Many of us might think that all football stadiums follow the same approach or philosophy – or that they at least should – based on the idea that a football team’s home ground is much more than just a place where 22 players go to play football. A stadium is, and should always be, a space where thousands of people can gather to show their love and passion for the beautiful game. All over the world, there are football stadiums which, behind that pitch and those stands for their fans, harbour countless secrets and curiosities.
Top 5 unusual stadiums
When we think of a stadium, we think of a pitch and the stands for the fans – a venue that meets the minimum requirements both for playing football and for those who come to watch the matches. However, particularly in recent years, we have seen that, despite the huge differences between professional and amateur clubs, there are also significant architectural differences between many of the stadiums scattered across the globe. With this in mind, today we’re going to introduce you to what we consider to be the five most unusual football stadiums on the planet.
5. Estadio Municipal de Braga ("A Pedreira") - Portugal
The home ground of SC Braga, a professional club in the Liga NOS, is the perfect place to start this list. The stadium was built for EURO 2004 and is carved into a rocky outcrop known as ‘A Pedreira’. It is estimated that the excavation and subsequent construction work alone cost around 120 million euros. Interestingly, as well as being regarded as one of the most unusual stadiums on the planet, it has also been described as one of the most original and beautiful.
4. Cocodrilos Sports Park - Venezuela
This stadium has a capacity of 3,000 and is situated on the continent where the South American Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, is played, is located in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. It is situated very close to a mountain; in fact, one of its stands is built into the mountain itself. And the most interesting fact is that the country’s busiest road runs just a few metres from the stadium.
3. Marina Bay Stadium - Singapur
This ‘stadium’, situated in Singapore’s Marina, is built on a platform capable of supporting up to 1,070 tonnes. Its single tier of seating has an official capacity of 30,000 people. It is, to say the least, an innovative stadium in terms of its use of space. Our only question is what happens to the footballs that go out of play during a match.
2. Stadion Gospin dolac - Croatia
Built in 1989, this stadium has a capacity of 4,000 and is currently home to the Croatian club NK Imotski. It is a stadium that, in all likelihood, served as the inspiration for the Estádio Municipal de Braga, as it too is situated next to a rock formation.
1. TJ Tatran Čierny Balog Stadium - Slovakia
During a match, there are many factors that can distract a footballer. But nothing could be more surprising than a train passing through the middle of a football stadium during an official match. It’s something that happens every day, even on match days, at the stadium of the Slovak amateur team TJ Tatran Čierny Balog. The noise of the locomotive and the steam it gives off during that brief moment make for a simply spectacular scene, and it is precisely this spectacle that propels this stadium to the top of the list. This is Fútbol Emotion’s favourite stadium.
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