Article 69 Other requirements - Champions League

Regulations of the UEFA Champions League

Content Type
Competition Regulations
Category
Clubs
Subject
UCL
Edition
2023/24
Language
English
Enforcement Date
28 June 2023
69.01

In the UEFA Champions League and the play-offs, clubs are required to provide, free of any rental cost, LED advertising board systems that meet the technical specifications UEFA announces to the clubs.

69.02

During a site visit to each stadium, UEFA and/or a third party acting on its behalf assesses any existing LED advertising system in place. If it fulfils the technical specifications set by UEFA and is judged by UEFA to be of a high enough quality and reliability, the club shall provide access to such system, whether it is the club’s own or that of any third-party supplier, to UEFA or any company appointed by UEFA to manage and/or operate the LED boards. Once a system is considered suitable, a contract will be offered by UEFA or UEFA’s appointed management company, in which the club and/or the system owner assumes responsibility for the proper operation and functioning of the boards. Systems should allow any appointed management company to overlay an external software control for artwork management, sequence preparation, on-site graphics control and match operation and reporting. The system and technicians would then work under the direction of UEFA’s management company.

69.03

UEFA surveys each system and power set-up in advance. Systems that meet UEFA’s specifications must also be set-up in such a way as to conform with UEFA’s needs. This means one continuous system, at least 246m long and 90cm high, with fully closed corners and no gaps. Boards must be fully visible from the main camera position, ideally running under the crossbar of each goal, or if need be, over the crossbar, but in no cases should the crossbar bisect the board artworks. Content should be fully legible under floodlights, and a system test to match artwork colours and calibrate the host broadcast main camera to those colours is required the day before the match in the evening, under full match light conditions.

69.04

If a club is unable to provide and install an LED advertising system meeting the required technical or set-up specifications, then UEFA provides and installs an appropriate system and deducts a fee (communicated at the start of the season) to cover the cost of such provision from the distribution due to the club for its participation in the competition at the end of each season.

69.05

The removal (and the subsequent re-installation) of any non-compliant system is the responsibility of the club and at the cost of the club; the clean stadium principles continue to apply. In every case, UEFA covers the operational staff costs and the cost of artwork adaptation and management.

69.06

Where the capacity and security of the pitchside power supply can be guaranteed, UEFA uses this existing power supply. Consumption costs are covered by the home club. Where the existing power capacity is insufficient or not reliable enough, or where there is no back-up power source in the case of semi-final venues, then UEFA may bring in, at its own cost, a dedicated twin-pack generator to guarantee the operation of the boards (save where the existing power supply does not meet EU standards, in which case the costs shall be covered by the home club).

69.07

Only UEFA logos and the logos of the partners may be displayed at press conferences, flash interviews and in mixed zones at UEFA Champions League and play-off matches. In accordance with Chapter X, the clothing of all players, coaches and team personnel participating in press conferences and/or interviews must be in compliance with the UEFA Equipment Regulations.

69.08

The clubs produce posters, tickets and official printed matter in connection with the UEFA Champions League and the play-offs, but only in a manner approved by UEFA and in accordance with UEFA’s ticketing policy. When posters, tickets and official printed matter connected with UEFA Champions League and/or play-off matches are being designed, due attention must be paid to ensuring that any advertising overprint is solely that of the partners. All printed matter must be produced in accordance with the guidelines laid down by UEFA.

69.09

For every UEFA Champions League and play-off match, the clubs undertake to provide UEFA with the following numbers of complimentary tickets to the VIP area, including hospitality, for UEFA and the partners:

  1. Play-offs: 10

  2. Group matches: 50

  3. Round of 16 matches: 50

  4. Quarter-finals: 50

  5. Semi-finals: 50

69.10

This number of tickets and hospitality passes must not exceed 10% of the VIP area seating capacity. In such a case, any difference must be offset by tickets (including hospitality) in the highest category. All such tickets must be in one block, in a section located between the two 16m lines. Upon request, clubs must locate up to five of UEFA’s VIP ticket holders in the best possible seats next to the UEFA match delegate and/or the club’s highest level executives (for example, the club president or chief executive officer).

