Stadiums

PTH2009

What were the best stadiums you ever visited ???

Been to a few UK stadiums and have to say there designed great in terms of fan areas for food/drink etc. Old Trafford and The Etihad are great inside in and out with massive squares for supporters and excellent transport links. Only London stadium I visited was the Olympic stadium and it's a great place

Back home Croke Park and the Aviva are the top places but suffer from being next to residential sites. I've been to the RDS and Thomond park and they are good in terms of having areas outside the stadium for fans. Some GAA grounds are suffering with age as are some of league of ireland places

Joe_ Public

Cardiff arms park (old names are best), location and atmosphere. Probably my fav. Nou camp has to be up there too.

Still love the old grounds i used to watch on match of the day as a kid, so much more interesting than the bowls they build nowadays.

Molyneaux was always my personal favourite, rembember the zig zag structure of the main stand, always loved it for some reason.

boggerman1

Been to a few in my time.my top 3 would be the MCG in Melbourne,the millenium stadium in Cardiff,and Croke park no.3.stade de France is a beautiful stadium inside too.biggest kips I've been to include the Olympic stadium in Sydney,the old stade metropole in Lille and the Gaelic grounds in limerick

JohnnyFlash

Anfield. Especially on a good cold night with Champions League on.

When you hear the start of You’ll Never Walk Alone then you know it’s a special place to be.

L1011

Wembley has probably the fastest throughput/most suitable provision of toilets, bars and food outlets I've ever seen - atmosphere depends on the mood of the team you're there for; suspect it could be really boring in the neutral prawn sandwich zone.

Croke Park is nowhere near the worst stadium I've been to; but its absolutely the worst large stadium I've been to. "Designed" in a lull in decent stadium design where all the architects that knew what they were doing were trying to modify 80s stands to meet the Taylor Report in the UK and equivalent ramificiations across Europe. Uncomfortable and designed with servicability and safety over comfort and atmosphere.

jimmii

New Wembley is very good as mentioned already getting out is surprisingly easy. I always like going to Craven Cottage just for the novelty factor with the house in the corner! Went to one game where I was in the "neutral" (who even has a neutral end lol) but got an email a few days beforehand saying due to demand from the away fans it was now also an away area and did I want to move. It was against a Polish (I think) team but thought f it should be a bit of craic. The atmosphere was insane! Andy Johnson scored and celebrated in front of them and they went absolutely ballistic started setting off flares etc. Not what you expect at Fulham!

One I thought was surprisingly bad was the Allianz Arena. Its changed now but at the time they had prepaid cards you had to get if you wanted to buy anything absolute pain in the ass you had to queue up for that then queue up again wtf!

jimmii

sugarman wrote: »

Almost all stadiums in Germany are "cashless" and have this.. keeps ques moving fast, no faffing with change. Very efficient.

Being slowly fazed out the last while with contactless bank cards / Google pay / Apple Pay fast becoming the standard and accepted instead.

This wasnt just cashless it was a card unique to the arena. Grand if you're a season ticket holder bit of a pain for everyone else!

greenflash

Payment systems and queues for refreshments are where it's at with stadiums. Who cares about atmosphere, noise, passion and a real connection with your team when you can use your phone to pay for popcorn

Guy:Incognito

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Cardiff arms park (old names are best), location and atmosphere. Probably my fav. N.

I assume you mean the millennium stadium (or the principality or whatever it's called now) . The arms park is not the same ground and is still there.

Strumms

Best...

Aviva / Landsdowne
Croke Park
Old Trafford
Celtic Park
Stadium Of Light
Giants Stadium (for the Houghton slow mo chip)
Bernaubeu
Nou Camp
Stade De France (for the cûnt Henry fûcking us + a few other games back in ‘98)
Parc Des Princes

Grid.

