This is an interesting list of the biggest sports stadiums in the world. I guess the most surprising entries in this list are the astonishing number of "college" sports represented at the top of the list; Britain's biggest rugby stadium is smaller than India's biggest football stadium; and the location of the world's biggest stadium is... quite a surprise.
It's also interesting to think that, if The Valley's capacity had remained at it's 1970s/1980s level of 87,500, it would be in the world's top twenty.
87,500 ? No way, it was 75,000 or thereabouts.
Yes 75,000 was the capacity (75,031 record attendance).
It's got the record for the loudest concert though!
75,000 wasnt the capacity. We never officially filled the ground. Of course the most we ever had in the ground (reputedly) was an estimated 100k for The Who in 1974 and 65k in 1976.
As I said before though, our official capacity in the 70s=80s was 66k.
This is an interesting list of the biggest sports stadiums in the world. I guess the most surprising entries in this list are the astonishing number of "college" sports represented at the top of the list; Britain's biggest rugby stadium is smaller than India's biggest football stadium; and the location of the world's biggest stadium is... quite a surprise.
I am sometimes sceptical of how accurate some of these are when I see lists like that.
I've been to a couple of those college football stadiums (including number 9 - Texas Longhorns), and whilst they do look huge they don't look bigger than Wembley Stadium - certainly not by more than 10,000+ seats.
The seats have more space at Wembley. Rose Bowl looks a lot smaller probably because of its age. You can see how tight the seats are on the longhorn picture.
Surprised the Olympiastadion in Berlin, the Santiago Bernabeau, the San Siro, the Bird's Nest and the AT&T Stadium in Dallas aren't on the list.
The AT&T should be, the rest aren't big enough.
I meant I thought they would be in the top 30 and I'm surprised they aren't, not that the list is inaccurate. At&t holds much bigger than 80k for non NFL events for example
The AT&T has 80,000 seats and 20,000 standing places so it should be on the list. Been there twice, imagine something the size of Wembley, covered in, and air-conditioned...really is mind boggling.
Thought the macarena stadium in Rio would be there (unless I missed it)
The Macarana's capacity is a lot lower now just under 80k
It's like a lot of the old stadiums (Wembley, Hampden and indeed The Valley) when they were rebuilt with seating and modern safety standards, the capacities shrank.
I will never not be amazed by the crowds for college football in the states. Often watch games and the size of the crowds in jaw dropping.
Not sure about the accuracy of that list though.
The most amazing attendance of any team I've very seen or heard of is The Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I attended one game there in 2002.
Known as "The Big House", it's up to date "official" capacity is 107,000, and has had attendances exceeding 100,000 for 275 consecutive games dating back to 1975. And it's a single level stadium! And everyone shows up. You rarely ever see an empty seat. Actually, there are no seats, just benches. Most stand all game, anyway. The whole stadium looks like the Yellow Wall.
It has held beyond capacity many times. In fact, it's average attendance last year was 111,589, so not only do they sell out every game, they somehow squeeze in 4,500 additional fans per game. Some think they could sellout 125,000 per game easily if they had the capacity.
The two highest football (soccer) attendances ever in the US were there. In 2014 Real Madrid and ManU played a friendly there and the attendance was 109,000. Prices were 75 to 550 Euros. Sold out in an hour. In 2016 they got 106,000 for a ManU v Chelsea friendly.We are talking Michigan, not Los Angeles or New York.
The two highest attendances for a hockey game of all time (on Earth) are at The Big House. A college match drew 113,000 in 2010 and a pro match in 2014 drew 105,000 (see pic #3 below.)
Games are often chilly. Snow and -9C temps won't keep anyone away (pic 4). Liverpool hits 97 decibels for matches, but Michigan now clears 100-110 often and that is without a roof redirecting the noise inwards.
That Michigan capacity is absolutely ridiculous for a single level stadium. Imagine how much noisier it would be if it had a roof to keep the noise in.
Sod watching a hockey game there though, how the fuck would you have any chance of seeing the puck if you were up the back?
That Michigan capacity is absolutely ridiculous for a single level stadium. Imagine how much noisier it would be if it had a roof to keep the noise in.
Sod watching a hockey game there though, how the fuck would you have any chance of seeing the puck if you were up the back?
Good point - 80% of the time you can't even see the puck on tele. That's why they allow punch ups, it gives the audience (I wont call them a "crowd") something to watch...
Napa's comments about college football stadia being filled beyond their capacity kind of backs up my health and safety theory though, doesn't it?
