Executive Committee to choose venues for 2003 Cup finals
Hosts for 2003 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup finals to be named in December.

At its meeting on 12 and 13 December 2001, the UEFA Executive Committee will – amongst other items on the agenda – decide on the venues for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup finals of the 2002/03 season.

UEFA has received bids from nine possible hosts for the UEFA Champions League final and eight for the UEFA Cup final in 2003. These candidatures were submitted to UEFA through the national associations concerned who will be UEFA’s main partner in the organisation of the events.

Mike Lee, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, said today: ‘UEFA staff are now in the process of analysing the bids and carrying out site surveys of all the proposed stadia. The Executive Committee will then receive a detailed evaluation report in order to make the final decision at its December meeting.’

The following stadiums have presented their bids to host the 2003 UEFA Champions League final:

Stadium City, Country, Capacity

Old Trafford, Manchester, England – 64,816
Stade de France St-Denis, France – 78,782
Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany – 62,000
AOL Arena, Hamburg, Germany – 50,100
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion,Stuttgart, Germany – 50,297
Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands – 52,000
Amsterdam ArenA Amsterdam, Netherlands – 51,620
Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia – 84,000
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – 74,382

The final is due to take place on Wednesday, 28 May 2003.

The following stadiums have requested to host the 2003 UEFA Cup final:

Stadium City, Country, Capacity

Villa Park, Birmingham, England – 45,000
Stade de France St-Denis, France – 78,782
AOL Arena, Hamburg, Germany – 50,100
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart, Germany – 50,297
Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands – 29,537
Philips Stadion Eindhoven, Netherlands – 33,225
Olimpico, Sevilla, Spain – 74,382
Ùllevi, Gothenburg, Sweden – 43,000

The final is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 May 2003.