JUST CHAMPION
“Closing the roof gave us the option of eliminating a security risk completely. In so doing it also created that wonderful atmosphere.” THE VERDICT FROM JUVENTUS AND REAL MADRID “We provided the players with a great environment and there were no complaints from either team on the night.
“Since they returned to Italy, Juventus sent us a lovely note telling us they will always have a fond memory of Cardiff – this despite the disappointment of losing the final.
“They still took the time and trouble to write to us to say how happy they were with the organising committee and the way they were treated by everyone here. That’s a really nice touch.
“Real Madrid also sent one saying Cardiff will always be remembered for the right reasons by the club. This was the venue where they created history with back-to-back Champions League titles, whilst they also won the Super Cup in the city previously.
“When you have the biggest clubs in the world talking about Cardiff in those terms it should give a warm feeling to a whole nation and make us proud.
“We always said we wanted to go the extra mile for the teams but this was a lovely response nonetheless.
“We don’t seek plaudits as such but it’s always nice when you get them – particularly from this level.
“One of our pep talks to the staff was that whilst this would be hard work they should enjoy it and think of the positives they could give to the fans and the city.
“As we look back we can ask: ‘Was it a success?’ Yes.
“‘Has it changed the perception of Wales, Cardiff, Welsh football and the FAW?’ Yes.” COULD CARDIFF STAGE THE FINAL AGAIN? “Everyone thought this was a one-off but the FAW could definitely bid for it again, from 2020 onwards if we wished.
“The FAW couldn’t do it in isolation. We don’t own the stadium – it would require investment again from the Welsh Government and Cardiff City Council.
“But the benefits are enormous in terms of money coming back into the local economy.
“As for 200m people across the world tuning in to see the stadium, roads and city of Cardiff, well what marketing and publicity would you place on that? It’s unquantifiable.
“People suddenly know about Cardiff who didn’t a week ago. That has to be good for future tourism.
“If Madrid, Berlin, London and other big tourist destinations think these events are worth having more than once why wouldn’t Cardiff?” WHAT ABOUT HOSTING EURO 2020? “There have been reports about the Eurostadion in Brussels not being built and whether Cardiff could step in as one of the 13 venues.
“I was involved in our bid for the tournament previously. Nineteen cities pitched, four dropped out, 13 were chosen and two missed out.
“We were 14th and missed out by a single point, Stockholm was 15th. We had the Champions League final, they had the Europa League.
“Every new venue being built to meet Uefa criteria for the tournament had to start by a certain time and finish a year before the tournament begins.
“My understanding is Brussels still have time to complete the project.
“They won the bid fairly and squarely and deserve the chance to build the venue. We will respect the process.
“But if they don’t fulfil the criteria Uefa will need to make decisions.
“If Brussels are timed out Uefa could allocate their four games to the 12 other venues. That might be the simplest solution.
“Or they could decide to create a 13th venue. If so, do they open up the bidding process again, or do they go back to countries like Wales who originally bid?
“We would have to wait and see. But we have the stadium and Euro 2020 would be good for Cardiff.
“We’d have to speak to our partners for support. They backed us three years ago and if the opportunity does arise, and there is an appetite from our stakeholders to go for it, then we would be ready.
“In terms of transport, accommodation, security and so on, there wouldn’t be a huge transformation from the Champions League.
“I’m preparing a big file on what we did to host the final and it would be a shame to put it into a cupboard, never to come out again.
“Countries like England, Germany and Italy always pull their dossier back out. It’s there for us to refer to if we need it, can be adapted quite easily for a Uefa tournament.
“We’ll have to wait and see what transpires with Brussels over the next couple of months.
“We’d need to know fairly quickly, shouldn’t assume anything, but the success we had last week will help in terms of impressing Uefa’s hierarchy.” THE RECORD-BREAKING FACTS AND FIGURES “More than 60,000 people attended the Champions League exhibition inside the Wales Millennium Centre, where we had signed shirts from every club taking part in the competition and images from every European Cup from day one.
“In Milan they had 15,000 at their exhibition so that underlines the tremendous success of how many went through the doors of WMC.
“That is one third of the city’s entire population and double the figure in London last time the final was staged at Wembley.
“At the Bay 20,000 had their photos taken with the trophy. Previously we covered 1,000 miles in taking the trophy around Wales when more than 25,000 turned up at different locations and a further 11,500 had photographs with the trophy.
“Then we had one of my personal highlights, seeing the queues for the women’s final between Lyon and PSG at Cardiff City Stadium, with a crowd of 22,500.
“I’m a passionate Cardiff City fan but this was a bigger attendance than for average Bluebirds home games.
“For the last four years, the average attendance for the women’s Champions League final has been 17,000. So we beat that again. The previous highest crowd for a women’s game here was 3,500 for a Wales v England clash.
“We had 1,200 volunteers throughout the city and they made the difference. They gave up their time and handed a warm Welsh welcome.
“Without them it would not have been a success.
“Last, but not least, there is the legacy pitch at Grange Gardens for the community to use.
“The final has gone, the branding has been taken down, but that’s still there as a legacy.
“The final itself has obviously had the bulk of the coverage but these other elements were also so important for us.”