Fans are the heart of the soul of any sport, and the more of them that fit in the stadium, the cooler and more solid it is. After all, the most amazing thing about them is that you can travel after your team. True, you’ll need binoculars to get a good look at the players. We offer an overview of the largest stadiums in the world, which takes your breath away, and the victories in them become more meaningful.
Ever since Roman times, people have been gathering en masse for entertainment and sporting events. At that time, gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum were popular. Modern stadiums honor tradition and also boast a size. Today, all the big stadiums in the world are associated with soccer matches. Almost half of them are in America and belong to college soccer teams, some can seat up to 100,000 people. The other half of the largest stadiums in the world are for FIFA championships and the Champions Cup, the Summer Olympics, the NHL, large-scale concerts, political gatherings and other cultural events.
- Bryant-Denny Stadium – 101,821 people
Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium opened in 1929 and is still used as the home field for the university’s Crimson Tide soccer team. It underwent renovation and expansion in 1998, at which time the east upper section was completed. The south and north sectors were expanded in 2006 and in 2010. Following the tornado that swept the state in 2011, a stylized checkered ribbon appeared on the field in memory of the victims. The visitor’s locker room is named for alumnus and sponsor emeritus James M. Feil.
- Tiger Stadium – 102,321 people
Tiger Stadium, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is known as the “valley of death” because all opponents will be defeated here. It is owned by the University Tigers, was opened in 1924 and at the time had a seating capacity of 12,000. After several renovations, it is now capable of holding up to 100,000 spectators. The stadium is considered one of the best in the world among soccer fans. Although the opposing teams, on the contrary, find it difficult.
- Neyland Stadium – 102,455 people
The stadium is named after General Robert Neyland, who contributed to the development and establishment of the Tennessee soccer team. It is also known by the name of Shields-Watkins Field. It was opened in 1921. From 1926 to 1952, not counting two big breaks during World Wars I and II, General Neyland was coach of the varsity team. Renovations initiated by students and faculty, which lasted from 2000 to 2005, increased the capacity of the stadium to 104,079.
- Ohio Stadium – 104,944 people
When Ohio Stadium was completed in 1922, it was the largest concrete structure in the world. It turned out to be so big that it made university officials anxious because they had no hope of selling out all the tickets, even though 90,000 spectators showed up for the 1925 game between Michigan and Ohio. Thanks to renovations in 2014, the stadium expanded, and during the November 2014 game, it held 108,610 spectators.
- Azteca Stadium – 105,064 people
Among the high-rise stadiums, this one is considered the best, most spectacular and important, as it hosted World Cup matches in the 20th century. On its field Maradona scored a goal against England in 1986, as well as held the match of the century between Italy and Germany with a score of 3-4 in extra time. Since its opening in 1966, the stadium became the site of the Olympics, the national soccer championship, the Pan American Games. During the boxing match between Julio Chavez and Greg Hogen, 132,247 spectators were in the stadium.
- Kyle Field Stadium – 106,511 people
Another famous university stadium, Kyle Field, was built in 1927 and broke the record of 100,000 spectators through renovations. In addition to being the home base of the Texas A&M Aggies soccer team, it is considered the “home of the twelfth member of the team,” i.e., the sponsor. Today, thanks to a 2015 renovation, it can hold more than 106,000 people. Because of fan activity during soccer games, opposing teams consider it somewhat aggressive.
- Beaver Stadium – 106,572 people
“Beaver is a little younger than many of the super stadiums in the United States that are owned by college soccer teams. In 1960, it was capable of seating 107,282 spectators, and thanks to the renovation of the handicapped spectator sector, it can now accommodate 106,572. The most massive sporting event held in the stadium was in 2002, when Penn State and Nebraska played in a game that was 40-7. This is the first stadium whose interior has been cataloged in Google Street View.
- Michigan Stadium – 109,901 people
The largest stadium in the United States, Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 and was nicknamed the “Big Apple”. It was built for public events, as it could seat 100,000 people back in 1955. In addition to being the home stadium of the Michigan Wolverines, President Lyndon Johnson spoke to his supporters there, and NHL games were played there. During the soccer game when Manchester United defeated Real Madrid, there were 109,318 spectators in the stadium. During a hockey game when the Toronto Maple Leafs outplayed the Detroit Red Wings, the stadium had 105,491 spectators.
- Salt Lake City Stadium – 120,000 people
Located in Calcutta, India, Salt Lake City Stadium drew a record crowd of 131,000 in 1997 during a soccer game between Mohun Bagan AC and East Bengal FC. It began its operation in 1984, the same year the soccer championship was held in honor of the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. The new owner of the stadium is the club Atlético de Kolkata, a member of the Indian Super League, whose team played its first match here in October 2014. In addition to soccer matches, the stadium hosts mass cultural and sporting events.
- May Day Stadium – 150,000 people
May Day Stadium is located in Phnom Penh, the capital of North Korea. Its construction was completed in May 1989. Officially it seats 150,000 people at a time, but during certain events the number of spectators has increased to 190,000. In addition to holding soccer matches of men’s and women’s teams, the stadium holds annual ceremonies in memory of Kim Il-Sung. The stadium has an area of 207,000 square meters and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest stadium in the world.
Other stadiums cannot boast large size and capacity, but they have original and eye-catching architecture.