England is set to face Denmark in their highly anticipated second match of Euro 2024 at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park. UEFA has officially confirmed that the stadium’s retractable roof will be closed for this Group C encounter. This decision, initially made as a precautionary measure to protect the pitch from anticipated overnight rain before Denmark’s training session, was solidified on Thursday morning and announced by UEFA. The governing body cited the significant operation involved in opening and closing the roof as the reason for maintaining its closed position for the match.
This isn’t the first time England has played under a closed stadium roof in a major tournament. Fans might recall the 2002 World Cup group stage game against Argentina at the Sapporo Dome in Japan, where the roof was also closed. England emerged victorious in that match, winning 1-0 with a penalty converted by David Beckham.
In recent club football, the use of stadium roofs has also been notable. Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid in April took place under the newly constructed roof of the Bernabeu, with UEFA’s approval. England midfielder Jude Bellingham, then playing for Real Madrid, experienced several matches under this roof during the last season, including his home debut in September.
But how common is the practice of closing stadium roofs for football matches and other sports? And are there any debates or controversies surrounding this decision?
England fans celebrate victory against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup under a closed roof in Sapporo Dome, Japan
European Football Stadiums with Retractable Roofs
While not ubiquitous, a select number of prominent European football stadiums are equipped with retractable roofs. These venues include Schalke’s Veltins-Arena in Germany, Romania’s National Arena in Bucharest, the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Vitesse Arnhem’s GelreDome in the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, and Zenit Saint Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena.
Further down the list are stadiums like the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Denmark’s own Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy in France, Warsaw’s Stadion Narodowy, and Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena, all featuring retractable roof technology.
Beyond football, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, primarily known for rugby union, also boasts a retractable roof. Interestingly, even in tennis, retractable roofs are becoming more common, with Centre Court and No 1 Court at Wimbledon, the OWL Arena in Halle, Germany, and Stade Roland Garros in Paris all offering this feature.
The Impact of Closed Roofs on Sports Played on Grass
To understand the potential impact of a closed roof on the England Vs Denmark Euro 2024 match, it’s helpful to look at comparable sports. The NFL, with its regular use of indoor stadiums, offers some insights. Around ten NFL stadiums have either fixed or retractable roofs.
There’s a long-standing notion that indoor stadiums in the NFL tend to see higher scores. As highlighted by The Athletic, indoor Super Bowls have historically been higher-scoring than their outdoor counterparts. However, statistical analysis since Super Bowl XII (the first indoor Super Bowl in 1978) suggests outdoor games have actually averaged slightly more points than indoor games, though small sample sizes and different eras make definitive conclusions challenging.
Another example is Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions quarterback, who has shown a statistically better pass completion rate in indoor venues compared to outdoor ones, suggesting a closed roof environment can influence player performance.
In tennis, Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof, installed in 2009, has been suggested to affect the playing conditions by altering the air and potentially slowing down the ball.
The closed retractable roof at Centre Court, Wimbledon during the 2023 Championships
Professor Steve Haake, a sports engineering expert, explained in 2011 that a closed roof during rain can lead to damp grass, potentially making the tennis ball fluffier and less aerodynamic. He also noted that temperature and humidity changes under a closed roof can affect ball flight, with colder, denser air slowing the ball down. Reduced breeze also impacts player perspiration, potentially making conditions feel more humid.
Wimbledon employs an “air management” system to mitigate these effects, aiming to replicate typical grass court tennis conditions. In contrast, roofs at the U.S. Open and Australian Open have recently been used more for heat protection, providing shade rather than shielding from rain or humidity.
Controversies Surrounding Stadium Roof Closures
The decision to close stadium roofs isn’t always straightforward and can be a source of controversy, particularly in sports like rugby. Principality Stadium in Cardiff often sees pre-match debates about roof closure, especially for major Six Nations matches.
For these Six Nations games, both competing teams must agree to close the roof beforehand, leading to potential off-field tensions. One team might favor a closed roof for atmosphere enhancement, which the opposing team could see as a disadvantage.
An example of this tension surfaced in February when Wales head coach Warren Gatland expressed his frustration with Scotland’s preference to keep the Principality Stadium roof open despite a rainy forecast. Gatland implied this was a tactic to dampen the Welsh crowd’s impact. Conversely, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend argued that a closed roof could make the rugby ball “greasy.”
Sports Stars’ Perspectives on Playing Under Roofs
Former England rugby player James Haskell has spoken about the significant impact of a closed roof at the Principality Stadium when playing against Wales. He described a heightened atmosphere, noting that the enclosed noise becomes intensely powerful, especially close to the try line.
The closed roof of Principality Stadium creates an intense atmosphere for sports events
In tennis, the 2023 Wimbledon women’s final between Marketa Vondrousova and Ons Jabeur saw the roof closed pre-match due to high winds, rather than rain. Vondrousova, the eventual winner, welcomed the roof closure, stating it helped with serving by eliminating wind interference and creating consistent playing conditions on both sides of the court.
Despite these benefits, many tennis players generally prefer open-air play, viewing roof closures as deviations from the fundamental outdoor nature of the sport.
For the England vs Denmark Euro 2024 match, the closed roof at Deutsche Bank Park will undoubtedly create a unique atmosphere. How this enclosed environment will affect player performance and the overall game remains to be seen, adding another layer of intrigue to this crucial Group C fixture.
