Sport
Top football stadiums in Europe
Watching football is best enjoyed while being present in the stadium. The way a football stadium is designed puts the fans excitingly close to the pitch so that they can fully enjoy the atmosphere. Watching a football game live is not comparable to watching the game at home on the TV from your couch. Though the coronavirus outbreak has left many of these stadiums empty the last months, below is the list of the top football stadiums in Europe.
10 top football stadiums in Europe
10. Celtic Park – Celtic FC – Scotland – Capacity: 60,411
Celtic supporters are considered among the most passionate fans in the world of football and Celtic Park is usually at full capacity, even when playing against smaller teams. Fans of the Celts can take pride in the fact that an Italian football fan, who visited 536 grounds including every ground in Serie A, claimed that Celtic Park in Glasgow has the best atmosphere. Though Celtic iare not regarded as being among the biggest clubs in Europe, they have one of the most beautiful football stadiums in Europe.
9. Stade Vélodrome – Olympique Marseille – France – Capacity: 67,394
Stade Vélodrome, known as the Orange Vélodrome for sponsorship reasons, has been home to Olympique de Marseille since opening in 1937. As its name suggests, Stade Vélodrome was formerly used for cycling competitions but, as these races became less common, seating replaced the track which once circled the stadium. Stade Vélodrome was rebuilt for the Euro 2016 and is considered the most atmospheric stadium in France.
8. Anfield Road – Liverpool – United Kingdom – Capacity: 53,394
When Anfield opened in 1884, it was home to Premier League club Everton but, for most of its history, it has been Liverpool’s stadium. With a capacity of only 53,394, Anfield Road is not an exceptionally large stadium in terms of seating by any means. From the famous “This Is Anfield” sign hanging in the tunnel entering the stadium, to the dedicated home fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the Liverpool Stadium, despite its low capacity, is considered one of the most intimidating stadiums in Europe.
7. Santiago Bernabeu – Real Madrid – Spain – Capacity: 81,044
The Santiago Bernabeu is home to Spain’s most successful club, Real Madrid, who have won 34 La Liga titles. Santiago Bernabeu was opened in 1947 originally but has since been renovated twice, in 1982 and 2001. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the stadium every year and set their eyes on this impressive piece of architecture. The Bernabeu was the first stadium in Europe to host both a UEFA Euro final and a FIFA World Cup final.
6. San Siro – AC Milan / Internazionale – Italy – Capacity: 78,275
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also known as San Siro, is the home stadium to AC Milan and arch-rivals Internazionale. Constructed in 1925 in the district of Milan named San Siro, the new stadium was named Nuovo Stadio Calcistico San Siro originally. It has a maximum capacity of over 78,000 and is designed to give every viewer the best visibility independent of where he or she may be seated.
5. Camp Nou – Barcelona – Spain – Capacity: 99,354
With a capacity of almost 100,000 fans, Camp Nou is the largest football stadium in Europe. The stadium was built in 1957 and was expanded for the 1982 World Cup, eventually becoming a three-tiered arena, at one point capable of holding 122,000 fans for the World Cup finals. Afterwards, due to changes in laws regarding standing in stadiums, standing capacity was removed and, the capacity lowered.
4. Signal Iduna Park – Dortmund – Germany – Capacity: 81,365
The Signal Iduna Park is home to Borussia Dortmund and was built for the 1974 World Cup. Till the 1990s, the stadium was not a very impressive one and would not make a list of the top football stadiums in Europe. Following Dortmund’s 1997 Champions League success, the stadium began a process of expansion. The famous South Stand terrace, known as the Die Gelbe Wand, meaning “The Yellow Wall”, is known for the intense atmosphere it breeds.
3. Old Trafford – Manchester United – United Kingdom – Capacity: 74,879
Known as the “Theatre of Dreams”, Old Trafford is one of the most beautiful stadiums in Europe and the world. The stadium was constructed in 1909, opened in 1910 as the home of Manchester United and now seats over 75,000 fans. Unlike most other football stadiums, the stadium was developed with a coherent plan for expansion. Man United has planned to increase the capacity to 90,000, but the plans have been delayed because of the coronavirus. This capacity increase would make Old Trafford one of the biggest football stadiums in Europe.
2. The Allianz Arena – Bayern Munich / 1860 Munich – Germany: Capacity: 75,024
The Allianz Arena is the most recently built stadium in this list of top football stadiums in Europe. FC Bayern Munich has played its home games at the Allianz Arena only since the start of the 2005–06 season. Compared to the previous site, the Olympiastadion, which had a running track, the fans now are a lot closer to the pitch adding to the atmosphere during games. The Allianz Arena is home to both Munich-based football teams: Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich.
1. Wembley – England – United Kingdom – Capacity: 90,000
Wembley, known as the ‘The home of football’ is considered by many as the most beautiful stadium in Europe and the most iconic stadium in world football. The stadium was reopened in 2007 and built on the same site of the previous 1923 Wembley Stadium. It was originally built with the blessing of King George V, who called it “the sacred turf.” The stadium holds 90,000 seats, making it the second-largest stadium on this list and a worthy number one on our list of the top football stadiums in Europe, as well as being one of the key Euro 2020 stadiums.
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