 7.32 m and the crossbar must be 2.44 m from the ground
• 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'
• The floodlights must have a brightness value of at least 1400 lux
• Stadiums must have CCTV both inside and outside and a 'Security Control Room'
• Must provide seating for at least 1500 VIPs and 200 journalists
• 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 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.

Elite stadia

Geographical distribution of the UEFA Elite (in red over 50,000 capacity and in blue under 50,000) Stadia

It is unlikely, following the election of Michel Platini as UEFA President, that in the immediate future stadia with a capacity less than 70,000 will be considered for the UEFA Champions League Final. This is as a result of security issues at the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final.⁴ This would rule out a number of 'Elite' grounds from hosting the final.

See also

• List of European stadia by capacity

References