Any of several games played between two teams on a usually rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the ball over a goal line, into a goal, or between goalposts by running, passing, or kicking. A stadium where football games are held. athletic facility available here. The buzz of attending the most memorable sporting events on the planet has as much to do with the atmosphere in the stadium as it does the competing teams. There’s an importance in showcasing the national or team culture throughout a stadium. Each stadium preserves its own unique identity. For most stadiums though, their sheer size and capacity is what sets them apart and generates a truly epic experience. Predictably, the USA have solid representation in the top 10 biggest stadiums in the world.
1.RUNGRADO 1ST OF MAY STADIUM – 150,000
The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on Rungra Island, Pyongyang, North Korea. It opened on 1 May 1989. The site occupies an area of 20.7 hectares (51 acres). Officially the world’s largest by capacity, Pyongyang, North Korea’s Rungrado 1st of May Stadium takes top spot. The name of this stadium comes from Rungrado Islet in the Taedong River, upon which it is located, and May Day, the international labour day. Its crenated roof has 16 arches which are arranged in the shape of a ring, and it resembles a magnolia blossom. It has eight storeys in all and stands at an impressive height of more than 60 metres from the ground. The 60-metre long canopy is enough to cover the section of the stands. The mayflower shaped arena was built as a national symbol of power and size and accommodates 150,000 people.
The venue holds many events, from football to athletics but is largely used for parades and shows, most notably the annual Arirang Mass Games. The stadium has 80 exits and ten lifts. The stadium has many training halls, recreation rooms, an indoor swimming pool, an ultrasonic bath, a sauna, beds and many other modern facilities, which help the players in their training needs and make them feel comfortable. It also has many dining rooms, a broadcasting room and telex booths. As the world largest stadium it hosts the largest performance in the world, the Mass Games performance which involves over 100,000 performers. And this has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records. As Ahmedabad inaugurates the world’s largest cricket stadium, here’s a look at the other sporting arenas that pack in crowds in the thousands.
2.MICHIGAN STADIUM – 113,065
From the time it opened in 1927 until today, Michigan Stadium has maintained its status of being one of the largest stadiums in college football. Prior to playing at Michigan Stadium the Wolverines played at Ferry Field since 1906 and continually had to expand the stadium as interest in the team grew. With growing support, a new stadium was needed to accommodate fans. One word describes Michigan Stadium is huge. Fielding Yost, coach of the team designed a new stadium and the University of Michigan approved construction in April 1926. Built at a cost of $950,000, It was modeled after the Yale Bowl and was built of steel and concrete. When completed the stadium seated nearly 72,000 fans.
Yost designed the stadium so it could be expanded to seat up to 200,000 fans. The Michigan Wolverines played their inaugural first game at Michigan Stadium on October 1, 1927 against Ohio Wesleyan. The entire single tier grandstand circles the playing field. The official capacity when Michigan Stadium opened was 84,401, an enormous number during this time and was the largest stadium in the nation in 1927. Today, Michigan Stadium is the largest college football stadium in the nation. It is nicknamed “The Big House” because of its enormous size. For over 200 games the Wolverines have attracted more than 100,000 fans and hosted 111,238 fans in a game against Michigan State on November 20, 1999. Michigan Stadium is the site of the University of Michigan’s main graduation ceremonies; renovations in April 2008 caused that year’s ceremony to be moved to the Diag.
3.BEAVER STADIUM – 106,572
Beaver Stadium is a venue that is widely considered one of the most intimidating venues for opposing teams in US Collegiate sports. Beaver Stadium has been the home of the Nittany Lions since 1960 and is one of the largest stadiums in college football. Throughout the past century the Nittany Lions have played at several facilities including a stadium also named Beaver Stadium. The original Beaver Stadium was located on the west side of campus and seated 30,000 fans. Named for James Beaver, President of the Board of Trustees, the Nittany Lions played at the original Beaver Stadium from 1909 until 1959. The university decided to disassemble the stadium and move it to its current location after the 1959 season. The team played its first game in the rebuilt stadium on September 17, 1960 against Boston University. Beaver Stadium’s horseshoe configuration enabled it to have a seating capacity of 46,284. In 1976, the bleachers in the south end zone were expanded.
