When you go to a professional sporting event you are paying not just for the chance to see your favorite team play, but for the chance to experience a unique professional stadium. Professional sports stadiums can range from old and charming, like Chicago’s Wrigley Field, all the way to super sleek and modernized – like some choices on the list you are about to read. Below you’ll find the most unique stadiums on the planet!
Guangdong Stadium – Guangzhou, China
Gunagzhou is the third largest city in China and it is home to the first unique stadium on our list. The Guangdong Stadium is renown for its ribbon stylized roof and massive, open plan. the stadium is said to represent a runner breaking through the tape of a race — according to designer Jon Niemuth. We think that if you aren’t careful walking on the upper levels you could end up with a personal injury from tripping.
Guangdong Stadium – Guangzhou, China
Eidi Stadium – Faroe Islands
Is there any other stadium on our list that could have a wrongful death lawyer involved due to drowning? We doubt it. The Eidi Stadium is a soccer field located right on the beach within the Faroe Islands. There is almost no room to watch the game unless you are seated on the rocks of the beach. This stadium is most commonly used by amateur’s and semi-pro teams though it is absolutely gorgeous.
Eidi Stadium Faroe Islands
Estadio Municipal de Braga – Braga, Portugal
Would you say that football (soccer) is a pretty big deal in Portugal? That would explain how this stadium was created. The Estadio Municipal de Braga was built in 2003 in order to host the ’04 European Championships. The field is also known by its other name, the Quarry. The field was built out of rock and looks like it too. You’ll need a family law attorney if the roof starts to crumble on you!
Estadio Municipal Del Braga Braga, Portugal
Sapporo Dome – Sapporo, Japan
This gorgeous arena looks like something out of The Day The Earth Stood Still. The Sapporo Dome is sleek, rounded, and seemingly ready to take off at any moment. The stadium was built to allow up to 20 feet of snow to roll right off of the roof — the average amount per year in Northern Japan. The interior of the stadium is normal enough but the exterior is something to gawk at.
Sapporo Dome Sapporo, Japan
The Float at Marina Bay – Marina Bay, Singapore
This stadium looks like it was pulled right out of the Pokemon video games. The Float at Marina Bay is a floating soccer pitch that was opened in 2007. You won’t need an auto accident attorney if something goes wrong here. As long as you don’t get too close to the action you won’t end up in the water yourself.
The Float At Marina Bay Marina Bay, Singapore
Allalin Glacier – Pennine Alps, Switzerland
Who says you can’t play soccer in the snow? Certainly not the Swiss! The Allalin Glacier soccer pitch made the history books when Italy and Switzerland played each other at the remarkable height of 11,482 feet. This sounds altogether rough considering the cold and the altitude.
Allalin Glacier Pennine Alps, Switzerland
Soccer City Stadium – Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg isn’t just the city in District 9. As it turns out this South African city has one of the coolest looking soccer stadiums in the world. Home to the 2010 World Cup, the Soccer City Stadium can seat nearly 100,000 people at once. The exterior of the stadium is something to behold as it is said to emulate South Africa’s landscape.
Soccer City Stadium – Johannesburg, South Africa
Allianz Arena – Germany
Easily one of the most iconic stadiums on our list. The Allianz Arena is home to the Bayern Munich soccer team and was host to the 2006 World Cup. The stadium holds almost 70,000 people at a time and it showcases a futuristic yet retro look. We’d love to take in a game here but Bayern Munich tickets are expensive.
Allianz Arena Germany
The Felice Aqueduct – Rome, Italy
If you want to kick it old school, pun intended, head to the Felice Aqueduct which is located in Rome. The Felice Aqueduct is home of Atletico Diritti and showcases some of the finest soccer in all of Europe. There has to be something enchanting about playing in front of such pillars of history.
The Felice Aqueduct Rome, Italy
Beijing National Aquatics Center – Beijing, China
We could probably just rename this the Asian List of Unique Stadiums at this point, though we’d feel a personal injury for all of our other European options. The Beijing National Aquatics Center is more well known as ‘The Water Cube’. This is the arena that Michael Phelps turned into a national hero, racking up medals during the ’08 Olympics. This stadium’s strangeness speaks for itself.
Beijing National Aquatics Center Beijing, China
Mmabatho Stadium – Mafikeng, South Africa
Though located in South Africa, the Mmabatho Stadium was designed by a team of Russian contractors in the early ’80s. The stadium has triangle shaped stands and tiered elevation in order to offer unique views to the spectators. The whole stadium appears to fold outward from the middle.
Mmabatho Stadium Mafikeng, South Africa
Munich Olympic Park – Munich, Germany
The Munich Olympic Park is a smattering of steel and acrylic glass. The arena was home to the 1972 Olympic Games and it used to be where Bayern Munich played their games. This stadium is unique in that its sheer size had never been attempted in this sort of style.
Munich Olympic Park Munich, Germany
The Burj Al Arab Hotel Helipad – Dubai, UAE
If you are afraid of heights then keep on scrolling. This unique ‘stadium’ was used one time as a tennis court for Roger Federer and Andre Agassi back in the ’05 Dubai Championships. The hotel helipad was turned into a tennis court. Do you think you could handle the heights?
