Top 10 Most Famous Stadiums in Europe

Santiago Bernabeu was opened in 1947, located in the Chamartin district of Madrid, Spain. With a seating capacity of 99,454, it is the home stadium of the Royal Club, Real Madrid. FIFA named Real Madrid the best club of the 20th century. Known for its captivating attacking play and featuring stars like Ronaldo, Beckham, and Kaka, the draw of these superstars ensures that Real Madrid always attracts significant attention from fans. On average, around 71,565 spectators come to cheer for their idols at the Bernabeu.

The construction started in 1945, and the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was officially inaugurated on December 14, 1947, with a match against Portugal's champions. Originally, the stadium was called Nuevo Estadio Chamartin, but it was renamed after the club's president eight years later. At that time, the stadium had two uncovered tiers and a capacity of just over 75,000. The capacity was later expanded to 125,000 in 1954 when one of the long sides was extended with a third tier.

Bernabeu Stadium, along with Camp Nou, hosted the 1964 European Championship, including one of the semifinals and the final between Spain and the Soviet Union. By the late 1970s, the stadium had started to show its age, and the club officials began planning to build a new stadium in the northern part of the city. However, with the 1982 World Cup on the horizon, they decided to renovate the Bernabeu instead, adding a roof to three of the two-tiered stands and installing seating on half of the stadium. As a result, the capacity was reduced to 90,800 seats.

Allianz Arena is the most modern football stadium in Germany, located in the northern part of Munich. It was opened in 2005 to host the 2006 World Cup. The stadium can accommodate 71,437 spectators and serves as the home ground for both FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich. Bayern Munich, the most successful football club in Germany, enjoys a large global following. Fans from all over the world passionately support the Bavarian club, with around 71,000 spectators attending each home match.

The construction of Allianz Arena began in October 2002, with an investment of 340 million euros. It was one of the venues for the 2006 World Cup. In 2012, the stadium hosted the Champions League final. Recently, Allianz Arena underwent its first expansion, adding 3,000 seats, followed by another 6,000 seats, mostly by increasing space at the upper tier and optimizing the stands. The stadium is located on the city's outskirts, adjacent to office areas and parks. There are limited entertainment options nearby, so it’s recommended to dine in downtown Munich and head to the stadium for the match.

Veltins Arena, previously known as Arena auf Schalke before 2005, replaced the old Parkstadion of Schalke. It was the first stadium in Germany to be fully privately funded without government subsidies, with a total cost of 191 million euros. Upon opening, it was one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in Europe, featuring a retractable roof, an ice rink, and a movable southern stand. Veltins Arena was one of the venues for the 2006 World Cup, hosting four group-stage matches and a quarter-final between Portugal and England.

Veltins Arena is located in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The stadium opened in 2001 and serves as the home ground for Schalke 04. It hosted the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final and five World Cup 2006 matches. With a seating capacity of 62,271, the stadium fills with passionate fans who sing the club's official anthems, 'Blue and White How I Love You' and 'Royal Blue S04.' The stadium is a fan haven on weekends, attracting up to 61,570 supporters cheering for their team.

Emirates Stadium was built to replace Arsenal's previous home, Highbury, which had become too small and couldn't be expanded due to its surrounding residential area. The first plans for a new stadium were made in the late 1990s, but moving to the new Wembley Stadium was also considered. Ultimately, a site was chosen just a few hundred yards from Highbury, and after several delays, construction began in 2004. The total cost of the project was 390 million pounds. Despite competition from the nearby Wembley Stadium, the Emirates has never hosted matches for the England national team, though Brazil's national team frequently plays friendly matches there.

