Around the World in 2020’s Best New Stadiums
Each year, teams hailing from the world’s top sports leagues unveil their latest designs for an ultimate stadium.
Franchises look to elevate the fan experience through top-tier design that’s functional and engaging, as well as foster a sense of camaraderie around the home team. However, once a stadium is built, it’s expected to last. Given the astronomical costs of building a stadium and the fields of red tape that involve finding the perfect location for construction, it’s no surprise that most fields endure for decades.
There’s the Melbourne Cricket Ground, originally built in 1854, with a present capacity of 100,000 – the largest stadium in Australia. There’s Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is run, which was built in 1875 and still welcomes around 100,000 visitors each year. Anfield (built 1884), home to Liverpool Football Club, and Old Trafford (built 1910), home to Manchester United, aren’t far behind.
This year, four mega stadiums either opened or began construction, from Guangzhou to Birmingham, Alabama.
Allegiant Stadium (American Football)
Las Vegas, USA
The domed stadium was given its certificate of occupancy on 31 July 2020. However, the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders team didn’t play their first game at their new 65,000-capacity home until September 21 given the stunted structure of major league sports this year.
In addition to a full suite of services ranging from retractable doors and roof, luxury club seats, and a massive exterior video board, the stadium also includes a live betting lounge. At the moment, much of the US’s new betting market takes place online via sites that allow users to compare NFL betting odds before wagering on a team or event.
Allegiant Stadium’s in-person betting lounge will be the first of its kind in the US in the NFL, and will be what sets the Vegas stadium apart from other newcomers, like LA’s SoFi Stadium and Seattle’s revamped Lumen Field.
Five Towns Stadium (Rugby)
Castleford, England
The proposed Five Towns Stadium, the Castleford Tigers new rugby homefield, maxes out at a capacity of 13,300 spectators. However, it’s not the occupancy limits that will set this stadium apart – it’s all the extra offerings now associated with the surrounding Axiom shopping complex.
Originally, the stadium was set to begin construction around 2011, but a lack of investment saw plans stall. Since then, large brands have signed on to Axiom’s shopping center and seen a boost of $50 million (AUD) in funding from lease agreements, which include fashion brand H&M, Mango, and New Look.
In addition to housing a community stadium for the Castleford Tigers, the Five Towns Stadium and surrounding complex are also set to include a rugby museum, as well as 75 retail and restaurant locations.
Guangzhou Evergrande Stadium (Football)
Guangzhou, China
Construction began in April of 2020 for the new home stadium for the Chinese Super League’s Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC. It is claimed the stadium will seat 100,000 spectators, giving it a similar capacity to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and includes a stunning lotus design that’s an ode to Guangzhou’s reputation as a city of flowers.
The $1.7 billion investment will have 168 luxury VIP suites and, much like the Five Towns Stadium, will include nearby shopping and leisure centers. In addition to becoming the home for FC Guangzhou, it will also host festivities for the entire Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao greater areas near Guangzhou.
Protective Stadium (Blazers Sports Program)
Birmingham, USA
The University of Alabama Birmingham’s 47,100-capacity Protective Stadium, which will house their Blazers athletic programs, is set to be completed in 2021. The $174-million-complex will be open-air and will include various zones for spectators, including affordable areas and season-ticket areas for the football season.
The stadium will be multi-use, which means residents of Birmingham may see concerts or other major events take place inside Protective Stadium despite the area being UAB’s home field. In line with other modern stadiums, Protective Stadium will feature a nearby entertainment district.
Like the Evergrande Stadium, it will likely be used for major events relevant to the city of Birmingham and is expected to bolster the local economy in addition to serving the UAB athletic program.
