largest stadiums in the world

Top 10 Largest Stadiums in the World

Stadiums are the Colosseums of our time. Instead of fights to the deaths, stadiums these days showcase the biggest sports in the world. While you can easily watch sports on TV or the internet these days, there is just nothing that compares to the experience of watching a game live. And if you’re lucky enough to catch a legendary game live, you can for the rest of your life brag about “having been there” for that special occasion.

It is therefore no surprise that tickets for sports events tend to be the most valuable tickets you can get for pretty much anything, surpassing even concerts (which also occasionally take place in stadiums). But in order to offer this unique experience to as many fans as possible, stadiums should be able to host as many people as possible. The bigger the stadium, the more people get to experience the atmosphere inside and hence, the more people can contribute to making the atmosphere greater and more special.

The following list ranks the Top Ten largest stadiums in the world based on capacity. It shows the currently largest stadiums in the world, no matter the sport or other occasions it is used for.

Note: The ranking only ranks the current 10 largest stadiums in the world. This means only completed stadiums that are already in use are being considered here. Race tracks, planned stadiums or stadiums that are currently in their construction phase are not included.

The 10 Largest Stadiums in the World

top 10 largest stadiums in the world

1. Narendra Modi Stadium

a.k.a. Motera Stadium

Credit: @JayShah / X

Narendra Modi Stadium

Capacity: ~ 132,000

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Owner:
Gujarat Cricket Association

First opened:
2020
First event hosted:
Namaste Trump (political event in honor of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India)

Used for:
Cricket & Political events
Tenants:
National Cricket Team of India & Gujarat Cricket Team

The Narendra Modi Stadium, also known as Motera Stadium, holds the title of the biggest stadium in the world. Situated in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It surpasses all other stadiums across the globe in terms of seating capacity, accommodating over 132,000 spectators. The stadium is built on record-breaking around 25 hectares / 63 acres and aside from the main outdoor field, also boasts several indoor facilities, such as a cricket training area, an indoor tennis court, and a 3D theater.

The stadium is owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association, the regional cricket authority in the state of Gujarat. The stadium is mainly used for cricket, but occasionally also for political events. India’s national cricket team and the local Gujarat cricket team are the main users of the stadium.

The stadium was opened at the start of 2020. Its opening event was Namaste Trump, a political event in honor of then-U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India. While the stadium is locally also known as Motera Stadium, after Motera, the district of Ahmedabad where the stadium is located, its official name was chosen in honor of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been ruling the country since 2014.


2. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium

a.k.a. May Day Stadium

Rungrado 1st of May Stadium

Capacity: ~ 114,000

Location: Pyongyang, North Korea
Owner: Government of North Korea

First opened:
1989
First event hosted:
Opening ceremony of the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students (Socialist youth event)

Used for:
Football/Soccer, occasionally also Athletics and Mass games
Tenant:
National Football Team of North Korea

The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, situated in Pyongyang, North Korea, comes second among the largest stadiums in the world. This colossal structure boasts a seating capacity of approximately 114,000 spectators and covers an impressive area of around 21 hectares / 50 acres. The multi-purpose venue hosts a wide range of events including football/soccer matches, athletic events, and even extravagant mass games. Its main tenant is North Korea’s national football/soccer team. The stadium is entirely owned by the government of North Korea.

The stadium was opened in 1989 with the opening ceremony of the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students, a mass event for youth members of Socialist organizations from 177 countries. The stadium is named after Rungra Island, the island in Pyongyang the stadium is located on, and the 1st of May, which is known as International Workers’ Day (Labor Day) in most parts of the world. The stadium is therefore also called “May Day Stadium”.


3. Michigan Stadium

a.k.a. The Big House

largest stadiums in the world - largest stadium in america
Credit: Andrew Horne / CC BY-SA 3.0

Michigan Stadium

Capacity: ~ 107,600

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Owner:
University of Michigan

First opened:
1927
First event hosted:
University of Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenants:
University of Michigan Wolverines Football Team

Michigan Stadium, commonly known as “The Big House,” is the third-largest stadium in the world and the biggest stadium outside of Asia. It boasts an impressive capacity that can accommodate over 107,000 spectators. The stadium is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, and serves as the home venue for the University of Michigan’s college (American) football team, known as the Michigan Wolverines. The stadium is entirely owned by the University of Michigan.

The stadium was opened in 1927 with the inaugural college football game between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops. While the official name simply refers to the stadium’s location in the U.S. state of Michigan, the locally used “Big House” name refers to the fact that the stadium is the biggest in the United States.


