1 - RUNGRADO 1ST OF MAY STADIUM - NORTH KOREA
In the 1990s, it was claimed that the former Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, picked up a golf club for the first time at the opening of the Pyongyang Golf Complex. It contains North Korea’s only 18-hole golf course that has a par of 72. The Supreme Leader went on to shoot an incredible 38-under-par round of 34, of which eleven shots were holes-in-one.
Now far be it for us to suggest that the North Koreans make things up, but that does seem a slightly unlikely result for someone who has never played golf before to manage. As such, it’s entirely possible that the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium actually only has seating for about 150 people, and the rest is made to appear larger thanks to the intelligent use of mirrors.
That’s probably not true, of course, and the claim of a 150,000 capacity is a totally genuine one. As it’s located in notoriously secretive North Korea, details about the venue are difficult to come by. Still, we do know that it is, nominally, used for football matches for the likes of the North Korean national team. Mostly, though, it’s used to host things like the Arirang Festival, a gymnastics and artistic performance event. In the 1990s, some North Korean army members who have been implicated in an attempt to assassinate Kim Jong-il were executed in a mass burning inside the ground, which is cheer.
The stadium’s capacity has remained steady ever since it opened, but the ground itself underwent a bit of a renovation between 2013 and 2015. As well as hosting the male and female North Korean football teams and the annual Arirang Festival, the stadium is also the start and endpoint of the Pyongyang Marathon. y.s.
2 - CAMP NOU - SPAIN
Build Cost - 288 Million Spanish Peseta
Camp Nou has been the home of FC Barcelona since the 24th of September 1957. Since then, it has also hosted the home matches of the Catalonia national team, and in 1992, it was one of the stadiums used when Spain hosted the Summer Olympics. The ground has hosted two Champions League finals and one semi-final match at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Until 1980 the capacity was just over 93,000, but it increased to 121,749 at the start of the 1980s. In 1993 this was reduced to 115,000 than in 2005, it was reduced once more to 98,772. In 2016 it increased slightly to its current capacity of 99,354, but plans are underway to increase it further to 105,000 by 2021. This will include a major redevelopment of the entire stadium
The Nou Camp has not just hosted football, either. In 1982 Pope John Paul II celebrated a mass Mass at the ground, with a congregation of 121,000 turning up. In 1983 the Spanish singer Julio Iglesias performed in front of 60,000 people. Bruce Springsteen, The Three Tenors, and U2 have all also held concerts in the stadium.
3 - ESTADIO AZTECA - MEXICO
Build Cost - 260 Million Mexican dollars
Located in the suburb of Santa Ursula in Mexico City, the Estadio Azteca is the home of the Mexican national team. It is also the home ground of Club America who plays in the top-flight of Mexican football. Over the years it has been used by other clubs such as Necaxa, Atlante, Universidad Nacional, Atletico Espanyol and Cruz Azul.
It is one of the most iconic stadiums in world football and was the first to host two separate FIFA World Cup finals. In 1970 Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the stadium, whilst in 1986 Argentina ruled the roost over West Germany with a 3-2 win there. English fans will know the ground well as it was the location for Maradona’s famous ‘hand of God’ goal in the 1986 quarter-final between England and Argentina.
The stadium hosted its first night game in June 1966 when Necaxa welcomed the Spanish side Valencia. In 1978 and 1990, it hosted the finals of the Copa Interamericana, with the first being completed by America and Boca Juniors and the second between America and Club Olimpia from Paraguay.
As well as hosting numerous sporting events, including high-level boxing, the ground has also played host to several big-name musicians. Michael Jackson ended his Dangerous Tour with five sold-out shows there in 1993, whilst U2 welcomed 110,000 people there in 2011. Paul McCartney performed at the stadium in 2012 in front of 53,000 and, strangely, Mexican comedian Roberto Gomez Bolaños’ funeral was held there in 2014.
4 - FNB STADIUM - SOUTH AFRICA
Build Cost - 440 Million South African, Rand
The First National Bank Stadium, better known as FNB Stadium but also called Soccer City or The Calabash, is the stadium used to host the home games of South Africa’s football matches and the country’s rugby games. It is also the home ground of the South African football team Kaiser Chiefs FC. It hosted the African Cup of Nations in 1996 and 2013 and some of the games, including the final, when South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
The ground underwent a significant upgrade to get it ready for the World Cup, including an upper-tier around the stadium that increased its attendance capacity to 94,736. However, it was limited to 84,490 for the World Cup because seats needed to be reserved for the FIFA family, VIPs, etc.
On top of football and rugby, the ground has also been used to host several high-profile musicians. Neil Diamond, U2, Lady Gaga, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and the Foo Fighters have all played there. However, perhaps the most significant event held there was in 1990 when Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech from the stadium after his release from prison.
5 - ROSE BOWL STADIUM - UNITED STATES
Build Cost - $3.85 Million US Dollars
Primarily known as an American Football stadium, the Rose Bowl is arguably the most important ‘soccer’ ground in the United States. It hosted the FIFA World Cup final in 1994, the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in 1999, the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal Match, and numerous CONCACAF and US Soccer Federation matches.
The ground opened in 1922 and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark in the US. It hosts the Rose Bowl American Football game every year, and that’s where it gets its name from. In fact, the ground was initially known as either the Tournament of Roses Stadium or Tournament of Roses Bowl until it was called the Rose Bowl just before the 1923 game of the tournament.
From 1972 until 1997, the capacity was 104,091. This was lowered to somewhere between 91,136 and 92,542 for the 1998 Rose Bowl. In 2011 the attendance was 94,118. The stadium is regularly used for the BSC National Championship and the College Football Playoffs, with the Super Bowl also having been played there several times since 1977.
As with most major stadiums, it has been used to host several music concerts and the like over the years. In 1982 Journey performed there, supported by the likes of Blue Oyster Cult. Depeche Mode, The Cure, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones have also played.
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