69.11

Likewise, a number of complimentary tickets in the highest category, stated below, in one block, in a section located between the two 16m lines, must be provided to UEFA for its own use, as well as for the use of partners. The following numbers of complimentary tickets must be provided:

  1. Play-offs: 50

  2. Group matches: 330, plus up to 42 which UEFA may purchase at retail price.

  3. Round of 16 matches: 380, plus up to 45 which UEFA may purchase at retail price.

  4. Quarter-finals: 425, plus up to 52 which UEFA may purchase at retail price.

  5. Semi-finals: 475, plus up to 51 which UEFA may purchase at retail price.

69.12

In addition, UEFA and the partners must be given the opportunity to acquire, at face value, an agreed number of retail tickets, whereby tickets in the next highest category must also be situated in one block and in a central section (i.e. not behind the goal):

  1. Play-offs: minimum of 350 top-category retail tickets, 370 retail tickets in the next highest category and 220 retail tickets in the third highest category;

  2. Group matches: minimum of 308 top-category retail tickets, 370 retail tickets in the next highest category and 230 retail tickets in the third highest category;

  3. Round of 16 matches: minimum of 365 top-category retail tickets, 460 retail tickets in the next highest category and 360 retail tickets in the third highest category;

  4. Quarter-finals: minimum of 608 top-category retail tickets, 710 retail tickets in the next highest category and 640 retail tickets in the third highest category;

  5. Semi-finals: minimum of 829 top-category retail tickets, 920 retail tickets in the next highest category and 730 retail tickets in the third highest category.

69.13

All tickets must be official UEFA Champions League or play-offs tickets approved by UEFA prior to production.

69.14

UEFA and the partners may use tickets provided by the clubs in accordance with this Article for promotional purposes.

69.15

The clubs shall ensure that, as a minimum, their ticketing and media accreditation terms and conditions for the matches stipulate that:

  1. no person may conduct any promotional or commercial activity at the match stadium, without the prior written approval of UEFA;

  2. tickets must not be used for any commercial purposes such as for promotion, advertising, use as a prize in a competition/sweepstake, or as part of a hospitality or travel package without the prior written approval of UEFA;

  3. all people attending the match acknowledge that use may be made (free of charge) of their voice, image and/or likeness in still images and audio/visual transmissions relating to the match;

  4. no person attending the match may, without UEFA’s prior written approval, collect, record, transmit and/or exploit any sound, image, data, statistics and/or description of the match for any purpose other than for private use. Upon request by UEFA, the club must make best efforts to provide the necessary support to enforce the aforementioned provision.

69.16

For every UEFA Champions League match, the home club must provide UEFA, free of charge, with a single exclusive hospitality area of a minimum of 400m² of open and usable space (excluding fixed installations and doors/fire access routes) within the stadium. Following the group stage, the relevant home clubs should (where practicable) provide UEFA, free of charge, with a larger single exclusive hospitality area (ideally, a minimum of 500m²) in order to accommodate the increased number of guests.

69.17

The standard of these facilities must be at least comparable to the highest standard available in the stadium. If the home club is not able to offer such facilities within the stadium, it must find an alternative solution at its own expense outside the stadium. Such alternative solution must be of a standard comparable to that of an indoor facility.

69.18

A number of accreditations for partners, to be agreed upon, will be made available by UEFA, in conjunction with the home club. In every case, accreditation will ensure that all services can be provided before, during and after the match.

69.19

In principle, 60 parking places for the play-offs and 180 parking places from the group stage onwards must be provided, free of charge, to UEFA for use by partners. The number and category of parking places is decided upon by UEFA and the home club. These parking spaces should be in a prime position, wherever possible with easy access to the Champions Club (i.e. the UEFA Champions League hospitality area).

69.20

The clubs are responsible for dispatching tickets and hospitality and parking passes to UEFA and/or the partners in accordance with UEFA's instructions.