4. Beaver Stadium

a.k.a. The White House

Credit: Penn State / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Beaver Stadium

Capacity: ~ 106,600

Location: College Township, Pennsylvania, USA
Owner:
Pennsylvania State University

First opened:
1960
First event hosted:
Penn State Nittany Lions vs Boston University Terriers (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenant:
Penn State Nittany Lions

Beaver Stadium, also known as “The White House”, stands as the fourth largest stadium in the world. The stadium is located in College Township, Pennsylvania, USA, and boasts a seating capacity of over 106,000 and a very characteristically unusual architectural design. Located right on the main campus of Pennsylvania State University, the stadium is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions, the university’s American football college team. The stadium is wholly owned by the university.

Opened in 1960, the first game at Beaver Stadium was between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Boston University Terriers. The stadium is named in honor of James Beaver, a veteran of the American Civil War who later became the Governor of Pennsylvania and was born in Millerstown, a small town near the university. The stadium is locally also called the “The White House”, due to the traditionally white clothing supporters of the Nittany Lions wear.


5. Ohio Stadium

a.k.a. The Horseshoe

Credit: Ohio State Buckeyes

Capacity: ~ 102,800

Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Owner:
Ohio State University

First opened:
1922
First event hosted:
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenant:
Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio Stadium, or “The Horseshoe”, completes the Top Five of the largest stadiums in the world. The stadium is located in Columbus, the capital and largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The stadium has a capacity of over 102,000 people. It is used by the Ohio State Buckeyes, the college American football team of the Ohio State University. The stadium also fully belongs to the university.

The stadium was opened in 1922 and the first ever game hosted there saw the Ohio State Buckeyes play against the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops. The official name of the stadium is self-explanatory. The stadium is, however, also known as “The Horseshoe”, due to being designed in a horseshoe shape, the first stadium of such kind in the United States.


6. Kyle Field

Credit: Texas A&M Athletics

Capacity: ~ 102,700

Location: College Station, Texas, USA
Owner:
Texas A&M University

First opened:
1927
First event hosted:
Texas A&M Aggies vs Trinity University Tigers (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenant:
Texas A&M Aggies

Kyle Field comes sixth among the largest stadiums in the world. The stadium is located in College Station, Texas, USA and right on the campus of Texas A&M University. The stadium is known for its massive structure and steep stands. It holds a capacity of over 102,000, just slightly below the Ohio Stadium. The stadium is used by the Texas A&M Aggies, the Texas A&M University’s American football team.

The stadium opened in 1927 with a game of the Texas A&M Aggies facing the Trinity University Tigers. The stadium is named after Edwin Kyle, a former Professor of Horticulture, Dean of the Agriculture Department, and at one point the Director of the General Athletics Association at the university, who bought the university’s first sports field with his own money.


7. Tiger Stadium

a.k.a. Death Valley

Credit: Eddy Perez

Capacity: ~ 102,300

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Owners:
Tiger Athletic Foundation & Louisiana State University

First opened:
1924
First event hosted:
LSU Tigers vs Tulane University Green Wave (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenant:
LSU Tigers 

Tiger Stadium, nicknamed “Death Valley”, takes seventh place in the ranking of the largest stadiums in the world. The stadium is located in Baton Rouge, the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It has a capacity of over 102,000 seats. Home to the Louisiana State University Tigers, or LSU Tigers, the stadium is used for American college football. It is owned by both the Louisiana State University and the Tiger Athletic Foundation, a private non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the university and its student-athletes and the university’s overall athletic program.

The stadium was opened in 1924 with a game between the LSU Tigers and the Tulane University Green Wave. The stadium originally only had a capacity of around 12,000 and then underwent several renovations over the years that allowed it to increase the capacity to its current levels and turn the stadium into one of the world’s biggest. The stadium is named after the university team. It is also called “Death Valley” due to its reputation for being a tough spot to play in for visiting teams, as the stadium is known to be the loudest in all of American college football.


8. Neyland Stadium

Credit: Daryl Johnson / University of Tennessee Athletics

Capacity: ~ 101,900

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Owner:
University of Tennessee

First opened:
1921
First event hosted:
University of Tennessee Volunteers vs Emory & Henry College Wasps (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football, occasionally also NFL exhibition games and Conventions
Tenant:
University of Tennessee Volunteers 

Neyland Stadium is next on the list and takes the eighth place among the largest stadiúms in the world. The stadium is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, right by the campus of the University of Tennessee. The stadium boasts a capacity of just below 102,000. The stadium is primarily used for home games of the University of Tennessee Volunteers, the university’s American football team. Occasionally, the stadium has also been used for NFL exhibition games as well as a site for big conventions in Knoxville. The stadium is entirely owned by the University of Tennessee, however.