Went to the Strahov complex quite lot about 15 years ago when living in Prague and Slavia were playing there whilst their new ground was being built. They played in one of the grounds next to the huge one, but the main stadium was an impressive sight to see.
Thought the macarena stadium in Rio would be there (unless I missed it)
Smaller capacity than Wembley.
When terraced it used to take something in the region of 180k.
The Strahov in Prague is a massive stadium and used to hold a lot years ago. I imagine @pragueaddick could help with that figure.
I have heard figures of 200,000 mentioned. It was used for athletics, including the Communist youth display stuff, so it is very broad. Certainly when I was here in the early days the Stones concert had more than 100,000. But it is not used as a stadium now. Sparta Prague have a covered prefab building on the pitch area which is their academy. There is an old school 25 meter swimming pool which I only discovered last year at the front next to the entrance to Sparta's place. And a gym and some tired looking offices. It doesn't have a future, but until recently the demolition costs were problematic. Next to it there is a separate football stadium, the former national stadium, which is no longer used either, and the Czech footie association have their offices there. I think it will all have to go. It is high on a hill above the city, prime real estate but only accessible by bus, and not on the route to anywhere else. You'd hope some sports facilities will be part of the eventual new plan. No one will miss the current object.
Went to Sanford stadium to see the Bulldogs in, I think, 95. I'd recommend a visit to a major college team if visiting the US - the level of support for the major sides is extraordinary, as the size of some of these grounds show. The games tend to be higher scoring than pro games, it seems to me, perhaps because the defensive players haven't been able to bulk up quite as much as their professional counterparts. Inevitably, people are really friendly. And its on BT Sport on saturdays in the season, august to december.
Comments
Croke Park could be a lot bigger, if it wasn't for the railway behind Hill 16.
As I said before though, our official capacity in the 70s=80s was 66k.
Done Wembley, Twickenham and the Met Life also.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strahov_Stadium
It's like a lot of the old stadiums (Wembley, Hampden and indeed The Valley) when they were rebuilt with seating and modern safety standards, the capacities shrank.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35763801
Known as "The Big House", it's up to date "official" capacity is 107,000, and has had attendances exceeding 100,000 for 275 consecutive games dating back to 1975. And it's a single level stadium! And everyone shows up. You rarely ever see an empty seat. Actually, there are no seats, just benches. Most stand all game, anyway. The whole stadium looks like the Yellow Wall.
It has held beyond capacity many times. In fact, it's average attendance last year was 111,589, so not only do they sell out every game, they somehow squeeze in 4,500 additional fans per game. Some think they could sellout 125,000 per game easily if they had the capacity.
The two highest football (soccer) attendances ever in the US were there. In 2014 Real Madrid and ManU played a friendly there and the attendance was 109,000. Prices were 75 to 550 Euros. Sold out in an hour. In 2016 they got 106,000 for a ManU v Chelsea friendly.We are talking Michigan, not Los Angeles or New York.
The two highest attendances for a hockey game of all time (on Earth) are at The Big House. A college match drew 113,000 in 2010 and a pro match in 2014 drew 105,000 (see pic #3 below.)
Games are often chilly. Snow and -9C temps won't keep anyone away (pic 4). Liverpool hits 97 decibels for matches, but Michigan now clears 100-110 often and that is without a roof redirecting the noise inwards.
They are a different breed of sports fan there.
When terraced it used to take something in the region of 180k.
The Strahov in Prague is a massive stadium and used to hold a lot years ago. I imagine @pragueaddick could help with that figure.
Sod watching a hockey game there though, how the fuck would you have any chance of seeing the puck if you were up the back?
Napa's comments about college football stadia being filled beyond their capacity kind of backs up my health and safety theory though, doesn't it?
I have heard figures of 200,000 mentioned. It was used for athletics, including the Communist youth display stuff, so it is very broad. Certainly when I was here in the early days the Stones concert had more than 100,000. But it is not used as a stadium now. Sparta Prague have a covered prefab building on the pitch area which is their academy. There is an old school 25 meter swimming pool which I only discovered last year at the front next to the entrance to Sparta's place. And a gym and some tired looking offices. It doesn't have a future, but until recently the demolition costs were problematic. Next to it there is a separate football stadium, the former national stadium, which is no longer used either, and the Czech footie association have their offices there. I think it will all have to go. It is high on a hill above the city, prime real estate but only accessible by bus, and not on the route to anywhere else. You'd hope some sports facilities will be part of the eventual new plan. No one will miss the current object.
Great input