Big-name stadiums in running for 2008 and 2009 UEFA finals

A decision to be taken in early October on which stadiums will host the 2008 and 2009 UEFA Champions League final.

Among those in contention are the venue for the recent World Cup final, the Olympiastadion in Berlin, London's revamped Wembley, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. The Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla, which held the 2003 UEFA Cup final, is also in contention for both showpieces.

Made famous when American sprinter Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, the Olympiastadion has never hosted a European final, but benefited from a EUR 242 million overhaul for the World Cup.

Wembley, scene of the 1966 World Cup final and five European Champion Clubs' Cup showpieces, still is being completed after being rebuilt with a 90,000-seat capacity at a cost of EUR 1.2 billion.

Rome's Olimpico provided the setting for the 1960 Games as well as for European Cup finals in 1977, 1984 and – following a revamp for the 1990 World Cup final – 1996.

Luzhniki held the 1999 UEFA Cup final.

UEFA limited the number of candidates to one national association per final, with the bidding dossiers evaluated according to the capacity and infrastructure of the stadium, the city and airport agreements, accommodation and promotional plans, and the principle of geographical rotation.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.