Venues FA Cup

1 venues

1.1 competition rounds
1.2 semi-finals
1.3 final
1.4 artificial turf

venues

since 2007 fa cup final has been held @ wembley stadium, on site of previous stadium hosted 1923 2000.

fixtures in 12 rounds of competition played @ home ground of 1 of 2 teams. semi-finals , final played @ neutral venue – rebuilt wembley stadium (since 2008 , 2007 respectively).

competition rounds

in matches twelve competition rounds, team plays @ home decided when fixtures drawn – first team drawn out each fixture. games may have moved other grounds due other events taking place, security reasons or ground not being suitable host popular teams. in event of draw, replay played @ ground of team played away home.

in days when multiple replays possible, second replay (and further replays) played @ neutral grounds. clubs involved alternatively agree toss home advantage in second replay.

semi-finals

the semi-finals have been played exclusively @ rebuilt wembley stadium since 2008, 1 year after opened , after had hosted final (in 2007). first decade of competition, kennington oval used semi-final venue. in period between first decade , reopening of wembley, semi-finals played @ high-capacity neutral venues around england; home grounds of teams not involved in semi-final, chosen equidistant between 2 teams fairness of travel. top 3 used venues in period villa park in birmingham (55 times), hillsborough in sheffield (34 times) , old trafford in manchester (23 times). original wembley stadium used 7 times semi-final, between 1991 , 2000 (the last held there), not fixtures featuring london teams. in 2005, both held @ millennium stadium.

in 2003 fa took decision permanently use new wembley semi-finals recoup debts in financing new stadium. controversial, move seen both unfair fans of teams located far london, taking of prestige away wembley final. in defending move, fa has cited capacity wembley offers, although 2013 fixture between millwall , wigan led unprecedented step of placing 6,000 tickets on sale neutral fans after game failed sell out. fan poll guardian in 2013 found 86% opposition wembley semi-finals.

final

the final has been played @ rebuilt wembley stadium since opened, in 2007. rebuilding process meant between 2001 , 2006 hosted @ millennium stadium in cardiff in wales. prior rebuilding, final hosted original wembley stadium since opened in 1923 (being named empire stadium). 1 exception 78 year series of empire stadium finals (including 5 replays) 1970 replay between leeds , chelsea, held @ old trafford in manchester.

in 51 years prior empire stadium opening, final (including 8 replays) held in variety of locations, predominantly in london, , @ kennington oval , crystal palace. played 22 times @ oval (the inaugural competition in 1872, , 2 times until 1892). after oval, crystal palace hosted 21 finals 1895 1914, broken 4 four replays elsewhere. other london venues stamford bridge 1920 1922 (the last 3 finals before move empire stadium); , university of oxford s lillie bridge in fulham second ever final, in 1873. other venues used sparingly in period outside of london, follows:

racecourse ground, derby (1886)
fallowfield stadium, manchester (1893)
goodison park, liverpool (1894)
burnden park, bolton (1901 replay)
old trafford, manchester (1911 replay)
goodison park (1910 replay)
bramall lane, sheffield (1912 replay)
old trafford (1915)

artificial turf

the fa permitted artificial turf (3g) pitches in rounds of competition 2014–15 edition , beyond. under 2015–16 rules, pitch must of fifa 1 star quality, or 2 star ties if involve 1 of 92 professional clubs. followed approval 2 years use in qualifying rounds – if team 3g pitch progressed competition proper, had switch tie ground of eligible entrant natural grass pitch. having been strong proponents of surface, first match in proper rounds played on 3g surface televised first round replay @ maidstone united s gallagher stadium on 20 november 2015.