World's Greatest Sports Stadium Ever?

[Pangur Bán]

The figure of 200,000 is fictional. Made up completely. The official crowd figure was figure was 126,000, although the stadium could only hold 100,000. I've never heard one piece of good evidence that would put the actual attendence at more than 140,000.

 

[Håkon]

At the Brazil v Uruguay 1950 World Cup decider it is believed that in excess of 200,000 people entered the Maracana, although the official number (i.e. those who paid) stands at 173,850.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

@calgacus – You might well be right. You know how the numbers of a demonstration, for example, in London has to be guestimated. The police say one thing, the organisers say another. It all depends upon your point of view.

Here is a (not very good) picture of it – the white horse picture, with the fans right up against the goal post.

 

[Shabbaman]

That is... crowded...

 

[MCdread]

Like Håkon said, I think Maracanã holds the record with 200 000 people in the 1950 WC final.

In Lisbon, in the final of the youth WC of 1991 between Portugal and Brazil, 127000 people watched the game, which is the biggest crowd in a FIFA event apart from 1950.

 

[Håkon]

For a youth world cup?? What spurred that?

 

[MCdread]

PORTUGAL-Brazil maybe?

 

[MrPresident]

Was it the female youth final?

 

[Håkon]

True. Still, 127,000 is a lot of people at a youth match...after all, the population of Lisbon is, what, 700,000? So one sixth of them turned up to watch the U21s?

*thinks of what could happen at the Euro next year if Portugal qualfiies*

Edit: This was in response to MCdread's post.

 

[MCdread]

About 700 000 indeed, but 2 million in the urban area. Portugal had been world champion in the cup before, and the youth teams were very popular. This was the team of Figo, Rui Costa, etc. They won the game and the cup btw.

Nowadays it's impossible, because the number of tickets is limited to the number of chairs.

 

[rilnator]

Originally posted by Bose
I'll take the MCG for sure. Has hosted everything from the '56 Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Cricket World Cup Final, Rugby World Cup Final, and countless football games where the crowd has been 110,000+.

Has seen cricket played there, rugby union, rugby league, gridion, soccer, athletics, hockey, god, they've even had an NBL basketball game there. No question it's one of the worlds great stadiums... but the greatest? In my eyes yes, but i haven't been to any of the great UK stadiums yet...

I agree.

 

[Zwelgje]

Martinsville speedway.
You gotta love it. Racing on a half-mile track!

 

[CellarDweller22]

As far as overall atmosphere is concerned, I've always thought that Wimbledon (The All England Lawn Tennis Club) is one of the finest venues for a sport I've seen (on TV, at least). I hope to see it in person someday.

College Football: The Big House (Michigan)
Pro Football: Arrowhead Stadium (yes, I'm biased )
Baseball: Busch Stadium
Basketball: Boston Garden

-- From The Cellar

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

Augusta National - Home of The Masters

 

[CaptainCivFreak]

Mile High Stadium (not Invesco @ Mile High)... home of the Denver Bronocs

 

[pboily]

Stade Olympique de Montréal, home of the Expos and the Alouettes (in the playoffs).


nah, I'm just toying with you, it's a brutal place for any sporting event. Usually the place is so empty: all you can hear is the ventilation system... what a dump.

Funnily enough, I remember seeing a picture where Montreal and Los Angeles of the old North American Soccer League were playing at the Big O. There must have been 40,000 people in the stands. Very eerie for a soccer match...

 

[Stapel]

Originally posted by calgacus


Cool. It isn't the 150,000 capacity stadium it once was, but it is still a good stadium.

Why were you there BTW?

If you promise not to tell anyone, I will admit that I visited Hampden Park to attend a Jon Bon Jovi concert .

 

[col]

 

[Stapel]

Yeah, bad huh...

I visted Wembley for a Grey Hound Race once..... (I think 1995)


Good for me, I visited the Munster Final (Cork - Kerry) in Killarney in 1989.
And ofcourse the 1990 England - Germany WC semi final in Torino.

 

[Azale]

Any of the new NFL stadiums are gonna be niiiiice, and the current new ones like Gillette, Reliant, and the Linc are already top of the line.

Atmosphere wise, Arrowhead, Lambeau (overrated a bit I think), Mile High, and the Black Hole take the cake.

Those football stadiums out of the US sure look nice as well