UEFA Euro 2008 bids


The bidding process for UEFA Euro 2008 ended on 12 December 2002 when a joint bid from Austria and Switzerland was selected as the host.

History

When the deadline for bids to be entered closed in June 2002, seven bids representing twelve countries had been submitted:
  • Austria–Switzerland
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina–Croatia
  • Greece–Turkey
  • Denmark–Finland–Norway–Sweden
  • Hungary
  • Russia
  • Scotland–Republic of Ireland
UEFA's National Teams Committee made a recommendation based on technical evaluation of the candidates on 12 December 2002, and concluded that only four bids had the capability of organising the tournament. These were ranked as follows:
  • 1. Austria–Switzerland
  • 2. Hungary
  • 3. Greece–Turkey
  • 4. Denmark–Finland–Norway–Sweden
Later that day, members of the UEFA Executive Committee voted on the bids and Austria–Switzerland was selected as the winner.

Bids

Austria–Switzerland

Austria and Switzerland were selected to be the joint hosts of Euro 2008. The stadiums named in the bid process were:

Bosnia–Herzegovina–Croatia

Eight venues in eight cities across Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were proposed to host matches at Euro 2008. According to Croatian football executive Ivan Brleković, the stadiums could have been renovated, with a promised €50 million investment earmarked by both countries' governments, while more funding had been secured for upgrading road infrastructure linking host cities.
;Croatia
;Bosnia and Herzegovina

Greece–Turkey

Seven stadia in seven cities across Greece and Turkey were proposed to host matches at Euro 2008. Turkey set a budget of €50 million for the competition to construct a new stadium in Antalya, and €25 million to improve the Atatürk Stadium in İzmir. Greece had a budget of €50 million for stadium construction.

Nordic 2008

Four Nordic countries had submitted a joint bid titled Nordic 2008. Eight venues selected for the bid included capitals of all four nations: The bid was announced in October 2001.

Scotland–Republic of Ireland

In June 2000, the SFA refused to rule out a four-way bid consisting Scotland–Northern Ireland–Wales–Republic of Ireland. In July 2000, David Taylor announced the bid would enhance if England failed to secure the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
On 6 July 2000, England was eliminated from the second round of voting for the host of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In February 2002, the Scottish Football Association, and the Football Association of Ireland, officially confirmed their joint bid to host the 2008 European Championship.
The chief executive of the SFA, David Taylor, said that the bid envisioned Scotland hosting the opening match, three group stages, three quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final, with the Republic of Ireland hosting one group stage, one quarter-final, and one semi-final.
The final bid saw changes to the initial plan with stadia in Scotland hosting both semi-finals, as well as the final. Murrayfield would be the final venue, with Hampden and Celtic Park each hosting a semi-final match.
The eight venues would have been:
Two of the following three:
Two of the following three: