Attending a sports event at a huge stadium should be on everyone’s bucket list. People have always been obsessed with monumental buildings and structures, many of which were built for sports events. For example, the Romans built the Colosseum thousands of years ago to host the gladiatorial games. It was the largest stadium in the world at the time.
Now:
We no longer have gladiators, but we still build awe-inspiring sports venues. In this article, we’ll show you the 31 biggest stadiums in the world, ranked by their capacity.
We’ll also share lots of interesting stats and facts about them which you probably didn’t know before, so keep reading below!
Largest Stadiums in the World
1. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium– Pyongyang, North Korea (150,000)
(Source: StadiumDB)
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is officially the largest sports stadium in the world. It was built back in 1989 to show the immense power of North Korea’s ruling dynasty.
This stadium is built in the shape of the Mayflower and may accommodate up to 150,000 people according to the official sources.
This venue hosts a variety of different events, such as football games and athletics competitions, but it is predominantly used for national shows and parades. The biggest parade held here is the Arirang Mass Games.
2. Michigan Stadium – Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA (107,601)
(Source: Annarbor)
The Michigan Stadium is the largest American football stadium in the world, home to the Michigan Wolverines, the state’s most successful football team.
This massive stadium is located in Ann Arbor and is one of the oldest ones in the country as well. It was officially opened in 1927. The last time it was renovated was in 2010, when its capacity was increased, and the entire structure was reinforced and modernized.
Fun fact:
Even though the official Michigan Football Stadium capacity is 107,601, it has hosted events in excess of 115,000 visitors! That easily makes it one of the biggest sport stadiums in the world.
3. Beaver Stadium – State College, Pennsylvania, USA (106,572)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Beaver Stadium is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions and located in the small town of State College. To imagine the sheer size of this venue, consider that the average attendance is over 100,000, whereas the town where it’s located has a population of 42,000.
Beaver Stadium was officially opened in 1960, becoming one of the biggest football stadiums in the world. Since then, it was renovated several times, the last time in 2014.
Tickets are hard to come by:
It is not uncommon for people to camp in front of the Beaver Stadium days before the events to get the best tickets and the best seats.
4. Kyle Field – College Station, Texas, USA (102,733)
(Source: Texags)
Kyle Field is sufficient proof that everything’s bigger in Texas indeed! This is one of the biggest world stadiums and by far the biggest one in the Lone Star State.
The venue is located on the Texas A&M University campus and serves as the home base of the Texas A&M Aggies football team.
And it’s older than it seems:
Kyle Field was officially opened in 1927, but the Texas Aggies have been playing football in the same location ever since 1904.
5. Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, Tennessee, USA (102,455)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Neyland Stadium is the biggest college football stadium in Tennessee, but it is used for much more than that.
This monster of steel and concrete is often used for concerts, charity events, and political rallies, bringing together just shy of 100,000 people on average.
Record attendance: The largest attendance ever recorded at Neyland Stadium was 109,061, in 2004 when Tennessee defeated Florida by a narrow margin.
6. Tiger Stadium – Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA (102,321)
(Source: Lsu Sports)
The sixth-largest stadium in the world is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is home to the Louisiana State University’s football team.
This stadium is popularly known as Death Valley, which instills fear in the opposing teams. Another thing that intimidates the opponents on the field is the fact that Tiger Stadium is the loudest venue in college football.
The Tiger Stadium capacity is 102,301, even though this number has been exceeded 11 times since it was opened in 1924.
7. Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio, USA (102,082)
(Source: Ohio State News)
Ohio Stadium is known as the most popular football stadium in the US because there is supposed to be not a single bad seat in the entire venue.
This is possible due to the fact that the stadium is built in the shape of a horseshoe, which is why it is also aptly named the “Horseshoe.”
Home to the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, it is known to be one of the biggest stadiums in the world, with a record attendance of 110,045 in 2016, when Ohio played local rivals Michigan.
8. Bryant-Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA (101,821)
(Source: Wikipedia)
The Bryant-Denny Stadium is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and is the home of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Its average recorded capacity is just below 100K.
Named in honor of George H. Denny:
This stadium was opened in 1929 and was originally called the Denny Stadium, named after one of Alabama University’s presidents. In 1975, the name of Paul Bryant, the team’s longtime head coach, was added as well.
The Alabama Crimson Tide is one of the most successful football teams in the United States, which is expected with a luxurious house like this.
9. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium – Austin, Texas, USA (100,119)
(Source: Wikipedia)
At the moment, the Darrell K Royal is ninth on our list. However, once the ongoing renovation is complete in five years’ time, this is going to be the largest stadium in the USA.
The Texas Longhorns NCAA College football team has proudly called this venue their home ever since it was opened in 1924.
Fun fact:
The Darrell K Royal stadium hosts the largest electronic scoreboard in the world, aptly called “Godzillatron.” It is 41 meters wide and 25 meters tall!
10. Melbourne Cricket Ground – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (100,024)
(Source: Business Today)
In the tenth position, we have the largest cricket stadium in the world, located in Melbourne, Australia. However, this stadium is also used for Australian Rules Football, which is another massively popular sport in the land down under.
It’s home to a number of huge events:
Apart from football and cricket, the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been used to host numerous large events, such as the 1956 Olympics, two Cricket World Cups, and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The MCG also regularly hosts the iconic Boxing Day Test.
11. Camp Nou – Barcelona, Spain (99,354)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Camp Nou is the biggest stadium in Europe when it comes to the most popular sport in the world—soccer!
This behemoth is located in Barcelona, Spain, and is the home turf of Barcelona FC. Nonetheless, it is loved and respected by fans of other football clubs as well, due to its sheer magnitude and amazing atmosphere.
In 2018, Barcelona’s officials got the green light to expand the seating capacity to 105,000, which will reinforce Camp Nou’s position as the largest soccer stadium in the world.
12. Sanford Stadium – Athens, Georgia, USA (95,723)
(Source: College Gridirons)
The Sanford Stadium is located on the University of Georgia campus and is the tenth-biggest stadium in the NCAA.
This stadium, apart from being one of the biggest football stadiums in the world, is also known for its numerous reconstructions and expansions.
The Sanford Stadium is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world thanks to the massive hills that surround it. So, it’s quite hard to focus solely on the game when you visit it!
13. Soccer City – Johannesburg, South Africa (94,736)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Soccer City, also known as the FNB Stadium, is a huge surprise when it comes to its size. From the outside, it doesn’t look that big, but it easily achieves a seating capacity of 94,736 spectators. That gets it on our list as one of the biggest soccer stadiums in the world.
Soccer City is most widely known as the main venue for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but it is also home to South Africa’s national soccer team.
This is one of the youngest stadiums on our list, as it was opened in 1989.
14. Cotton Bowl Stadium – Dallas, Texas, USA (92,100)
(Source: Ketr)
Cotton Bowl Stadium was opened in 1930 at the location of the former State Fair of Texas. It is the longtime home of the annual college football post-season game, also known as the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Cotton Bowl is also regarded by some as the biggest concert stadium in the world. It has been a venue for a large number of memorable concerts, featuring some of the most famous artists in the world, such as Elvis Presley, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Santana, and many others.
15. Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California, USA (90,888)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Rose Bowl is home to the Los Angeles Bruins, the University of California’s official team. It is regarded as the biggest sport stadium on the West Coast, and it’s also a National Historic Landmark.
The Rose Bowl capacity is 90,888, but the record attendance was 106,869 in 1973. This stadium was opened in 1922, so it is officially one of the oldest sports venues in the USA as well.
Check this out:
Rose Bowl is best known for hosting the 1994 World Cup final between Italy and Brazil, when Brazil won 3-2 after penalties, becoming the first nation to win the world cup four times.
16. Wembley Stadium – London, England (90,000)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Everyone misses the old Twin Towers Wembley Stadium demolished between 2002 and 2003. However, the new Wembley does a fantastic job of filling that hole in European soccer fans’ hearts.
The current Wembley Stadium was opened in 2007, after a four-year construction that cost a mind-blowing £1.17 billion! Wembley Stadium has a capacity of 90,000, but this number differs depending on the type of event hosted.
It is the home of the Three Lions, England’s national soccer team and also hosts the FA Cup final.