By 1978 the capacity was 76,000 after the track was removed from the stadium and the stadium was cut into sections and raised, adding new seats where the track was located. Two years later, the capacity was increased to 83,770 and lights were installed in 1984. An upper deck was added in 1991, increasing the capacity by 10,000. Continued fan support has allowed PSU to continue to improve and expand Beaver Stadium. This project included the addition of a 10,000 seat upper deck, a new video/scoreboard, 60 luxury suites, 4,000 club seats and new restrooms and concessions. The latest upgrade to Beaver Stadium was completed before the 2014 season as both video/scoreboards were upgraded. Today, Beaver Stadium is currently the largest stadium in college football with a capacity of 107,282, behind Michigan Stadium’s 108,000 seating capacity. Because of its size, Beaver Stadium has been named one of the scariest place for opposing teams to play.
4.OHIO STADIUM – 104,944
Nestled along the banks of the Olentangy River, Ohio Stadium is one of the most recognized landmarks in college sports. As you cross over the Lane Avenue Bridge and look to the right in astonishment, it’s obvious to passerby’s that you are headed to Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes. In fact, Ohio Stadium, also known as “the Shoe”, was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. With a seating capacity of 102,780, it’s the fourth largest football stadium in college football. The history of the stadium dates back to 1913 when the Buckeyes played at Ohio Field and a new stadium was needed because of growing support for the team. Ohio State wanted to build a stadium large enough to accommodate fans that were interested in the sport. It is one of the best college football stadiums in the nation. The university commissioned Howard D. Smith to design a double decked horseshoe stadium in 1918. After securing the funding to build the new stadium, construction began in August 1921.
Built of steel and concrete, the stadium was constructed at a cost of $1.3 million. At Ohio Stadium on October 7, the Buckeyes played their first game, 1922 against Ohio Wesleyan. When it opened Ohio Stadium had a seating capacity of 66,210 in a unique, double decked horseshoe configuration. In 1984, a new scoreboard was added, and in 1991, 5,000 seats were added in the south end zone. This expansion included the removal of the Jesse Owens Track and lowered the field by 14 feet. Lowering the field allowed for additional rows of seating to be added. Furthermore, a 40 foot tall shell was added on the east and west sides of the stadium to allow the rim to be raised for an additional 17 rows of seats to be installed. A new video/scoreboard, 76 luxury suites and 2,500 club seats were also a part of this massive expansion project. In 2013, Ohio State announced plans to add an additional 2,500 seats in the south end zone at Ohio Stadium.
5.KYLE FIELD – 102, 733
The history of Kyle Field dates to the mid 1920s when it was constructed in two phases, 1927 and 1929, and named after Edwin J. Kyle, the athletic council President and the Dean of Agriculture who led the way in getting a new facility built for the Aggies. The university was founded as a rural military and agricultural school. Although, military training is no longer required, the university still has respect for military traditions and values. These are just a few of the many traditions that have built the university and its student body into being one of the most enthusiastic, loudest stadium’s in college football. Originally with a single tier grandstand in a horseshoe configuration around the playing field, Kyle Field has grown enormously with a seating capacity of over 32,000. The next expansion was completed before the 1980 season, when the third decks were added. The original grass field was replaced by Astroturf in 1970 but reverted back to grass before the 1996 season.
A $32.9 million expansion and renovation project was completed before the 1999 season. The original stands on the north side that formed the horseshoe were removed and a new massive three tier grandstand was built. This section, known as “The Zone” houses luxury suites, club seats, and the Texas A&M sports museum. This increased the seating capacity to 82,600. In February 2013 Texas A&M unveiled plans to expand Kyle Field, making it one of the largest stadiums in the country. The $425 million expansion enclosed Kyle Field pushing the capacity to 102,512, making it the largest stadium in the SEC and one of the largest in college football. The two phases project was completed over two years. The first phase construction of the south end zone seating structure and the largest videoboard in sports at 47 feet tall by 163 feet wide. Construction of Kyle Field Phase two was completed by the 2015 season. The home of the Aggies is now one of the most intimidating stadiums in the country.
