Bucket List: Stadiums to Visit

After recently working my first game ever at Soldier Field, I was satisfied that I was finally able to check this off my bucket list. Hard to believe that after being born in Chicago, lived there for a full year in 2008, and after many visits I have never been to Soldier Field until now. This historic home of the Chicago Bears is a very impressive stadium, as it blends old fashioned Romanesque columns with a modern renovation. After visiting this stadium it got me to consider the historical stadiums I have thus far gotten to experience such as Yankee Stadium, Old Trafford, Wrigley Field, The Ohio State, and the Big House at Michigan to name a fame. Yet also the other sports stadiums that I would still like to visit in this lifetime. So here is my bucket list of sports stadiums to visit. (I tend to gravitate towards the historic venues).

1. Ford Field

• Home of the Detroit Lions
• Located in Detroit, USA
• Opened in 2002
• Capacity: 65,000
• Significance: As a lifelong die-hard Detroit Lions fan it pains me to say I have yet to visit the home stadium of my favorite sports team. Although I have visited the previous home of the Lions in 1997 at the Pontiac Silverdome (which was part of the reason I became a Lions fan as a kid), Ford Field has been in place for nearly 20 years now. I suppose the opportunity has yet to present itself but make no mistake this is number 1 on my bucket list. Although I dislike indoor stadiums, the home of the Detroit Lions will always be my number one choice. 

2. Fenway Park

• Home of the Boston Red Sox
  
• Located in Boston, USA
• AKA "America's Most Beloved Ballpark", "Friendly Fenway"
• Opened in 1912
• Capacity: 37,755
• Significance: It is the oldest baseball stadium in the major leagues, just a couple years older than Wrigley Field. It's historic legacy is filled with baseball lore such as the curse of the Bambino that was placed after the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth off to the Yankees. Similar to the Chicago Cubs, the Red Sox experienced nearly 90 years without a world series title, until the curse was finally broken in 2003. Since then the Red Sox have returned to their winning ways adding 4 more titles in the past 20 years to their grand total of 8. (They have the third most World Series titles behind the Yankees and the Cardinals). What makes Fenway Park so special to me is it's unique characteristics such as the Green Monster wall in left field. It's also my understanding that the stadium is always sold out, the seats are very close to one another, and the fans there are very friendly as is the culture in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. This stadium is at the top of my list as a big fan of baseball yet more so American history. 

3. Lambeau Field

• Home of the Green Bay Packers
  
• Located in Green Bay, USA
• AKA "The Frozen Tundra"
• Opened in 1957
• Capacity: 81,441
• Significance: Along with Soldier Field it is one of the oldest and most iconic stadiums in the NFL. It is often referred to as titletown due to it's numerous championships won under head coach Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi, and their start quarterbacks Bart Star, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Although I despise the Packers as our divisional rivals I cannot deny the historic allure this stadium presents. I am sure it will be a very cold experience, being known as the Frozen Tundra, yet also a very memorable experience.

4. Anfield

• Home of Liverpool FC
  
• Located in Liverpool, England
• Opened in 1884
• Capacity: 53, 394
• Significance: Alongside Old Trafford it is the most iconic and historic stadiums in English football. Throughout it's rich history the stadium has experienced 18 league titles, 2nd only to Manchester United. Although I am still somewhat new to the English Premier League I instantly fell in love with this stadium environment after hearing the fans sing their ritual pre-game song of "You'll Never Walk Alone". To hear 50 thousand people singing and chanting in unison sends a chill down your spine, unlike any other atmosphere in all of sports. 

5. Notre Dame Stadium

• Home of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• Located in South Bend, USA
• Opened in 1929
• Capacity: 77,622
• Significance: It is home to one of the most iconic college football programs in the nation. During it's rich history Notre Dame football has gone on to collect 11 national titles making them one of the most successful northern teams alongside University of Michigan and The Ohio State University. I myself have a special admiration for this football program being based in Indiana and also a Catholic school (yet I still prefer my Indiana University and the other Big Ten schools). Being a lifelong Indiana Catholic and knowing many Fighting Irish fans throughout my life, I feel it is an obligation that I experience this at least once in my lifetime. 

