Liz Maher, president of the South and Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: “Hosting the Champions League Final creates a fantastic opportunity to showcase Cardiff as a welcoming and world-class city for major sporting events.
“Our members in the hospitality industry and supply chain for events of this calibre all speak of the boost that they bring to the local economy. And showcasing Wales as a country that delivers on the world stage plays an important role in demonstrating that we are a place that you can do business in and with.
“With Europe’s attention now focused on Wales in the run up to the game, it is crucial that the government, organisers and stakeholders across the country work together to ensure past organisational mistakes don’t cast a shadow over what has the potential to be a momentous event that Wales can be proud of.
“Our infrastructure needs to be ready to deal with the thousands of European football fans who will flock to the capital next year. Consideration needs to be given to suspending the tolls at the Severn Bridge for the weekend to avoid long queues being the welcome that many visitors have to Wales.
“Adequate levels of public transport across south Wales must also be in place to bring people to Cardiff and take them home after the match. With the match taking place in the evening, this isn’t just about keeping queues outside Cardiff Central Station manageable. People staying in towns and cities throughout south Wales and across the border, will need to know they can get back.
“Litter left in wake of previous events has been a prominent issue, and we hope appropriate measures are taken to keep our capital city clean.
“Following in the footsteps of great cities, including Milan, Berlin and Lisbon, in hosting the Champions League Final is a great honour for Cardiff. We need to seize this opportunity with both hands and make sure that we are ready to welcome Europe a year from today.”