2011 Champions League Final at Wembley

January 29, 2009

Wembley had been one of a number of big stadiums that had been put forward as the venue for the 2011 Champions League final and was today awarded the event ahead of Munich’s Allianz Arena and Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

Dublin’s Lansdowne Road has been picked to host the 2011 final of the Europa League, previously the Uefa Cup, as Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium missed out.

The Gunners’ home ground was ruled out of the running because the same country cannot host both major European finals in the same year.

“It is acknowledgment of Wembley’s ranking alongside the very best football stadiums in the world.

“As Wembley has been chosen to host the Champions League Final this means the Emirates Stadium can’t stage the 2011 Europa League final.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Arsenal for all their valuable support during the bid process and recognise the very strong bid that they put together.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson added: “It is splendid news. There is a huge sense of excitement and passion in London for sports and indeed for the ‘beautiful game’ of football.

“London is delighted to have been successful in the bid to host the 2011 Final and Wembley is a suitably dramatic and superb backdrop for the event.”

The Allianz Arena - home of Bayern Munich - will stage the 2012 Champions League final and Bucharest’s National Stadium the Europa League final in that year.

Wembley had previously bid for the the 2010 Champions League final but was turned down due to the UK government not allowing the players to be tax exempt for the match but they loosened the rules as the event is expected to raise £30 million.

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