Emirates Stadium opened in 2006, named after the primary sponsor, and is now the home ground of Arsenal FC. With a seating capacity of 60,272, it is the third-largest stadium in England, behind Wembley and Old Trafford. The ticket prices at Emirates are among the highest in the world, but Arsenal's fans continue to support their team with unwavering enthusiasm. On match days, approximately 60,015 fans fill the stadium, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Imtech Arena is currently the home stadium of Hamburger SV. Completed in 1953, the stadium now has a seating capacity of 57,000. Hamburger SV is the only German club that has never been relegated. The Hamburg-based team won the European Cup in 1983. Although their performance in recent years has not matched past achievements, the club's loyal fans continue to support them. Every week, around 52,575 people fill the stands when the team plays at home.

Many locals in Hamburg still refer to the stadium as Volksparkstadion (People's Park Stadium), even though AOL purchased the naming rights for 30 million marks, or 15.3 million euros, in 2001. Construction began in July 1998, and the old stadium was gradually replaced by the new one, with HSV continuing to play home matches there. The new Volksparkstadion was completed in August 2000. It first received the sponsor's name, AOL Arena, which it held until 2007, when it was renamed HSH Nordbank Arena, a name it kept until 2010. Afterward, it adopted the name Imtech Arena until 2015.

During the 2006 World Cup and other events where the sponsor's name could not be used, the stadium was called Hamburg Arena. Imtech Arena was one of the venues for the 2006 World Cup, hosting four group-stage matches and a quarter-final between Italy and Ukraine. In 2010, Volksparkstadion hosted the Europa League final between Atletico Madrid and Fulham.

Stade Velodrome, also known as Orange Velodrome due to sponsorship, is a stadium located in the city of Marseille, France. Completed in 1937, it has a seating capacity of 60,235, making it the second-largest stadium in France, after Stade de France. Marseille is one of France's most storied clubs, known for its attacking style that always delights fans. It is the only French club to have won the UEFA Champions League title. This exciting style of play has attracted a large number of supporters, with an estimated 51,966 fans attending the matches to cheer on Marseille every week.

Orange Velodrome was initially built to host matches for the 1938 World Cup. It became the new home of Olympique de Marseille after Stade de l'Huveaune was no longer big enough for the club. Originally, the stadium had a cycling track and a running track around its perimeter. The stadium's design is bowl-shaped, with both long sides covered. The stadium underwent very few changes for several decades, although the track gradually deteriorated as the stands expanded.

The stadium was first renovated in preparation for the 1984 European Championship, hosting a group-stage match and a semifinal between France and Portugal. It was almost completely rebuilt for the 1998 World Cup, and this renovation introduced the stadium's characteristic round stands. The seating capacity increased to around 60,000, though the new design was criticized for lacking a roof.

St. James Park, also known as Sports Direct Arena, has been the home of Newcastle United for 119 years. Established in 1880, St. James Park is the oldest and largest stadium in the Northeast of England. In 2011, the club decided to rename the stadium to Sports Direct Arena after the company owned by the club's owner, Mike Ashley. The stadium has a seating capacity of 52,387. Despite competing in the Championship, the second tier of English football, over 50,000 Newcastle fans fill the stadium every week for home matches.

St. James Park was first used for football in 1880, but initially, it was just a grass field. In the late 1890s, a small stand was constructed. However, Newcastle's promotion to the First Division in 1898 pushed the club to improve the pitch quality. New terraces were built, increasing the capacity to 30,000. Just five years later, another major redevelopment took place, including a new stand on Barrack Road and expanded terraces, pushing the capacity to over 60,000.

In the 1920s, Newcastle planned a major redevelopment of St. James Park with new stands designed by architect Archibald Leitch. However, disagreements between the club and city planners led to the abandonment of the project. In 1930, St. James Park set a record attendance of 68,386 for a match between Newcastle and Chelsea. Further conflicts between the club and the city resulted in more abandoned projects during the 1950s and 1960s, preventing Newcastle from hosting World Cup matches in 1966.

Signal Iduna Park, formerly known as Westfalenstadion until 2005, was built as a venue for the 1974 World Cup. Initially, the stadium only had one tier, with a capacity for 54,000 spectators. The stadium's unique rectangular shape stood out during a time when most large stadiums were still bowl-shaped, and its four distinct stands inspired a new generation of stadium designs. For instance, the redevelopment of Ibrox Stadium in the late 1970s was heavily influenced by the design of Westfalenstadion.

Signal Iduna Park opened in 1974 as the home of Borussia Dortmund. It is one of the most famous football stadiums in Europe, known for its legendary atmosphere, which earned it the title of the best football stadium by The Times. With a seating capacity of 81,360, the stadium regularly hosts around 80,295 fans supporting the Black and Yellows. Dortmund is a renowned club in Germany, having won the prestigious UEFA Champions League title. Currently, Dortmund and Bayern Munich are the two leading clubs in German football on the continental stage. Known for their attacking play, Die Borussen receive tremendous support from their fans, who occasionally form 'The Yellow Wall' to cheer the team on and encourage the players during tough matches. Signal Iduna Park is one of the most electrifying 'cauldrons' of European football.

Signal Iduna Park underwent few changes until the early 1990s when Dortmund's increasing success led to a demand for expansion. In 2006, Signal Iduna Park was one of the venues for the 2006 World Cup. Temporarily renamed and with a reduced capacity of 67,000, it hosted four group-stage matches, one Round of 16 match, and a semifinal between Germany and Italy (0-2).

In the early 20th century, Manchester United played their home games at a 50,000-seat stadium on Bank Street, where President Davies began planning for a new stadium with double the capacity. A location near the Trafford Park industrial area was chosen, and architect Archibald Leitch was appointed to design the stadium. Old Trafford officially opened on February 19, 1910, with a match between Manchester and Liverpool (3-4). At the time, the stadium had a covered stand and open terraces on three other sides, with a capacity of over 80,000 people.

Old Trafford is a famous football stadium located in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and serves as the home of the renowned Manchester United Football Club. Often affectionately called the Theatre of Dreams, it is the largest stadium in the Premier League, with a seating capacity of 75,643. Under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United became famous for their attacking football and had many star players like Rooney, Ronaldo, and Beckham. Despite a decline in recent years following Sir Alex's retirement, Manchester United still attracts a global fanbase, with 75,205 supporters attending matches at the Theatre of Dreams.

In 1939, Old Trafford saw its largest crowd of 76,962 spectators during an FA Cup semi-final match between Wolves and Grimsby Town. Old Trafford also hosted three group-stage matches during the 1966 World Cup. Back then, the stadium's capacity ranged around 60,000. Over the years, Old Trafford has undergone numerous improvements, including new and better seating, additional seating areas, and upgraded operational facilities during the 1970s and 1980s.

Camp Nou was constructed between 1954 and 1957, officially opening on September 24, 1957, with a match between FC Barcelona and a selection of players from Warsaw. The stadium replaced Barcelona's former home, Camp de les Corts, which, although holding 60,000 people, proved inadequate due to the growing support of the club. Originally consisting of two tiers with a capacity of 93,000 spectators, it was initially known as Estadi del FC Barcelona before quickly adopting the name Camp Nou.

Along with the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Camp Nou was one of the venues for the 1964 European Championship, hosting the semifinal between the Soviet Union and Denmark (3-0), and the third-place match between Hungary and Denmark (3-1). Camp Nou was expanded for the 1982 World Cup, increasing its capacity to 120,000. The stadium has remained largely unchanged since its inauguration and lacks many modern amenities typically found in most stadiums today. In recent years, Barcelona has explored the possibility of redeveloping Camp Nou or constructing a new stadium entirely, but financial constraints have prevented these plans from coming to fruition.

Located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Camp Nou is currently the largest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 99,354 seats. Barcelona is the most successful team in the past decade, having won four Champions League titles. With their Tiki-Taka playing style captivating audiences worldwide, Barcelona has become the most popular club in La Liga. When people think of Barcelona, they immediately think of their superstar, Lionel Messi, who has an immense global fanbase. Fans flock to Camp Nou to witness Messi in action, passionately cheering his name every time he scores. On matchdays, 72,115 spectators fill the stadium to watch the team play at home.