6.NEYLAND STADIUM USA – 102, 455
Neyland Stadium was born of humble beginnings. In 1919, W.S. Shields, a University of Tennessee trustee and President of the local bank, provided the money for a new stadium for the football program. The stadium and its fans are also a powerful recruiting tool as Tennessee has produced some of the finest athletes in the NFL today and the Volunteers plan to continue this trend long into the future. Completed in 1921, the stadium was originally known as Shields-Watkins Field, after Shields and his wife Alice Watkins. The Volunteers played their inaugural first game at the stadium on September 24, 1921 against Emory and Henry. The first of 16 expansions of the stadium began in 1926, when a grandstand that could seat 3,600 was constructed. The same year, famous Vols head coach, Robert R. Neyland, began his tenure as head of the football program. Expansions to the stadium have continued over the years. Shields Watkins Stadium was renamed Neyland Stadium in 1962, after the famous Vols head coach. Seating increasing the capacity at Neyland Stadium to 91,249. In 1987, 42 luxury suites were added to the stadium and an additional 78 were added prior to the 2000 season. The Neyland Stadium was completed after bringing the capacity to 104,544.
Artificial turf was at the stadium from the 1968 season until 1993, when it was replaced with grass. In 2004, the University of Tennessee approved a $200 million master plan to expand and renovate Neyland Stadium in five phases. The first phase included renovating the east side in 2006 by adding new club seats. This decreased the seating capacity to just over 102,000. The next phase was completed on the west side before the 2009 season as skyboxes, the pressbox and club areas were renovated. The concourses were also revamped and expanded with new restrooms and concession areas. Also included in this renovation project was the installation of a 4,000 square foot HD video/scoreboard. It includes the Tennessee Terrace, a 1,800 club seat area, the Gate 21 plaza and a new brick facade. Today the capacity of Neyland Stadium is 102,455. Today, Neyland Stadium is one of the most well known stadiums in the sport. It is one of the loudest stadiums in football with two decks of seats enclosing the playing field. Expansions over the years have been worth it, as Neyland Stadium is consistently voted as one of the best college football stadiums.
7.TIGER STADIUM – 102, 321
Perhaps one of the most popular stadiums in baseball history, Tiger Stadium was the home of
the Detroit Tigers for nearly a century. Located at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues, it was a mecca for generations of Tiger fans. Baseball was first played at this location in 1896 when Detroit owner Arthur Van Der Beck bought the club. A new ballpark of steel and concrete was constructed on the same site after demolishing of wood. Homeplate was moved from right field to the location where it was until Tiger Stadium closed. On April 20, 1912 the Detroit Tigers played their first game at their new ballpark, named Navin Field after the club’s owner, Frank Navin. A press box was added on top of the roof. The 1930s expansion project gave Tiger Stadium its look that it retained for 70 years. In 1935, Navin Field was renamed Briggs Stadium after owner Walter O. Briggs. Construction was completed by April 1937 and Briggs Stadium could seat 36,000 fans. After expansion, Briggs Stadium was now enclosed and had a capacity of 54,500, making it one of baseballs largest stadiums. Dimensions were 340 ft. (left), 440 ft. (center), and 325 ft. (right).
Night baseball came to Briggs Stadium on June 15, 1948. During the same year, the press box was extended around the third deck. In 1961, Briggs Stadium was renamed Tiger Stadium when the team was bought by John Fetzer. Tiger fans became outraged in 1972. Then original green seats with new orange and blue seats, a new video/scoreboard replaced the old hand operated one in centerfield, a new press box with two luxury suites were hung. Concessions and restrooms were updated, and new blue and white siding was added to the facade of the stadium. A food court called the Tiger Plaza was completed. From the green grass to the green seats and eventually the blue and orange seats, Tiger Stadium reminded fans what baseball was like in 1914. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. A new ballpark for the Tigers was built in downtown Detroit, and the club moved to Comerica Park after the 1999 season. The last game at Tiger Stadium was on September 27, 1999.
