Stadiums are more than just structures built for sports events. They are the beating heart of a city, where people gather to cheer on their favourite teams and sportsmen. In this article, we will explore the top 10 biggest stadiums in the world.
We’ll take a deeper look at these remarkable structures and the events that have occurred within their walls, from the United States to North Korea. Join us as we discover the fascinating history and architecture behind the world’s largest stadiums, including Tiger Stadium, Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Ohio Stadium, Kyle Field, Neyland Stadium, Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, and Rungrado 1st of May Stadium.
Biggest Stadiums in the World
Here is the list of the biggest stadiums in the world:
1. Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium is a big outside sports arena in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It’s where the LSU Tigers football team plays their home games. Before 1924, LSU played at a smaller stadium called State Field, located on the old LSU campus in Downtown Baton Rouge.
When Tiger Stadium first opened in 1924, it could hold 12,000 people. However, over time, the stadium has been expanded and renovated to accommodate up to 102,321 people. That makes it the SEC’s third largest stadium, the NCAA’s sixth largest, and the world’s eighth largest!
2. Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium
Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium is a big sports arena in Austin, Texas where the Longhorns football team plays. At home, it has a record of 375 victories, 117 defeats, and 10 ties. The stadium, which seats 100,119 people, is the largest in the Big 12 Conference, the seventh largest in the United States, and the ninth largest in the world. On September 10, 2022, the biggest crowd ever watched a game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium with 105,213 people attending the game against The University of Alabama.
3. Bryant-Denny Stadium
Bryant-Denny Stadium is an outdoor sports stadium located on the University of Alabama’s Tuscaloosa campus. It’s been around for 94 years and serves as the home stadium for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. The stadium can hold up to 100,077 fans, making it one of the largest stadiums in the United States and the world. Originally, the stadium was called Denny Stadium after a former university president. However, in 1975, it was renamed to include the name of the team’s coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant.
4. Ohio Stadium
Ohio Stadium is a big football stadium on Ohio State University’s campus in Columbus. It’s where the Buckeyes football team plays and graduation ceremonies are held. People call it “the Horseshoe,” “the Shoe,” or “the House That Harley Built.” The stadium also hosted the Columbus Crew soccer team and concerts. It first opened in 1922 and today seats 104,944 people, making it the largest stadium in Ohio and the third largest college football stadium in the United States.
5. Kyle Field is a big football stadium
Kyle Field is a big football stadium on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. The Texas A&M Aggies have played there since 1904, and it became a permanent concrete stadium in 1927. It has a seating capacity of 102,733, making it the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference and fourth-largest in the NCAA. The largest game attendance was 110,633 people in 2014, the largest in Texas and SEC history at the time.
6. Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a big sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the Tennessee Volunteers football team plays their home games. It can hold up to 101,915 people and is also used for conventions and NFL games. The stadium, which was built in 1921, has undergone various expansions and is named for Robert Neyland, a former head football coach at the University of Tennessee. It is the fifth largest stadium in the United States and the seventh largest in the world.
7. Michigan Stadium
Ann Arbour, Michigan’s Michigan Stadium, often known as “The Big House,” is a football stadium. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the world’s third largest. Its capacity is 107,601, but it has held more than 115,000 fans. The stadium was built in 1927 and originally held 72,000 fans. Since 1975, every home game has had over 100,000 fans in attendance. Michigan Stadium is also used for graduation ceremonies and has hosted hockey and soccer games.
8. Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium is a collegiate football stadium on the University Park campus of Pennsylvania State University. It seats 106,572 people, making it the second biggest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth largest in the world. The stadium is named after James A. Beaver, a governor of Pennsylvania and president of the university’s board of trustees. It is widely known for having one of the toughest home-field advantages in collegiate athletics and has won multiple awards for its student section. In 2016 and 2019, it was named the best football stadium in college football by USA Today polls.
9. Narendra Modi Stadium
Narendra Modi Stadium, formerly known as Motera Stadium, is the largest cricket stadium in the world with a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators. Owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association, it hosts Test, ODI, T20I, and IPL matches. It was first built in 1983, renovated in 2006, and completely rebuilt by February 2020 at a cost of ₹800 crore (US$100 million). The stadium has hosted several cricket World Cup matches and various programs arranged by the Government of Gujarat. It was renamed in 2021 after the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who was also the president of Gujarat Cricket Association from 2009 to 2014.
10. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is a huge stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, built on a 51-acre area. It opened on May 1, 1989, with the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students. It is the world’s second-largest stadium, having a seating capacity of nearly 150,000 people, behind India’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Conclusion
In conclusion, stadiums play a crucial role in bringing people together for sporting events and other activities. From Tiger Stadium to Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, the top 10 biggest stadiums in the world are remarkable structures that have witnessed some of the most historic moments in sports. With seating capacities ranging from 100,000 to 132,000, these stadiums are not just architectural wonders, but also emblems of sports fans’ international enthusiasm and loyalty.