Best atmosphere at a match - Allianz Arena , Signal Iduna Park, San Siro, MCG

Zaph

Best facilities - Century Link Field, Seattle. Pity the standard of MLS on the pitch didn't match the stadium. Also great viewing position, I'd say there isn't a seat in the stadium that you'd have a bad view of the pitch from.

Best atmosphere - Bernabeu, Olympic Stadium, Berlin and Elland Road.

L1011

greenflash wrote: »

Payment systems and queues for refreshments are where it's at with stadiums. Who cares about atmosphere, noise, passion and a real connection with your team when you can use your phone to pay for popcorn

A team playing badly for a prolonged period and an unmotivated fanbase will make the best stadium possible seem crap and vice versa. People like you mistake fans for the quality of the stadium.

Crap facilities can feed in to crap everything else, of course. Withdean "Stadium" has many memories of that type for me; and even winning the league there doesn't change the fetid portaloos and need for ponchos.

Joe_ Public

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I assume you mean the millennium stadium (or the principality or whatever it's called now) . The arms park is not the same ground and is still there.

Yeah that's it, whatever they call it. It was always the arms park when i first started travelling for matches there so in my head thats what i still call it, though i know thats technically incorrect.

Guy:Incognito

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Yeah that's it, whatever they call it. It was always the arms park when i first started travelling for matches there so in my head thats what i still call it, though i know thats technically incorrect.

The arms park is a totally different stadium though. The small one behind the millennium stadium it's not like the aviva/lansdowne where they knocked it and built a new stadium on the site.

Joe_ Public

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

The arms park is a totally different stadium though. The small one behind the millennium stadium it's not like the aviva/lansdowne where they knocked it and built a new stadium on the site.

The old national stadium i referring to, before current one. Always known as the arms park to me anyway. But i wouldnt get into a fight over it!

w/s/p/c/

As sad as it sounds, I miss the old Lansdowne Road. As much as a dump as it was, have great memories of going to Ireland Football games. Aviva is a great stadium but you just can't replace the atmosphere of the old place.

Richard Hillman

jimmii wrote: »

This wasnt just cashless it was a card unique to the arena. Grand if you're a season ticket holder bit of a pain for everyone else!

Yes, the whole cashless/club card is an absolute scam. They know full well that one off or rare visitors will throw money onto the card, whilst leaving an awkward amount on it, never to be used again. I have about €2 on a Rapid Vienna card.

Bobblehats

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

When you hear the start of You’ll Never Walk Alone then you know it’s a special place to be.

That team itself is confused they think they’re rappers but they’re playing heavy metal. Except when Allison break out his acoustic guitar to restore calm at the back

Captain_Crash

Went to visit the old Wembley before it was knocked down and it was wonderful. Old and in need of repair for sure but something about it screamed atmosphere... done the tour and got to walk out the tunnel and even met Emlyn Hughes in the coffee shop afterwards.

The best for me is prob the Aviva, yeah the old Lansdowne was great and had character but the Aviva is a fantastic ground and I couldn't say a bad word about it.

Church on Tuesday

Found Old Trafford to be fairly ramshackle when I was there TBH.

Eithad is tiny and fairly bland.

Love the Aviva, very pretty stadium.

Croker you can't really compare to soccer stadiums as it's such a vast arena. Showing it's age a little bit I think.

Bobblehats

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I assume you mean the millennium stadium (or the principality or whatever it's called now) . The arms park is not the same ground and is still there.

And still dominated by a skyline of flats. Reminds me I visited Twickebham once, only difference was it wasn’t a matchday. Far from it there was nobody there maybe a solitary groundsman left a turnstile open? Looked for a ball so I could reenact Eric Elwoods matchwinning touchline conversion but nothing - decided to investigate further but nobody......anybody?! Twickenham for me will forever remain an eerie place

Canyon86

Good idea for a thread

Craven Cottage (lovely part of london, easy access, plenty of pubs etc)
St James Park (nice stadium in the middle of the city)
Old Trafford
Olympic Stadium Berlin
Stade Toulousain
Thomond Park
Aviva

PerryB78

Not a Celtic fan but had the privilege of attending a champions league game at Parkhead, best atmosphere I've ever experienced. Highbury was a magnificent ground too, full of history and character, shame it was swopped for the soulless corporate Emirates stadium

Dublin Spur

Bonbonara (Boca Jnrs) Buenos Aires

Nothing in Europe comes close

Dublin Spur

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

Croker you can't really compare to soccer stadiums as it's such a vast arena. Showing it's age a little bit I think.

