Tuesday, 03 June 2003 . Taken from UEFA's web site:
Stadium management and operations, stadium security and current and future trends in the stadium sector come under the spotlight over the next two days in Geneva at a conference organised jointly by UEFA and the European Stadium Management Association (ESMA).
The Swiss city’s brand-new Stade de Genève complex hosts the fifth Stadia and Arena Exhibition and Conference on Wednesday and Thursday. Stadium experts, stadium and arena managers, architects and developers from around Europe will be joined at the event by national football associations and representatives of major European clubs, including Arsenal FC, Internazionale FC, Real Madrid CF and Liverpool FC.
This week’s conference continues the close relationship between UEFA and the ESMA in the area of stadiums and spectator comfort. European football’s governing body has been at the vanguard of the movement to make stadiums safer and more user-friendly over the past decade, and the Geneva gathering will point the way forward in view of future major football events such as UEFA EURO 2004™, the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and the 2008 UEFA European Championship final round in Austria/Switzerland. The Stade de Genève will be hosting matches during UEFA EURO 2008™.
The programme includes presentations on various key current issues in the stadium field, such as dealing with racism, stewarding and making optimum use of stadium complexes to generate revenue. Delegates will also pay a visit to UEFA’s headquarters in nearby Nyon on Thursday.
The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police will give an insight into their planning for major sports events, and artificial turf will also come under the spotlight, as UEFA steps up its research into the possible future use of artificial turf pitches in European competitions.
