7. OVERVIEW
Every stadium and every stadium development is unique. It is defined by its main user, its purpose, its location, its funding, its timing and its size.
Whilst much of the content in these guidelines is generic or at least sets out best practice, it is impossible to provide a definitive set of requirements that can be applied to every stadium project.
Nevertheless, the introduction of a series of stadium categories is an attempt to provide a framework within which the guidance provided can be applied and scaled to a range of football stadium developments.
Therefore, five categories of stadium have been created:
Figure 7.1
The five stadium categories
The matrix in this chapter provides a summary of how key aspects of the guidelines could be applied and scaled to these stadium categories. This is intended to illustrate that some aspects of the guidelines aimed at higher stadium categories are not necessarily required for lower stadium categories. For example, it is not appropriate to require or recommend the provision of hospitality facilities or a giant video screen in a Category 5 stadium.
These guidelines are principally aimed at stadium developments, i.e. new build stadiums, renovations and refurbishments. Therefore, these categories should be applied to existing stadiums carefully and with appropriate adjustment. For new stadiums and major refurbishments, these categories could be factored into the stadium vision outlined in Section 1.1.
Each FIFA tournament has its own set of stadium requirements that will normally require the adaptation and enhancement of existing stadium facilities. Therefore, whilst compliance with a particular category of stadium will be a good reference point, it will not demonstrate compliance with any FIFA tournament stadium requirements.