Baseball, cricket, soccer, American soccer… sports are now omnipresent in our society. Discover the 15 biggest stadiums in the world!
In many countries, every city now has at least one stadium. However, while at one time these stadiums served primarily as arenas for teams to express their sporting potential, today they are all about excess, grandeur and, above all, majesty.
Here’s a quick rundown of the 15 biggest stadiums in the world!
1. Premier-Mai Stadium
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons – Ryuugakusei
Built in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, the First of May stadium serves primarily as a parade ground for the army of this Asian country. With a capacity of 150,000, this stadium is the world’s largest.
2. Salt Lake Stadium
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons – Arindam Ghosh
Salt Lake Stadium is purely a soccer venue for the city in which it is located, Calcutta in the Indian state of West Bengal. With a capacity of up to 120,000 spectators, it is the second largest stadium in the world.
3. Michigan Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Ajay Suresh
Located in the U.S. state of Michigan, as its name suggests, Michigan Stadium is intended for purely sporting use. It plays host to American soccer matches for the city ofAnn Arbor.
This mythical stadium has left its mark on American sporting history. The stadium seats up to 109,901.
4. Beaver Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – drocpsu
Another American stadium, Beaver Stadium is also home to the local American soccer team. Located in the town of University Park, Beaver Stadium can accommodate up to 107,282 spectators.
5. Azteca Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Jorge Figueroa
Built in the Mexican capital, Mexico City, the Estadio Azteca is used by one of Mexico City’s soccer clubs as their main stadium. It can accommodate 105,064 spectators simultaneously.
6. Neyland Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Frank Weiskopf
The city of Knoxville in Tennessee, USA, is known as the home of one of the fiercest and most successful American soccer teams in the USA.
The stadium lives up to the team’s reputation. It welcomes some 102,459 spectators at each match. It is the sixth largest stadium in the world.
7. Ohio Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Photographer
Another stadium hosting American soccer matches, Ohio Stadium is the home arena of the local Columbus team. With a capacity of 102,329, it is the seventh-largest stadium in the world.
8. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – tujabro_99
Located in the American town of Tuscalussa, Bryant-Denny Stadium also hosts American soccer matches for the local team. It has a seating capacity of 101,821.
9. Bukit Jalil National Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi
The Bukit Jalil national stadium is the largest in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Located in Kuala Lumpur, it hosts soccer matches for the Malaysian national team, as well as those of the eponymous city team. It has a capacity of 100,200.
10. Texas Memorial Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Randall Chancellor
The Texas Memorial Stadium is located in the Texan city ofAustin. With a capacity of 100,119, it is the home stadium of Austin’s NFL team.
Its recent US$175 million renovation has given it a new lease of life.
11. Melbourne Cricket Ground
Photo credit: Flickr – Jon Lin Photography
While France’s favorite sport is rugby and the USA’s is American soccer, Australia idolizes cricket. In Melbourne, the Melbourne Cricket Ground hosts matches for the local Australian cricket and soccer teams. It seats 100,000.
12. Camp Nou
It’s hard to talk about the 15 biggest stadiums in the world without mentioning the home of European soccer, the Camp Nou. Located in Barcelona, this emblematic stadium is owned by the Spanish club Barcelona FC. Mythical and the source of a thousand and one legends, Barça is king here and has seen few sad sporting endings.
The Camp Nou is not just a sports stadium, it’s also a behemoth capable of seating up to 99,354 people. It is the twelfth largest stadium on the planet.
13. FNB Stadium
Photo credit: Flickr – Pascal Parent
Africa takes center stage at Johannesburg‘s FNB stadium. It’s more or less the biggest stadium on the African continent, with a staggering 94,700 spectators at each of the home team’s soccer matches.
Renovation work is planned in a few months’ time to increase capacity. So it’s not out of the question for FNB Stadium to move up a few places in this ranking.
14. Memorial Coliseum
Photo credit: Flickr – David Swinney
California’s Memorial Coliseum is the seventh-largest stadium in the United States, and the fourteenth-largest in the world. This multi-purpose stadium hosts soccer, American soccer and even baseball matches, while also serving as a parade ground for local and national celebrations.
It has a capacity of 93,607 and stands in the heart of Los Angeles, the City of Angels.
15. Eden Gardens
Photo credit: Flickr – Mashrik Faiyaz
Along with Australia, India is one of the few cricketing nations in the world. The city of Calcutta even has a stadium dedicated exclusively to the sport, the Eden Gardens. Some 93,000 people flock to the stadium every time the local or national team plays.