It's a 3 quarters stadium, the north end is unfinished

Church on Tuesday

Dublin Spur wrote: »

It's a 3 quarters stadium, the north end is unfinished

Just like the Aviva.

Edgware

Canyon86 wrote: »

Good idea for a thread

Craven Cottage (lovely part of london, easy access, plenty of pubs etc)
St James Park (nice stadium in the middle of the city)
Old Trafford
Olympic Stadium Berlin
Stade Toulousain
Thomond Park
Aviva

Craven Cottage. Lovely little stadium and no seat too far from the action. Grand walk from Putney Tube along by the Thames and yes, good local type pubs
Newcastle is near the city centre, great when Toon are on form
Middlesborough, a disaster out in an industrial estate but great days there in the time of Ravaneli and Juhnino.

Croke Park has lost its soul

Captain Havoc

Joe_ Public wrote: »

The old national stadium i referring to, before current one. Always known as the arms park to me anyway. But i wouldnt get into a fight over it!

Cardiff Arms Park is officially called BT Sports Cardiff Arms Park, it still exists and it is not the millénium stadium.

upandcumming

Been very lucky to have visited so many in the last few years, but there has been a few that have stood out:
Weser Stadion,
RheinEnergie in Cologne was beautiful,
Stadio Olimpico,
San Siro,
Vitesse Arnhem was memorable for the 75 year anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.

B_ecke_r

Loved Craven Cottage

Dublin Spur

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

Just like the Aviva.

indeed

alchemist33

Zaph wrote: »

Best facilities - Century Link Field, Seattle. Pity the standard of MLS on the pitch didn't match the stadium. Also great viewing position, I'd say there isn't a seat in the stadium that you'd have a bad view of the pitch from.

Going there in 3 weeks so glad to hear all this. Otherwise, no stadia really stood out for me. I've been to Old Trafford a few times and getting away after the game can be a real pain.

Poor_old_gill

Killarney in a Munster football final day in the sun is a beaut.

Facilities are old fashioned but that adds to the charm, atmosphere is usually very good aswell

Bobblehats

alchemist33 wrote: »

Going there in 3 weeks so glad to hear all this. Otherwise, no stadia really stood out for me. I've been to Old Trafford a few times and getting away after the game can be a real pain.

That’s the ground with the ‘hawks nest’ upper stand at one end giving way to a view of the city. With the two large main stands, probably modelled on the Hong Kong stadium but of of course being America they have to be all the more imposing

I like stadiums like that though with something unique going on that aren’t too enclosed giving you a sense of where you actually are. A bit like the Dragao and in the case of our own, also letting the evening sunshine in. Whilst providing the opportunity to allocate an absolute bare minimum of away tickets

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Anfield. Especially on a good cold night with Champions League on.

When you hear the start of You’ll Never Walk Alone then you know it’s a special place to be.

That was great to experience in the flesh.

JohnnyFlash

Old Trafford is a soulless stadium in the arse end of nowhere. It’s a pain to get to, the atmosphere is terrible, and Manchester United play there. Nothing to recommend it.

