Sponsors’ Bridge at the 2017 Champions League Final

For the 2017 Champions League final a temporary footbridge was required to create a secure route for sponsors and guests to walk from UEFA’s hospitality village into the stadium VIP seating. 

The footbridge enabled the segregation of VIPs from general admission ticket holders, as well as ensuring that security screening was only required upon entry to the Sponsors Village.

Over 10,000 guests attended the UEFA Sponsors Village, so the bridge operation was critical in delivering these clients to their seats in time for kick off.

Steer worked closely with specialist temporary bridge contractor Mitchell Bridges to develop a suitable scheme and obtain all necessary approvals from the City Council.

The bridge was located next to a Grade 1 listed structure and made use of the existing concrete base of an unbuilt art gallery. A second temporary foundation was built for the main tower, which required an archaeological investigation. The other staircase was built on Castle Street, in an area clear of buried services.

We developed the bridge layout and operational plan, and co-ordinated its construction and removal liaising with stakeholders including the bridge structural engineer, contractor, City Council, park manager, adjoining businesses, archaeologists, arboriculturalists, police, and event security.

Successes and outcomes

Steer Associate Simon Davies obtained all necessary approvals and permits to ensure the bridge was installed, operated and removed safely without impacting upon Cardiff Traffic as well as ensuring the safety of the general public.

While Steer Associate Simon Hall compiled the operational plans, and proved the operation through detailed modelling of the 10,000 expected guests.

A very difficult problem for UEFA was resolved with the VIP guests completely unaware of the effort that went into ensuring they had a safe journey to their seat.