UEFA stadium categories are categories for football stadiums laid out in UEFA's 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 rated as category four in order 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] UEFA Europa Conference League, UEFA Nations League or the UEFA European Championship final tournament.[4] UEFA does not publish lists of stadiums fulfilling the criteria for any of the categories defined in the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations.[1]
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, it is required to host the UEFA Europa Conference League final, and only one stadium with a capacity less than 60,000 has been selected to host a UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Euro finals and 30,000 for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Nations League finals, since these regulations were introduced in 2006.
After the 2007 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 2008 and 2023 (Luzhniki Stadium, Stadio Olimpico, Santiago Bernabéu, Wembley Stadium, Allianz Arena, Olympiastadion, San Siro, Millennium Stadium, Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Stade de France, Atatürk Stadium) all had capacities of at least 70,000 seats—with the exceptions of 2014 and 2019 finals (Estádio da Luz and Metropolitano Stadium) held with capacities of 65,000 seats. Two finals were played during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in stadiums reaching 50,000 seats (Estádio da Luz and Estádio do Dragão) with none or reduced attendances.
| Criteria | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 | Category 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field of play | 100 to 105 m long, 64 to 68 m wide (109–115 yd × 70–74 yd) | 105 m long, 68 m wide (115 yd × 74 yd) | ||
| Minimum size of referee's dressing room | — | 20 square metres (220 sq ft) | ||
| Minimum floodlighting | to suit broadcaster | 800 Eh(lux) horizontal illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.5
350 Ev(lux) vertical illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.35 and U2h >0.45 |
1200 Eh(lux) horizontal illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >04and U2h >0.6
750 Ev(lux) vertical illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.45 |
1400 Eh(lux) horizontal illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.5 and U2h >0.7
1000 Ev(lux) vertical illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.5 |
| Spectator standing allowed | Yes | No | ||
| Minimum seated capacity | 200 | 1,500 | 4,500 | 8,000 |
| Turnstiles and electronic ticket control system | No | 1 turnstile per 660 seats | ||
| Minimum total VIP seats | 50 | 75 | 100 | |
| VIP parking | 20 | 50 | 100 | 150 |
| VIP hospitality area | Yes | |||
| Closed-circuit television system (CCTV) | — | Yes | ||
| Control room | — | Yes | Yes, with equipped colour monitors connected to CCTV system and displaying live data from ETCS | |
| Minimum media working area | 10 working positions | 20 working positions | 30 working positions | |
| Photographers' working area | — | 15 working positions | 20 working positions | |
| Minimum media seating | 10, 5 with desks | 20, 10 with desks | 30, 15 with desks | 60, 30 with desks |
| Minimum space for main camera platform | 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) for 1 camera | 4 m × 2 m (13.1 ft × 6.6 ft) for 2 cameras | 6 m × 2 m (19.7 ft × 6.6 ft) for at least 3 cameras | |
| Additional camera platforms | — | 2 platforms 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) for 1 camera each on the 16m lines | category 3 + one platform on the opposite stand from main camera platform and 2 platforms 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) behind each goal for 1 camera each | |
| Minimum number of commentary positions | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Minimum number of TV studios | 1 | 2 | 2, at least 1 with a view of the pitch | |
| Minimum post-match interview positions | — | 4, each 4 by 3 metres (13.1 ft × 9.8 ft) | ||
| Minimum outside broadcast van area | 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft) | 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) | 600 m2 (6,500 sq ft) | 1,000 m2 (11,000 sq ft) |
| Minimum number of seats in press conference room | — | 20 | 30 | 50 |
| Minimum size for mixed zone | — | large enough for at least 50 media representatives | ||
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