8.BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM – 101, 821
Situated in the heart of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium is home to the University of Alabama NCAA College football team. Nearly 100,077 fans hanging in the Bryant-Denny Stadium, home of the Alabama Crimson Tide since 1929. The recording of former coach Bear Bryant’s voice is broadcast throughout the stadium. Today Bryant Denny Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the nation; however it took hard work and multiple expansions to finally reach this point. The University of Alabama has played football for over a century, but it took nearly four decades before they began to play at Bryant Denny Stadium. George Hutchenson Denny Stadium was built on September 28, 1929. By 1946, bleachers were at both end zones of the stadium and the capacity reached 31,000. A new press box and 12,000 seats were added. Five years later the capacity increased to 60,000. In 1975, State Legislature renamed George Hutchenson Denny Stadium, Bryant-Denny Stadium, after legendary Alabama football coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant. The seating capacity of Bryant Denny Stadium increased again in 1988 when the upper deck was added on the west side, increasing the capacity to 70,123.
In 1998, the east side upper deck was constructed, bumping the capacity to 83,000. This project included 81 new skyboxes, a scoreboard on the south end, new lights, an east side entrance tower and a brick façade for the facility. Before the 2006 season, a $50 million expansion project increased the seating capacity to over 92,000, with new seats and skyboxes. The area was named the “Walk of Champions.” In November 2008, Alabama announced plans to expand Bryant Denny Stadium to seat 101,821 fans. This $65.6 million expansion was completed by the start of the 2010 season. It includes a 8,500 seat upper deck, 34 luxury seats, 1,700 club seats, a 1,500 seat stadium club and two new corner video boards, all on the south side of the stadium. This multi-phase project was completed in phases following the 2019 season. Included in this project are replacing the existing video boards will new larger ones, a new elevator bank on the west side of the stadium, reconfiguration of the Alabama locker room, expanding the recruiting room and a 10,000-square foot social area for students. Additionally the press box will be relocated to the east side of the stadium, replaced by 10 new luxury suites. This project reduced the overall seating capacity to just above 100,000.
9.DARRELL K ROYAL-TEXAS MEMORIAL STADIUM – 100,119
The Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium at Joe Jamail Field is home to the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns football team. As The University of Texas continues at the forefront of the college football landscape, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at Joe Jamail Field remains a state-of-the-art facility since 1924. Stadium has delivered a great home field advantage with the team’s home record through the 2014 season being 359–105–10 (76.8%). The current official stadium seating capacity of 100,119. The South End Zone Addition will complete our Stadium bowl by replacing the existing bleachers at the south end of the Stadium. It is the ninth largest stadium in the world.
The addition will include new suites, clubs, loge boxes, sponsor amenities, new fan seating, an upgraded video scoreboard, and new coaches’ offices as well as upgrading the existing Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center with the latest Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Services technologies. This expansion on the south end zone will provide enhanced game day experience for our fans and create additional revenue for Texas Athletics along with further supporting our student athlete services, recruitment, retention, and help keep football revenues at a high level. This construction made the stadium the largest in the Big 12 Conference, the eighth largest stadium in the United States.
10.MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND (MCG) – 100,024
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is regarded as Australia’s premier sporting venue. For over one hundred years, it has played host to many of the country’s biggest cricket and Australian Rules Football matches, and many other significant sporting contests besides. It was, in fact, even the centrepiece of the Olympic Games of 1956. Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) founded in November 1838. The Melbourne is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria built in 1853. It is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. It is adjacent to Melbourne Park and is part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct. The total seating capacity brought to 100,024.
Prior to a series of developments in the 1980s and 1990s, it possessed a capacity of around 125,000; since that time, the extension of individual seating to virtually all of its reaches has reduced that figure to somewhere closer to 97,000. In short, it is an imposing stadium: the three-tiered Great Southern Stand bounds the perimeter of one half of the ground and holds close to 50,000 people; there are also vast banks of seating in the Ponsford Stand, Olympic Stand and Members’ Reserve. It is also replete with a Gallery of Sport, two giant electronic scoreboards, and a vast array of corporate and media facilities. The club’s first game was against a military team at the Old Mint site, at the corner of William and Latrobe Streets.
