Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Largest Soccer Stadiums in Europe

Of all the continents, soccer has the highest profile in Europe. It is not surprising that the old world has some of the most historic and prestigious stadiums in the world. Although Asia has some of the largest facilities used for soccer, none are more renowned than the best that Europe has to offer. Some of these are not just the largest, but are also some of the best in the world.
1. Camp Nou: Barcelona, Spain
At the top of the list is the stadium of one of the best soccer teams in the world - FC Barcelona. Camp Nou (New Field) was a popular nickname for Estadi del Barcelona, until the nickname became the official name in 2000. Camp Nou can seat 99,354 spectators, making it the 11th largest stadium of any kind in the world.
2. Wembley Stadium: London, England
Wembley Stadium is the home of association football. The 90,000-seater stadium is the official home of the England national football team and also hosts the semi-finals and finals of domestic competitions. While Wembley is designed specifically for soccer, it can be adapted to host athletic events, although that would decrease its capacity by 30,000.
3. Stade de France: Saint Denis, France
The venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final is the third largest in Europe by capacity. It can seat 81,338 and is used for association football and rugby. Stade de France is the home of the French national football team; it is the French version of Wembley.
4. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu: Madrid, Spain
Known simply as the Bernabeu, this popular stadium is the home ground of Real Madrid C.F. The Bernabeu is owned and operated by the Madrid club. It can seat 80,354 spectators, making it the second largest (in terms of capacity) in Spain.
5. Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro): Milan, Italy
The San Siro has the distinction of being the biggest stadium in Italy, but it is also the home ground of the biggest clubs in Italy and Europe: AC Milan and Inter Milan. Both teams share the 80,074-seater stadium. When one club plays at home, the other plays away, unless they play each other.
The largest stadiums (by capacity) in Europe are instantly recognisable across the globe. These stadiums are designated soccer stadiums - not multi-purpose facilities. If multi-purpose facilities are included, then Luzhniki Stadium in Russia (89,318) would be the second-largest on the continent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6363304

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