5 of the Best Sporting Venues From Around the World

Watching our sporting idols compete for their titles on world famous courts and pitches can be hugely exciting, and if you’ve ever been lucky enough to visit one of these remarkable venues as a spectator, you’ll know how inspirational they can be – from the raucous atmosphere of the crowds to the silent tension of that final match point, you’re sharing the sporting journey of your heroes with thousands of people that share your passion. Here’s a few of the best sporting venues from around the world to get you inspired…

Wembley Stadium, London, England

The new Wembley Stadium was opened in 2007, and is home to the England national football team. England is among the few nations worldwide to have a football stadium designated to its national team that is not also the home of any of its domestic clubs giving it extra prestige. It hosts the world’s oldest football tournament, the FA Cup, and holds memories for all players of great games both at the new stadium and the ‘Twin Towers’ of its predecessor. It was one of the most expensive stadiums ever built, has a seated capacity 90,000 and boasts a huge retractable roof. It’s most recognisable and striking feature is the famous ‘Wembley Arch,’ a distinctive, 134-metre-high, steel arch that is so high that, unlike any other stadium, it has had to be fitted with beacons to warn low-flying aircrafts.

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is not only the largest stadium in the whole of Australia, but it’s the tenth largest stadium in the world, and the largest venue dedicated to the game of cricket. The open-air stadium has a capacity of just over 100,000 and hosts some of the most famous cricket matches, including the annual Boxing Day Test, as well as a whole host of other sports including, Australian rules football and rugby league. One of its most famous features are the huge light towers that stand at 75 meters tall – the highest at any sporting venue. It is internationally famous for being the centrepiece stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympics as well as the 2006 Commonwealth Games and is now on the Australian National Heritage List and is often referred to as the “Spiritual Home of Australian Sport”.

Beijing National Stadium ‘The Birds Nest’, China

The Beijing National Stadium, or the Bird’s Nest as it is better known, was designed and built as the main stadium of the 2008 Olympic Games, and hosted a number of events including track and field and football. It has since be opened as a tourist attraction and is now the home of international and domestic sports competitions and recreation activities. The stadium has a unique and irregular appearance but the design is very specific and each half is almost identical as the seemingly random pattern is actually a carefully constructed pattern of steel structures masking the huge support columns. The venue seats 91,000 spectators and boasts a four-star, 80-room hotel under one of side, as well as a gourmet restaurant with views of the track, and a huge underground shopping centre.

Wimbledon, London, England

Wimbledon is renowned as the home of tennis, especially for 2 weeks or so every year when it plays host to the oldest tennis tournament in the world. The Wimbledon Championships have been held annually since 1877, and, as the years have passed and the event became more prestigious, it now attracts some of the world’s best tennis players from as many as 60 countries, all hoping for a chance to win the admired Wimbledon trophy. The centre court is the most famous of all 19 of Wimbledon’s courts, and not just because it was the first outdoor court of its kind to have a fully retractable roof installed. The ivy-clad court is steeped in history and maintains an intimate atmosphere for the players and spectators alike. Tickets to games at the centre court are some of the most coveted in sport.

The Yankee Stadium, New York, America

The Yankee Stadium is home to one of America’s most famous sporting teams – the New York Yankees. It opened on the 2^nd of April 2009, replacing the old Yankees Ball Park, which had opened in 1923, but the new stadium incorporated many of the design elements and features of the previous stadium being sure to keep the traditions and heritage that mean so much to the fans and players. The old Yankee Stadium was the first of its kind to seat as many as 58,000 people in a three-tiered sports facility, and over the years has hosted some of the sport’s most memorable games including 37 World Series! It’s easy to see why it’s so important to uphold generations of tradition to create and maintain exceptional venues, that inspire both players and fans of tennis, baseball, cricket, real turf, artificial surfaces and all that in between. Charles Lawrence are a family-led business that love what we do, so get in touch today to arrange your consultation.