Opened in 1921, Neyland Stadium is the oldest among the largest stadiums in the world. It opened with a game of the University of Tennessee Volunteers facing the Emory & Henry College Wasps. The stadium was originally named “Shields-Watkins Field”, but then renamed to its current name in 1962, in honor of Robert Neyland, who, with disruptions, was the head coach of the football team from 1926 to 1952 and still holds the record for most wins in the university’s history. He was also the main advocate for the massive expansion of the stadium’s capacity.


9. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

Capacity: ~ 100,100

Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Owner:
University of Texas

First opened:
1924
First event hosted:
University of Texas Longhorns vs Baylor University Bears (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenant:
University of Texas Longhorns

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium stands as the ninth largest stadium in the world. It is located in Austin, the capital of the U.S. state of Texas. The stadium is located right on the campus of the University of Texas. It has a capacity of just over 100,000. Architecturally, the stadium is particularly known for its spectacularly looking two opposing main stands. The stadium is used by the University of Texas Longhorns, the university’s American college football team. The University of Texas is the sole owner of the stadium.

The stadium was opened in 1924 with a game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Baylor University Bears. The stadium was originally named “War Memorial Stadium”, then changed to “Texas Memorial Stadium” in honor of the Texan soldiers who had lost their lives in World War I. Later, the name was extended to also honor Darrell K Royal, who was the head coach for the Longhorns from 1957 to 1976 and still holds the record for most won games in the university’s history.


10. Bryant-Denny Stadium

Credit: Carol Highsmith / Library of Congress

Capacity: ~ 100,000

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
Owner:
University of Alabama

First opened:
1929
First event hosted:
University of Alabama Crimson Tide vs Mississippi College Choctaws (American football college game)

Used for:
American Football
Tenants:
University of Alabama Crimson Tide & Alabama High School Athletic Association

The Bryant-Denny Stadium concludes Top Ten ranking of the largest stadiums in the world. The stadium is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. The stadium boasts a capacity of almost exactly 100,000 spectators. It is known for its spectacular bowl shape and atmosphere there during college football games. The stadium is used by the University of Alabama Crimson Tide American football team and also by the Alabama High School Athletic Association, which holds its annual High School state football championship games at the stadium every third year.

The stadium was opened in 1929 with a game of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide facing the Mississippi College Choctaws. It was originally only named after the university’s then-president George Denny and only had a capacity of around 12,00 seats. In the following decades, the stadium was expanded in several steps, eventually reaching the 100,000 mark and making it one of the world’s largest stadiums. In 1975, the stadium’s name was also extended to honor Paul Bryant, head coach of the Crimson Tide from 1958 to 1982, who still holds the record for most wins in the university’s history.



The Top 10 Largest Stadiums in the World:

Name of Stadium:Location of Stadium:Capacity of Stadium:
1. NARENDRA MODI STADIUM Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India~ 132,000
2. RUNGRADO 1ST OF MAY STADIUMPyongyang, North Korea~ 114,000
3. MICHIGAN STADIUMAnn Arbor, Michigan, USA~ 107,600
4. BEAVER STADIUMCollege Township, Pennsylvania, USA~ 106,600
5. OHIO STADIUMColumbus, Ohio, USA~ 102,800
6. KYLE FIELDCollege Station, Texas, USA~ 102,700
7. TIGER STADIUMBaton Rouge, Louisiana, USA~ 102,300
8. NEYLAND STADIUMKnoxville, Tennessee, USA~ 101,900
9. DERRELL K ROYAL-TEXAS MEMORIAL STADIUMAustin, Texas, USA~ 100,100
10. BRYANT-DENNY STADIUMTuscaloosa, Alabama, USA~ 100,000
Updated as of January 2024.

The ten largest stadiums in the world by capacity. Only the permanent capacity of a stadium is relevant for the ranking, disregarding temporary seat increases. Stadiums for all sports and other purposes included. Race tracks are not relevant for the ranking. Furthermore, the ranking of the largest stadiums in the world only includes opened and operating stadiums. Planned stadiums or stadiums under construction are disregarded.

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