Final design concept unveiled

Design concept
The package, including a logo, design concept and overall theme, is designed to enhance the event at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on 26 May. The concept was unveiled at Friday's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and semi-final draw in Nyon.

Enhancing the prestige
"The objective is to help promote the final and enhance the prestige of one of the world's biggest sporting occasions," said UEFA in a statement on Friday. "The initial idea that inspired the creation of the new identity, was to develop a concept, which will promote the international appeal of the final with a distinctive flavour of the host city."

'Arena of Champions'
The 'Arena of Champions' theme behind the design concept comes from the fact that the final of European football's most prestigious club competition is being played at the Arena AufSchalke, a brand-new stadium which is seen as one of the top venues in Europe.

Partner use
The new visual identity can be extensively used by UEFA's partners, such as broadcasters, sponsors and licensees, to ensure optimum global promotion of the final.

Fantastic arena
"The 'Arena of Champions' is a theme which accurately reflects what the football-loving public will witness on the night of Wednesday 26 May 2004, a fantastic arena for the top players contesting the twelfth UEFA Champions League final," UEFA commented.

Building enthusiasm
"We are very pleased with the 'Arena of Champions' theme," said Peter Peters project manager of the local organising committee for the final. "We will use the design in city promotions and in all our other promotional activities, to help build enthusiasm for the final in Gelsenkirchen not only in the city itself but across the whole of Germany.

Special final
"UEFA will be using the design extensively for the hundreds of items that are developed for each final and which make the final something very special," said UEFA senior product manager Michele Centenaro.