But that’s not all:
This is a versatile event that is often used for purposes other than soccer, such as concerts, NFL games, athletics events, and so on.
17. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, Florida, USA (88,548)
(Source: Florida Gators)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as “The Swamp,” is the official home to the University of Florida’s football team. Imagine playing for your college team and entering the field cheered by 88,548 spectators – that must be a moment to remember!
When the stadium was built in 1930, it had a capacity of just 22,000. However, after the latest renovations, it easily made our list as the 17th largest stadium in the world. That’s quite a feat!
The most notable events that take place at the Ben Hill Griffin include the Gator Growl, high school football, college bowl games, and numerous concerts.
18. Jordan-Hare Stadium – Auburn, Alabama, USA (87,451)
(Source: Auburn Tigers)
Jordan-Hare Stadium is the playing field for the Auburn University Tigers, one of the most successful college football teams in the United States. The stadium is located on the college campus in Alabama, where it was built in 1939.
Originally, its capacity was just 15,000. But ten renovations later, that number is close to 90,000, making it one of the biggest and best stadiums in the world. The venue was named after Ralph “Shug” Jordan and Cliff Hare, the two most successful players in the history of the Auburn college team.
19. Bukit Jalil National Stadium – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (87,411)
(Source: Stadium.Gov.My)
Let’s take a short trip to Kuala Lumpur and visit the biggest sports stadium in Malaysia. Bukit Jalil National Stadium was opened in 1996 and stands tall as the biggest stadium in South East Asia.
It’s the 2018 Stadium of the Year:
Thanks to the recent impressive renovation, the Bukit Jalil National Stadium won the 2018 Stadium of the Year award in Amsterdam. Hopefully, this will be a motivation for the Malaysian national team to step up their game and improve their world rankings.
20. Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico (87,000)
(Source: StadiumDB)
The Aztec civilization was known for building impressive structures. While they didn’t construct the Estadio Azteca, we’re sure they would be proud of it.
Estadio Azteca became the 20th largest football stadium in the world after its latest renovation in 2016.
This is a multi-purpose venue that serves not only as the home field of Mexico’s national soccer team, but it is also used for football games, concerts, Christian events, and even funeral services. The Estadio Azteca capacity is planned to be increased with future renovations.
21. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium – Norman, Oklahoma, USA (86,112)
(Source: Wikipedia)
The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is located on the University of Oklahoma campus and serves as the home field of the Oklahoma Sooners. This stadium is also popularly known as The Palace of the Prairies and Owen Field.
This venue is the 15th biggest college football stadium in the USA. Even though its capacity is estimated at 86,112, the record attendance was 88,308 in 2017.
The stadium was modernized after the 2015-2016 renovation which cost $160 million.
22. Memorial Stadium – Lincoln, Nebraska, USA (86,047)
(Source: Huskers)
Memorial Stadium is one of Nebraska’s biggest sources of pride. Located on the University of Nebraska campus, it is home to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The locals and the Cornhuskers fans also call this stadium The Sea of Red, which is what it looks like when it is jam-packed with spectators.
The venue has been expanded a number of times since it opened in 1923, which has made it what it is today—the 22nd largest football stadium in the world.
23. Borg El Arab Stadium – Alexandria, Egypt (86,000)
(Source: Football Tripper)
The Borg El Arab Stadium was built in 2005, 25 kilometers west of Alexandria, Egypt. It is the second-largest stadium in Africa and by far the largest one in the country.
Borg El Arab is considered to be the largest stadium in the world when it comes to its umbrella. It covers 35% of the total area of the stadium, providing shelter to more than 30,000 spectators.
The record attendance at this venue was 86,000 in 2018, which is its estimated capacity.
24. Salt Lake Stadium – Kolkata, India (85,000)
(Source: SportsLens)
Contrary to what you might think, Salt Lake Stadium is not located in Salt Lake City. If you want to visit it, you’ll need a ticket to Kolkata, India. It is officially known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, which is a bit trickier to pronounce.
Salt Lake Stadium used to have a capacity of 120,000, which means it was the largest stadium in the world. However, due to structural issues, its capacity was downgraded to 85,000 in 2011, after a massive renovation.
