Stadium wonders: The biggest sports stadiums in the world

• Even though stadiums spectator experiences and comfort are the main factors considered when building stadiums nowadays, nothing beats a sell-out crowd of fans
• The biggest sports stadium in the world is Rungrado 1st of May Stadium
• It’s name is derived from its opening date: May Day 1989, and hosts football matches, athletic events and mass games of the Arirang Festival

From live matches to national events to music concerts, the biggest sports stadiums serve as a gathering place for people. Even though nowadays stadiums spectator experiences and comfort are the main factors considered when building stadiums, nothing beats a sell-out crowd of fans cheering on their team during matches.

In this article, we are going to take a look at the top ten biggest sports stadiums in the world considering the number of people they can hold. Note that we haven’t included horse and car racing venues which can be expanded to contain up to half a million people. Also, Strahov Stadium, which is located in Prague, has not been included despite having a capacity of 220,000 because it’s no longer used for competitive sports.

1. Rungrado 1st of May Stadium – 150,000

Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea. Photo/ Quizmaster Trivia.

Located in Pyongyang, North Korea, Rungrado 1st of May Stadium tops the list of the biggest sports stadiums in the world with a capacity of 150,000. The multi-purpose stadium, which was opened in 1989, occupies an area of 20.7 hectares. It has been hosting football matches, athletic events and mass games of the Arirang Festival over the years.

Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is the home ground of the North Korean national football team. It’s name is derived from its opening date: May Day 1989, and was constructed in response to South Korea building the Seoul Olympic Stadium.

2. Narendra Modi Stadium – 132,000

If you’re a cricket fan then you must have heard about Narendra Modi Stadium. Situated inside the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad, India, this stadium has the capacity to hold 132,000 fans. It is owned by Gujarat Cricket Association and has hosted various cricket events over the years, including Test, ODI, Indian Premier League and T20I cricket matches. This was the stadium which hosted the finals of the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Some of the facilities available at this mega stadium include four dressing rooms, a gymnasium an Olympic-size swimming pool, a warm-up area, a squash court, two gyms, a steam and sauna, and a a 55-room clubhouse.

Narendra Modi Stadium is the biggest cricket stadium in the world. Photo/ BCCI.tv.

3. Michigan Stadium – 107,601

Nicknamed The Big House, Michigan Stadium comes third on the list of the biggest sports stadiums in the world by capacity. It has an official capacity of 107,601, but can accommodate crowds in excess of 115,000. It is the largest stadium in the western hemisphere and has set numerous attendance records over the years.

Michigan Stadium had an original capacity of 72,000 after being built in 1972 but has since undergone multiple developments hence increasing the capacity. It was this stadium which hosted the Manchester United vs Real Madrid match back in 2014. The game had an attendance of 109,318, which remains a record crowd for a football match in the United States up to date.

4. Beaver Stadium – 106,572

Beaver Stadium. Photo/ Penn State Athletics.

Beaver Stadium is the second largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere with a capacity of 106,572. Some parts of the stadium date back to 1909 and it was named after former governor of Pennsylvania James A. Beaver. It is located at Pennsylvania State University and serves as home to the Nittany Lions football team.

5. Kyle Field – 102,733

With a capacity of 102,733, Kyle Field is one of the biggest sports stadiums in the world. This American football stadium is located in Texas and has been home to the Texas A&M Aggies football team since the start of the 20th century. In October 2014, it exceeded its capacity and held 110,633 people during a match between Texas A&M and the Ole Miss Rebels. The hosts lost 35–20.

6. Ohio Stadium – 102,780

Ohio Stadium. Photo/ Barton Malow.

Located in Columbus, Ohio Stadium has been a popular venue for sports in the United Statues for several years now. The stadium, which primarily serves as the home venue of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, has held multiple concerts over the years and has big artists such as Taylor Swift, U2, The Rolling Stones and Metallica perform there.