Sport heals the soul, but nothing makes sport more interesting than watching it live from the most treasured stadiums in the world. The roar of spectators from each direction and the occasional outbursts from pissed off fans always complement any game. That is why every sport has that particular arena where fans always love to watch the game. With time, the arena is absorbed into the spirit of the sport and becomes part of its very definition. While there are thousands of breathtaking sports arenas in the world if you are a lover of Baseball like I am you will recognise many of these legendary stadiums below…
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox, arguably one of the most successful Baseball franchises in the MLB history. Even though it is not the largest baseball venue in the United States by capacity, its history is virtually unmatched by any other venue. The venue was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in the US in 2012 because of the huge global baseball fanbase it enjoys. Its sitting capacity stands just shy of 40,000.
The best sitting option is on the Budweiser roof deck, which has tables high above the right field. A massive wall nicknamed ‘The Green Monster’ dominates the left field. The Lone Red Seat is located in the right field section and symbolizes the longest home run ever hit at Fenway Park. It was hit by baseball legend, Ted Williams, on June 9th, 1946, and measured a ridiculous 502 feet. With all this history in the Fenway park, it must definitely be on the bucket list of any lover of Baseball.
Old Trafford, Manchester
I’m not a United fan, but then truth has to be told, right? Famously referred to as ‘The Theatre of Dreams,’ The Old Trafford is both a tourist attraction and the base of the most successful club in English football, Manchester United. It has been the iconic football club’s home ground since 1910.
The ground has seen some of the most legendary players and teams grace its turf. It was during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign as the coach that Old Trafford earned its reputation as a fortress. Old Trafford is a must-visit for any football lover that sets foot on the British Isles.
Camp Nou, Barcelona
The Camp Nou is the largest soccer stadium in both Spain and Europe and is also the 3rd largest in the entire world. It is the home to one of the most popular football clubs in the world, FC Barcelona, and holds a sitting capacity of 99,354 people. Despite having a loyal local fanbase, the club has attracted a massive following from all over the world.
Camp Nou has been the host of some of the most iconic sporting events in European history. For instance, it hosted some matches during the 1982 FIFA world cup. Oh, and of course, the 1998/99 UEFA Champions League Finals in which Manchester United was crowned the European champions.
Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Wrigley Field is over a century old and is considered sacred ground by baseball fans. It has been the home of Chicago Cubs since 1916. It has been renovated thrice since being opened in 1914. It currently holds a capacity of 41,649 people. It is the second-largest Major League venue still in use and boasts of unique features that you are unlikely to see on other modern stadiums. Its walls are covered with ivy and also has a hand-turned scoreboard.
This monumental stadium has been used to host several events and sports. For example, the Chicago Bears of the National Football League hosted its home matches on this venue from 1927 to 1970 before moving to Soldier Field, where they occupy to date. The field is also known for hosting some of history’s most electrifying concerts.
Madison Square Garden, New York
The Madison Square Garden has been the go-to place for entertainers since 1879. Three buildings bore the same name before the current Madison Square Garden was built in mid-Manhattan. The first MSG lasted from 1879 to 1890, while the second one existed between 1890 and 1895. The third one existed between 1925 and 1968. Of course, all these were just a fraction of the current Madison Square Garden, which is humongous, to say the very least.
It occupies a field space of 820,000 square feet and has a capacity of just over 20,000 people. It currently hosts several sports franchises in the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association, including The New York Rangers and The New York Knicks. It has also hosted a number of blockbuster boxing matches, including the famous Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather multimillion bout.
Wembley Stadium, London
Popularly referred to as the home of football, Wembley Stadium is the camp of the English national team. It was demolished in 2002 and reconstructed and reopened in 2007. It can hold a whopping 90,000 spectators and is currently the largest stadium in the United Kingdom and the second largest in Europe just behind the Camp Nou.
Since it’s completion, The Wembley Stadium has been the host of major matches, including all of England’s home matches, all the finals of the FA Cup, the finals of the EFL Cup and the finals of the play-off matches of the England Championship. The Wembley
All-England Club, Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon or the home of Tennis, as referred to by most stars of the sport, is simply the best place in the world to watch a tennis game. It boasts of 375 full members and nearly one hundred temporary members, a good number of them being honorary members composed of past winners and individuals who have offered great service to the game. The club has numerous playing courts, 18 of them being considered as the classic.
Wimbledon is currently the fourth largest tennis venue in the world. Its largest court is the centre court and usually holds the finals of the main singles and doubles events of the championships. It currently holds up to 15,000 spectators and also has a retractable roof, which has drastically improved the fans’ experience.
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
This rare piece of earth is the favourite spot for Drivers and fans of all forms of racing. Daytona International Speedway is undoubtedly one of the greatest Nascar racing grounds on the planet. The venue opened its doors in 1959 and has since been hosting the most glamourous NASCAR competitions, especially the famous Daytona 500. After recent renovations in 2016, the venue is now capable of hosting up to 125,000 Nascar fans.
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Lambeau Field was opened on the 29th of September 1957 and has a capacity of just over 81,000. It is the home of the Green Bay Packers and the oldest continually used stadium in the NFL. The stadium was named after its late founder Curly Lambeau, and its name has remained unchanged ever since despite numerous attempts by corporates to secure its naming rights. This stadium has hosted numerous historical events such as the Packers’ 21-17 win against The Cowboys in 1967 and the more recent 45-41 win against the Detroit Lions.
Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Football is loved and adored in Brazil. It is not just a sport there; it is a religion with a national cultic following. If indeed it is a religion, then the Maracanã stadium is its central temple. The Maracanã stadium was opened on the 16th of June 1950 and has a capacity of 78,838. It is located in Rio de Janeiro and is Brazil’s largest stadium.
Since 2000, it has been renovated three times. The Maracanã was named a national landmark in 1998 and has hosted numerous events, from Pele’s 1961 ‘Gol Ji Placa’ to Germany’s fourth crowning of the world cup in 2014. Oh, and even the 2016 Olympics, the Maracanã has seen it all. The Maracanã boasts a remarkable architecture and is also a perfect place to visit by tourists.