6. Camp Nou

• Home of FC Barcelona
  
• Located in Barcelona, Spain
• Opened in 1957
• Capacity: 99,354
• Significance: It is the largest stadium in all of Europe, and the third largest soccer stadium in the world. It is home to one of the most iconic football teams in the world, FC Barcelona that has experienced 26 Spanish league titles throughout it's history. The club has adopted the motto, "Mes Que un Club" which means it is more than just a sports team, it is a way of life. In the past fifteen years it has been home to one of the greatest players of all time in Lionel Messi. The atmosphere is truly incredible and even more so during their rivalry games against Real Madrid known as "El Classico". 

7. Maracana Stadium

• Home of the Brazil National Football Team
• Located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Opened in 1950
• Capacity: 78,838
• Significance: It is one of the most historic stadiums in South America that has hosted several major world events. It was constructed as the main venue for the 1950 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil. Nearly 200,000 fans filled the brand new stadium for the final match, where they sadly witnessed their home team of Brazil lose to Uruguay in a PK shootout. After the cup the stadium was used as the home field for several major clubs in Rio de Janiero including Fluminense FC and Flamengo. The stadium returned to prominence during the 2014 World Cup final hosting various big matches, including the final match between Argentina and Germany. Also of personal note for myself was Colombia's victory over Uruguay in the quarterfinals, where James Rodriguez burst onto the world stage with his incredible goal at the Maracana. In 2016 it was the main venue for the Summer Olympics and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the mens and womens gold medal soccer match. In the men's match, Brazil was able to somewhat redeem itself from their humiliation at the 2014 Cup, when Neymar scored the game winning PK against Germany. This was surprisingly the 1st ever gold medal for Brazil in soccer. The stadium has witnessed so much history and for this reason I would love to experience a game here.  

8. Estadio Azteca

• Home of the Mexican National Football Team
  
• Located in Mexico City, Mexico
• AKA "The Colossus of Santa Ursula"
• Opened in 1961
• Capacity: 87,523
• Significance: Alongside the Maracana it is one of the most historic stadiums in Latin America. It was built in 1966 as a colossus soccer stadium, that first made it's international debut at the 1968 Summer Olympics hosting various soccer matches, including the gold medal match. In 1970 it hosted the FIFA World Cup, including the final between Brazil and Italy that witnessed Pele raise his 3rd World Cup Trophy. In 1986 Mexico was once again the hosts of the FIFA World Cup, and one again the Estadio Azteca hosted several big games including the final match between Germany and Argentina that witnessed Maradona raise the world cup trophy. It also hosted two very historic games from the 1986 World Cup, including Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal against England, as well as the "Game of the Century" semifinal match between Germany and Italy. To this day the stadium serves as the pride of Mexico with a thunderous fan base that surely makes any visiting teams uneasy. 

9. Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum 

• Home of the USC Trojans and the Los Angeles Rams
  
• Located in Los Angeles, USA
• AKA "The Grand Old Lady"
• Opened in 1923
• Capacity: 77,500
• Significance: It is one the most historic college stadiums build in the 1920s as a WWI veteran memorial, the home of the USC Trojans, yet more importantly the main venue of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics. It will also host the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, making it the only stadium to have hosted 3 Olympic Games. The stadium is renown for it's iconic Romanesque stairs, pillars, and it's Olympic torch. It has witnessed the USC Trojans hoist 11 national college football titles. In 1946 it also served as home to the professional football team the Los Angeles Rams until 1979 and later resumed as their home stadium in 2016. The stadium is referred to as the Grand Old Lady and is one of the most iconic Olympic stadiums in the world.