DelBoy Trotter

My favourite stadium is the Millenium Stadium in Wales (when Wales are actually playing), the atmosphere is phenomenal.
I miss the Old Lansdowne Road also, as another poster said, it was a dump. But it had a great atmosphere. The atmosphere on the terraces was always great, and it's something I miss from all newer stadiums

helimachoptor

Landsdowne
Aviva
Croke Park
Old Trafford
Wembley
Centurylink (seattle)
Candlestick (SF)
First Energy Stadium (Cleveland)
Gilette Stadium (Boston)

All fine, but gilette stadium is a bit annoying to get to/from, its only 20 miles from Boston but takes over an hour

Strumms

alchemist33 wrote: »

Going there in 3 weeks so glad to hear all this. Otherwise, no stadia really stood out for me. I've been to Old Trafford a few times and getting away after the game can be a real pain.

That’s the biggest ball ache about Old Trafford, trying to get away from it. From final whistle to getting your arse back to a city center hotel is the guts of two hours and the odd occasion more... great experience being there for a game but the shine is usually taken off it somewhat by the cold ultra slow get away. Been times with the whole debacle I’m just fit for a meal and bed at the end of it. Can be agonizing.

Zaph

alchemist33 wrote: »

Going there in 3 weeks so glad to hear all this.

I'm guessing you're going for a Seahawks game. Don't know if it's the same, but before the Sounders games there's a fan parade to the stadium with bands and stuff that's great fun and it really helps build the atmosphere. It starts about an hour and a half before kick-off from Pioneer Square. Might be worth checking out if they do something similar for the Seahawks.

hynesie08

The at&t in texas is an insane building, just amazing in every way. Metlife in new jersey is also amazing, great to look at, no bad seats, food and drink selection is great. Aviva is a decent stadium but hampered by terrible food and drink selections....... Dying to see the new minnesota stadium.

Muahahaha

Dublin Spur wrote: »

Bonbonara (Boca Jnrs) Buenos Aires

Nothing in Europe comes close

+1 on this La Bombonera must be one of the most mental places to attend a game anywhere. Boca Juniors purposely put both the dressing rooms underneath the main terrace and it will be fully packed out over an hour before kick off with the fans bouncing up and down on it because they know it makes the walls in the away teams dressing room literally vibrate.

Watched a game on Dortmunds 'Yellow Wall' a few years back and that truly is an experience too. They sing Youll Never Walk Alone too, cracking atmosphere in that stadium.

Centre Court at Wimbledon is another one that I loved. Only game of tennis Ive ever been at but it was something special to see the speed of the play up close.

jay1988

The old Ali Sami Yen stadium in Istanbul, former home of Galatasaray, was there for an Istanbul derby in 2008, absolutely unbelievable place.

Croke Park best and Stangmore Park worst.

beggars_bush

College Station, Texas.

jack747

Independiente in Buenos Aires. Watched them play Boca, unbelievable atmosphere. A side note, their rivals Racing's ground is literally right beside them. Its worth looking up. Makes Anfield and Goodison look miles and miles apart!

fullstop

Strumms wrote: »

Stade De France (for the cûnt Henry fûcking us + a few other games back in ‘98)

I was there too

Favourite stadiums I’ve been to are, in no particular order;
Molineux
Villa Park
SCG
Stade de France
Newlands
Millennium (probably the best for atmosphere)

As well as the obvious, Lansdowne and Croker.

Been to a few **** ones too, not necessarily for facilities, but for atmosphere and being a bit soulless. Most notably ANZ Stadium and Allianz stadium, both in Sydney.

MrAbyss

PTH2009 wrote: »

What were the best stadiums you ever visited ???

Been to a few UK stadiums and have to say there designed great in terms of fan areas for food/drink etc.

I go to watch the stuff happening on the green rectangle in the middle and couldn't give a ****e about access to a Starbucks or McDonalds in a stadium.

I have also had some of the most enjoyment ever in some of the ****test stadiums. I really don't care for comfortable and flashy stadia.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Cardiff arms park (old names are best)

One still exists, beside the Millennium Stadium

Captain Havoc

Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Standard Liege's stadium is excellent. It's steep and the atmosphere is excellent.