The Burj Al Arab Hotel Helipad Dubai, UAE
Beijing National Stadium – Beijing, China
Back to Beijing, eh? The Beijing National Stadium is the pride of Beijing and home to the Beijing Olympics. This delicate looking stadium is similar to a birds nest and it was designed by Herzog & de Meuron. This stadium arguably stole the show from an otherwise average Olympic Games.
Beijing National Stadium Beijing, China
Ericsson Globe – Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden’s national hockey team calls this gorgeous arena home. The Ericsson Globe was opened up in 1989 and it seats nearly 14,000 people. The Ericsson Globe is also in the record books as the largest spherical building on the planet. Inside you’ll also find the largest scale model of our lovely Milky Way.
Ericsson Globe Stockholm, Sweden
University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
The UoP Stadium rises out of the ground like some sort of silver monolith. This stadium is home to the Arizona Cardinals and it was used for Super Bowl XLII. The stadium hosts the first entirely retractable field in all of North America. The football field can roll in and out of the stadium on a 16 rail, 2 acre sized system.
University Of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona
Stadion Kantrida – Croatia
This stadium is located right on top of the Adriatic Sea and boy is the view worth it. The first game of football was played here in 1911 but there have been significant upgrades since then, obviously. The field was refurbished in 2010 and now can seat up to 10,600 people.
Stadion Kantrida Croatia
Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Cue the hate mail. Cowboys Stadium has to make up the top of our list for just how much Jerry Jones poured into the creation. The stadium cost $1.2 billion and it hosts America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys. What makes this stadium unique is the giant screen dominating the field. There are a pair of 2100 inch 1080 LED displays paired together — the largest in the world.
Dallas Cowboys Cowboys Stadium
Craven Cottage – England
Looks pretty average for a stadium from the outside however the inside of Fulham’s football (soccer) stadium actually has a real cottage. Say what now? Yup! The cottage is used as a dressing room by the players.
Craven Cottage – England
La Bombonera – Buenos Aires, Argentina
What makes it unique you may ask? Welp, three of the stands are almost vertical(!), which means that Boca fans always appear as if they’re about to fall on to the field of play. Moreover, the stadium has unbelievable acoustics.
La Bombonera – Buenos Aires Argentina
Igralište Batarija – Trogir, Croatia
Home to the team of HNK Trogir, this dazzling stadium actually sits between two 15th-century protected buildings. You’ll find on one end of the field is Kamerlengo Castle, which was built by the Venetians. At the other end is the Tower of St. Marco, which is a Renaissance-style fortress. Jaw dropping to say the least, am I right?
Igralište Batarija – Trogir, Croatia
Estádio AXA – Braga, Portugal
S.C. Braga is the team in Portugal that gets to call this rather unique stadium home. You’ll find there are two stands on either side, a massive cliff on another AND an open end which overlooks the city of Braga on the fourth side. The cliff serves as a reminder to all of the rock quarry from which the beloved stadium was carved out of. When heading to the other side of the stadium, you can access the underground tunnel which was built when S.C. Braga hosted the 2004 Euros.
Estádio AXA – Braga, Portugal
Cadbury Recreation Ground, Bournville Lane – Birmingham, England
Cadbury is a word that can cause all choc-a-holics to freak out a bit. Why you wonder? Because Cadbury ranks as one of the greatest manufacturers of chocolate in the world. This is crucial because Cadbury Athletic FC often practice and play matches while the beautiful scent of chocolate fills the air.
Cadbury Recreation Ground, Bournville Lane – Birmingham, England
Taiwan National Stadium – Zuoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
8,884 solar panels can be found on the exterior of this rather odd shaped spiral-shaped National Stadium. The significance of this is that almost 100 percent of the stadium’s power is powered by the exterior and it even feeds into the local power grid when the stadium is not being used. Eco friendly, much? Yeah, safe to say so.
Taiwan National Stadium – Zuoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Stadion Gospin Dolac – Imotski, Croatia
NK Imotski is the lucky team that gets to call this staggeringly beautiful stadium home. It’s pretty obvious as to why this one makes the cut – that 500 meter drop of course!
Stadion Gospin Dolac – Imotski, Croatia
Estádio Municipal de Aveiro – Aveiro, Portugal
Easily could be called the world’s most colorful stadium, or as we penned ourselves, the Lego stadium. The vibrant primary colors make the entire ground pop with a jubilant glow.
Estádio Municipal de Aveiro – Aveiro, Portugal
Estádio Janguito Malucelli – Curitiba, Brazil
The club J. Malucelli Futebol is host to the world’s most eco-friendly stadium. As it is built entirely out of natural and sustainable materials, including the fan’s seats. Each of the seats are built upon a grass hill, pictured below, instead of into a concrete construction.
Estádio Janguito Malucelli – Curitiba, Brazil
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Missouri
This shimmering venue’s exterior is entirely built up of 140,000 feet of glass! Something different than the age old classic of brick and mortar.
