UEFA’s executive committee has awarded the 2015 Champions League final to Berlin’s Olympiastation, whereas Warsaw’s Stadion Narodowy w Warszawie was chosen to host the 2015 Europa League final: The 2014/15 UEFA Champions League final will be staged at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, while the [...]
Following up on our round-up of the Dutch Eredivisie attendances, we continue with the German Bundesliga. The Bundesliga had a record breaking 2011-12 season with an average of 45,116 spectators per match, by far the highest in Europe. Have they been able [...]
The Dutch Eredivsie is the first of Europe's major leagues to finish. We have once more collected the attendances and will present you our findings below. We will be a bit more to the point than last year, when we presented our conclusions in an extensive article, and instead [...]
The legendary Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro has reopened with a first test match after three years of building works. Before hosting another test match on the 15th of May, it will then officially open on the 2nd of June with a friendly between the Brazilian and [...]
Queens Park Rangers will keep pushing ahead with their plans to build a new 35,000 to 40,000-capacity stadium even if the club relegates, something that has became increasingly probable in recent weeks. They also took out a loan in connection to their [...]
Sampdoria have taken another step closer to realising a new seaside home after presenting their plans to a special committee of the city of Genoa. Sampdoria hope to build a new 30,000 all-seater in the place of the present Palasport indoor arena and [...]
Some smaller bits of stadium news from the last week: West Ham United have released a few architectural drawings that show how they see the London Olympic Stadium post conversion: An automated system using drive motors will move all four sides of the lower bowl forward to bring the [...]
Rio de Janeiro’s Engenhão Stadium has been shut down by Rio major Eduardo Paes for the indefinite future. The reason are structural construction problems with the roof of the stadium, which potentially could have put fans’ safety at risk: “The problem has been identified, but I have not yet been [...]
West Ham have agreed a contract to move into the London Olympic Stadium from the start of the 2016-17 season. On Friday, the club finally received confirmation of the deal that follows on a long and torturous process and saw an earlier deal collapse.
FC Anji Makhachkala have found a new home in the redeveloped Anji Arena, but while the Anji Arena has the look of a modern stadium, the rich Russian club of billionaire Kerimov and star player Eto’o hope that their stay at the new arena will only be a temporary one. [...]
While it is not uncommon for shiny new stadiums to get built in places where you would not expect them, there is something even more special going on in Iraq right now: an actual stadium boom. The Arab country, still recovering from the war, has decided to put some of its oil money in a massive overhaul of [...]
Here’s the New York Times on the proposed new MLS stadium in Flushing Meadows – Corona Park in the New York borough Queens: Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Major League Soccer officials are talking about a new soccer stadium, partly as a way to help rejuvenate the park. The 25,000-seat stadium [...]
Oh, how times can change. Let me give the word to Peter Storrie, ex-chairman of Portsmouth FC: Portsmouth is moving into a new dawn with the backing of owner Alexandre Gaydamak and these are very exciting times for the club both on and off the field. The new [...]
The Chinese are expanding their influence in developing countries by offering them investments in infrastructure in return for access to their raw materials. These infrastructure projects regularly involve building new stadiums. From Frank Dikköter’s review on a book about China’s dealings in the developing world: From the copper mines of [...]
Manchester City appears to be considering expanding the Etihad Stadium with an extra tier to the Family and South Stand. This has become clear from a survey the club has sent out to its fans. The survey, which was sent by email, starts like [...]
The 2012 Brazilian Séria A season has just finished, but when the new season starts in May 2013, much will have changed. The reason for this is that the largest country of South America will be swept by a series of stadium openings in the next [...]
At the end of last Sunday’s member’s assembly, Real Madrid chairman Florentina Pérez had a little surprise for the socios. These were four models of four different proposals for the redevelopment of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The models had been vigorously kept secret [...]
The story of Valencia’s Nuevo Mestalla is one of ups and downs. In the last year we have twice reported on good news and renewed hope that construction of the new stadium may finally resume again, but this is every time followed by a setback. What’s more, the latest [...]
Key facts Club: none | Opening: 1944 | Capacity: 37,500 seats History and description Estádio Nacional, often referred to as Jamor, is Portugal’s national stadium, though only gets used for the annual Portuguese Cup final these days. Estádio Nacional got built to provide the country with a new flagship venue [...]
Key facts Club: Club Atlético Huracán | Opening: 1947 | Capacity: 48,314 History and description Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó got built in the early 1940s after Huracán had purchased the site of the new stadium in 1939 and laid the first stone in 1941. The first match at the still [...]
Key facts Club: SønderjyskE | Opening: 2001 | Capacity: 10,000 (6,995 standing) History and description Haderslev Fodboldstadion was built in 2001 and initially consisted of one seating stand and open terraces on the other sides. Further seats were installed in 2011 following the promotion of the club to Denmark’s top [...]
Key facts Club: Kashiwa Reysol | Opening: 1985 | Capacity: 15,349 seats History and description Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium was built in 1985, but was only a modest structure until it got significantly expanded in 1995 following the promotion of Kashiwa Reysol to J-League. The stadium received a last minor renovation [...]
Maracanã reopens with first test match
The legendary Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro has reopened with a first test match after three years of building works. Before hosting another test match on the 15th of May, it will then officially open on the 2nd of June with a friendly between the Brazilian and [...]
Sampdoria take step closer to seafront stadium
Sampdoria have taken another step closer to realising a new seaside home after presenting their plans to a special committee of the city of Genoa. Sampdoria hope to build a new 30,000 all-seater in the place of the present Palasport indoor arena and [...]
West Ham receive 99-year lease for Olympic Stadium
West Ham have agreed a contract to move into the London Olympic Stadium from the start of the 2016-17 season. On Friday, the club finally received confirmation of the deal that follows on a long and torturous process and saw an earlier deal collapse.
Anji opens redeveloped Anji Arena
FC Anji Makhachkala have found a new home in the redeveloped Anji Arena, but while the Anji Arena has the look of a modern stadium, the rich Russian club of billionaire Kerimov and star player Eto’o hope that their stay at the new arena will only be a temporary one. [...]
Manchester City contemplate Etihad expansion
Manchester City appears to be considering expanding the Etihad Stadium with an extra tier to the Family and South Stand. This has become clear from a survey the club has sent out to its fans. The survey, which was sent by email, starts like [...]
Opening Grêmio Arena marks a new dawn in Brazilian football
The 2012 Brazilian Séria A season has just finished, but when the new season starts in May 2013, much will have changed. The reason for this is that the largest country of South America will be swept by a series of stadium openings in the next [...]
Real Madrid showcases four proposals for redeveloped Bernabéu
At the end of last Sunday’s member’s assembly, Real Madrid chairman Florentina Pérez had a little surprise for the socios. These were four models of four different proposals for the redevelopment of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The models had been vigorously kept secret [...]
While it is not uncommon for shiny new stadiums to get built in places where you would not expect them, there is something even more special going on in Iraq right now: an actual stadium boom. The Arab country, still recovering from the war, has decided to put some of its oil money in a massive overhaul of [...]
Oh, how times can change. Let me give the word to Peter Storrie, ex-chairman of Portsmouth FC: Portsmouth is moving into a new dawn with the backing of owner Alexandre Gaydamak and these are very exciting times for the club both on and off the field. The new [...]
2012 review – the world of football stadiums
It is the end of December, which means that it is tradition to look back at the year we are about the finish. In our case, it means looking back at what happened in the fascinating world of football stadiums. The year 2012 came off the back of a prolific 2011 in terms of [...]
