Sports Then and Now

Few things are as eye-catching as a sports stadium. Enormous, radiant, and all-encompassing, these hulking structures are nothing short of miracles begotten by modern architecture. As one might expect, these Goliaths of entertainment and popular culture have a good number of interesting stories and factoids attached to their construction and histories. Listed below are some of the most striking we could find.

1. AT&T Stadium

Familiar to any fan of American Football, the AT&T Stadium is as recognizable as it is gargantuan. The stadium has a carrying capacity of nearly eighty-thousand, an impressive number by any standard. One of the most thought provoking aspects of the stadium is its simple architectural style. While similar structures pride themselves on complex hallways and building styles, the AT&T Stadium stands out because, in reality, it’s just a room. An unbelievably large room, yes, but a room nonetheless. Additionally, the stadium is a master stroke of electrical design as well. Created by hundreds of talented designers, recipients of electrical engineering master degrees, and other such professionals, the stadium is unrivaled in its design and efficiency.

2. National Aquatic Center (China)

The National Aquatic Center is a world-famous stadium for a number of reasons. For one, it housed the legendary records put in place by the world-renowned Olympian Michael Phelps. For another, it’s an unquestionable architectural marvel. Often called the “Water Cube,” the stadium is a modest size. Size is far from a stadium’s only quality, however, and the National Aquatics Center proves this in its fame. The Stadium has spawned a good number of ‘me-too’ stadiums in its native China, making it the countries most renowned Athletics center by a wide margin.

3. Ericsson Globe

The Ericsson Globe is the national arena of Sweden, and it isn’t hard to see why. The arena hits all the right marks: it’s beautiful, enormous, power efficient, architecturally sound, and features a vast and fascinating history. While the Stadium hosts a wide variety of indoor sports, it has come to be renowned for Ice Hockey in particular. Additionally, the stadium has also featured a wide assortment of live events and ceremonies. This makes the Ericsson Globe more of a general entertainment center, rather than just an athletic one. Regardless of what the stadium hosts, the center is gorgeous and distinguished, well-deserving of its of accolades and titles.

4. Allianz Arena

The Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich and the 1860 Munich Football Clubs, is among the most storied stadiums in the world. The stadium has earned itself the nickname Schlauchboot, which is German for “Inflatable Boot.”

5. Camp Nou

Possibly the most famous European Football stadium in the world, Camp Nou makes a strong case for the greatest stadium of the modern age. The work of architectural genius Norman Foster, the stadium stands out from the pack by sporting brilliance in every aspect. Beautiful, spacious, world-famous, and beloved by sports lovers and artists alike, Camp Nou is among the best in the world.

Modern Sporting Stadiums can often be overshadowed by the bombastic displays of athleticism they house. But make no mistake: these stadiums are often equally fascinating to the players that give them their renown.