Sprint Center – Kansas City Missouri
Ingalls Rink – New Haven, CT
The Whale cost $1.5 million to construct for Yale University’s men and female hockey team. Ingalls Rink even made it in the America’s Favorite Architecture list!
Ingalls Rink – New Haven, CT
Scotiabank Saddledome – Canada
Host to the 1988 Winter Olympics and home of the NHL team Calgary Flames, this beautiful stadium has been around since 1983, and whose construction cost racked up to $213 million in 2017 dollars.
Scotiabank Saddledome – Canada
Civic Arena – Pittsburgh
The Igloo served as the home to the three time Stanley Cup winners Pittsburgh Penguins, until of course it was demolished in 2010. Note that this majestic beaut was the first retractable roof in all of major sports in the world.
Civic Arena – Pittsburgh
AT&T Park – San Francisco
Up next is the home of the San Francisco Giants. To build this gorgeous stadium, it cost a whopping $357 million and it’s not a surprise as to why considering it’s located in the industrial waterfront area.
AT&T Park – San Francisco
Wimbledon Centre Court, England
Still considered the world’s most famous tennis court, as such the stadium was host of the tennis competition during the 2012 Summer Olympics. Furthermore, in 2009 a retractable roof was installed in order to allow play to continue during bad weather, such as rain.
Wimbledon Centre Court, England
Murrayfield Stadium – Scotland
Since 1925, the Scottish Rugby Union has been proud to boast of THE largest stadium in Scotland and the fifth largest in the United Kingdom.
Murrayfield Stadium – Scotland
Camp Nou – Spain
Home of FC Barcelona since 1957, Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Spain, but is also the largest stadium in Europe and the third largest association football (soccer) stadium in the world in terms of capacity anyway.
Camp Nou, Spain
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Florida
With a capacity of 88,548, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is home to the mighty Florida Gators. The Swamp has been expanded, renovated, and improved way too many times to count over the years.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Florida
Old Trafford – England
Welcome to the second-largest football stadium in England with one of the nicest constructed roof areas, as far as stadiums go. To date, “The Theatre of Dreams” has hosted the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Euro 1996 and the 2003 UEFA Champions League final.
Old Trafford – England
Salt Lake Stadium – India
Salt Lake Stadium is the second-largest non-racing stadium that can be found in the world, and its surely a sight to see. The elliptical shape truly separates itself from all other competition.
Salt Lake Stadium – India
Oita Bank Dome – Japan
Oita Bank Dome hosted three games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup and has recently been approved to hold the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which will then become the first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia.
Oita Bank Dome – Japan
Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena – China
Considering the magnolia is Shanghai’s city flower so it only makes sense that the stadium resembles a blossoming plant! Unique? Double check.
Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena – China
Yas Marina Circuit – United Arab Emirates
The ever gorgeous Yas Marina is actually the second Formula One track located in the Middle East, the first being in Bahrain. This particular development also includes a theme park, a water park, hotels, and beaches. Sign me up!
Yas Marina Circuit – United Arab Emirates
Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indiana
One of the earliest field houses around, this stadium is remembered for a landmark when the game of basketball was changed forever. To date, it is the sixth oldest college basketball stadium that is still in use.
Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indiana
Yankee Stadium – New York
Okay yes, this stadium was built next to the original Yankee Stadium constructed back in 1923, but the new park does bat as essentially a reconstruction of the historic arena. Did we forget to mention that it ranks as the most expensive baseball stadium coming in at a whopping cost of $1.5 billion.
Yankee Stadium – New York
Lambeau Field – Wisconsin
Go Pack, go! Lambeau Field is jam pack full of history, oozing with a melting pot of everything that has to do with American football. Maybe because of the legends that have graced the field since 1957?
Lambeau Field – Wisconsin
Melbourne Cricket Ground – Melbourne
Melbourne Cricket Ground first opened up in 1854 and has a staggering capacity of 100,018! As the 10th largest sports venue in the world, it’s no surprise that it has the highest light towers too.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
– Melbourne
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – Spain
Since 1947, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium has been the home of soccer club Real Madrid and the national football team, Spain. Have you seen anything more beautiful? Didn’t think so!
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – Spain
Staples Center – California
Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) – yup, that entire list calls the Staples Center home. Whoa.
Staples Center – California
Aviva Stadium – Ireland
Since just 2010, the Ireland national rugby union team (IRFU), Republic of Ireland national football team (FAI) and Leinster Rugby all call Aviva Stadium home. Furthermore, the stadium has all the public transportation options available so that fans from all over have access.
Aviva Stadium – Ireland
Bell Centre – Quebec
Montreal Canadiens have called Bell Centre home since 1996. Plus, the stadium has also been host to one of the Original Six NHL teams and its also the sixth-busiest stadium in the world if you consider ticket sales for non-sporting events in 2008.
Bell Centre – Quebec
San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) – Italy
AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano are two teams since 1929 that have called San Siro home! The snail-like exterior and intricate architecture is what makes this stadium totally unique.
San Siro Stadio Giuseppe Meazza – Italy