25. ANZ Stadium – Sydney, Australia (83,500)
(Source: AUStadiums)
The ANZ Stadium is the biggest sports venue in Australia and a testament to how much the Aussies love sport. It is also known as Stadium Australia, Homebush Stadium, or Sydney Olympic Stadium. Whichever term you use, you will be referring to one of the biggest sports stadiums in the world.
It was completed in 1999 to host the 2000 Summer Olympics and cost 690 million Australian dollars. This was obviously money well spent, as ANZ stadium is still used for a large number of massive events.
So far, it has hosted the Olympics, cricket tournaments, rugby games, and numerous Australian football and soccer matches.
26. MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA (82,500)
(Source: Wikipedia)
Even though it is not the largest stadium in the world, MetLife Stadium is one of the most popular ones. The reason is that this is the home turf of the New York Giants and New York Jets, which are the two most popular NFL teams worldwide.
MetLife has also been in the spotlight recently due to the fact that it will host several matches of the 2026 World Cup. That’s the perfect chance to pay it a visit!
Some notable events that took place on MetLife include:
- Super Bowl XLVIII
- WrestleMania
- International Football Matches
- College Football
- Monster Jam
- Major Concerts
27. Croke Park – Dublin, Ireland (82,300)
(Source: CrokePark)
Croke Park is one of the oldest stadiums in the world and the oldest on our list. It was opened in 1884 as the main venue for Gaelic Games and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
It went through a major renovation and expansion process between 1991 and 2005, during which its capacity was significantly increased. However, it didn’t become the largest capacity stadium in the world, as many had hoped.
Apart from Gaelic games, it also serves as a popular venue for musical concerts, rugby, football, and the Olympics.
28. FedExField – Landover, Maryland, USA (82,000)
(Source: Wikipedia)
FedExField also known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (as it was previously called) is home to the Washington Redskins, one of the strongest NFL teams.
In the period between 2004 and 2010, it was the largest American football stadium in the world with a capacity of 91,000. Sadly, it has been downgraded since, but it can still host a large number of spectators.
Apart from the NFL, FedExField also hosts college football games and some major soccer games.
29. Twickenham Stadium – London, England (82,000)
(Source: StadiumDB)
Since London is one of the biggest sporting cities in the world, it is not surprising that two of its stadiums have made it on our list. The first one is Wembley, and the second one is century-old Twickenham.
Twickenham is the rugby union stadium owned by the Rugby Football Union. It is mostly used for hosting test matches of the England national rugby union team.
Twickenham Stadium is also popular for hosting concerts of some of the world’s biggest celebrities:
- Rihanna
- Eminem
- Iron Maiden
- R.E.M.
- The Rolling Stones
- Lady Gaga
30. Memorial Stadium – Clemson, South Carolina, USA (81,500)
(Source: Wikipedia)
The Frank Howard Field at Clemson Memorial Stadium, also known simply as Memorial Stadium, is the largest football stadium in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It is home to the Clemson Tigers and also served as home to the Carolina Panthers in 1995.
This stadium was built against the wishes of Jess Neely, the former Tigers head coach, who wanted to have one of the smallest stadium in the world. He didn’t want the number of seats to exceed 10,000.
Luckily, the city council did not listen to him, so today residents of South Carolina can flock in tens of thousands to watch their favorite teams.
31. Lambeau Field – Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA (81,411)
(Source: Wikipedia)
If you go to Lambeau Field, you’re most likely to see a Green Bay Packers game, since that is their home field. This stadium opened back in 1957 and was known simply as City Stadium.
In 1965, it was renamed to Lambeau Field, in memory of Packers’ player, founder, and head coach, Curly Lambeau.
Lambeau honors numerous popular traditions, such as the Lambeau Leap, and hosts different types of events, such as college football, ice hockey, snowmobile racing, and concerts. It’s far from being the largest stadium in the world but is known as one of the most beautiful ones.
And with that, our list of biggest stadiums in the world comes to an end. We hope our fun, interesting stats and facts have inspired you to visit at least a few of these magnificent sports venues. See you next time!
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8. Wikipedia
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18. Auburn Tigers
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