10. Beaver Stadium

• Home of the Penn State Nittany Lions
  
• Located in University Park, USA
• AKA "The House that Joe Built"
• Opened in 1959
• Capacity: 106,572
• Significance: It is the 2nd largest stadium in the nation, after Michigan Stadium. It is named after the governor of Pennsylvania and former university president, James A Beaver. The Nittany Lions football program dd not acheive national success until the 1980s when coach Joe Paterno lead them to two national titles. Although they are not quite as decorated as their Big Ten rivals of Michigan and Ohio State, they have recently become one of the powerhouse college football teams of the north. Also as a bonus factor I have a good friend who is a Penn State fan and I once shared an elevator with the great Joe Paterno. 

11. LSU Tiger Stadium

• Home of the LSU Tigers
  
• Located in Baton Rouge, USA
• AKA "Death Valley"
• Opened in 1924
• Capacity: 102,321
• Significance: It is one of the largest college stadiums in the nation, and alongside Bryant-Denny stadium in Alabama, is one of the most iconic venues of southern football. Although the LSU Tigers have only won 3 national titles compared to the 22 titles of their southern rivals in Tuscaloosa, they are still always a force to be reckoned with. The stadium is known for it's extremely noisy atmosphere which has brought on it's infamous nickname of "Death Valley". The team has recently experienced a resurgence under head coach Ed Orgeron. To add to my personal desire of visiting this stadium is knowing several LSU fans throughout my lifetime. 

12. Olympiastadion Berlin

• Home of the 1936 Summer Olympics and Hertha BSC
• Located in Berlin, Germany
• Opened in 1936
• Capacity: 74,475
• Significance: It is a very historic stadium known for the 1936 Summer Olympics hosted by Nazi Germany in which Hitler hoped to demonstrate Ayrian superiority to the world. At the games Hitler's racist hopes were famously shunned by the incredible performance of American sprinter Jesse Owens who went on to win 4 gold medals. While the stadium was built as a pompous demonstration of Nazi glory, it has to this day lived on as a monumental achievement of architectural wonder. It's model is quite similiar to the Los Angeles Memorial Collisseum with its Romanesque pillars and stairs. In 1963 the stadium has become the home field for Hertha Berlin football club. I planned to visit this stadium with my brothers in 2017, however was denied the opportunity due to a nationwide workers strike. While I am somewhat bitter towards the club for not refunding my ticket, I still would enjoy to catch a game in this historical stadium. 

13. PNC Park

• Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates
  
• Located in Pittsburgh, USA
• Opened in 2001
• Capacity: 38,747
• Significance: This is not at all a historic stadium yet rather one of the more aesthetically pleasing ones on this list. I have often seen images of PNC Park as an incredible site to behold overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline and the iconic yellow Roberto Clemente Bridge. (I would also have the San Francisco Giants AT&T Park on this list for aesthetic quality had I not already been there before). I also have known several Pirates fans and players throughout my time working for their farm team of the Indianapolis Indians.  

14. Busch Stadium

• Home of the St. Louis Cardinals
  
• Located in St. Louis, USA
• AKA "Busch Stadium III", "Baseball Heaven"
• Opened in 2006
• Capacity: 45,494
• Significance: Here is yet another fairly new stadium with an incredible aesthetic view of the St. Louis skyline and the Gateway Arch. Add to this the prestigious history of the St. Louis Cardinals, one of the oldest and most successful teams in MLB history. (They have 11 World Series titles which puts them as the 2nd most MLB team far behind the New York Yankees). Similar to the New York Yankee Stadium, this is the 3rd installment of Busch Stadium. As a Chicago Cubs fan I despise our arch rivals of the Cardinals, however I have known many Cardinals fans throughout my life and would like to experience a game at least once here. 

15. Dodger Stadium

• Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers
  
• Located in Los Angeles, USA
• AKA "Chavez Ravine", "Blue Heaven on Earth" 
• Opened in 1962
• Capacity: 56,000
• Significance: It is the third oldest stadium in the MLB still functioning after Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Following their move from Brooklyn in 1958, the Dodgers played in the Memorial Coliseum for 4 seasons while Dodger Stadium was built. In 1962 they made their debut at this now historic ballpark that has witnessed 4 World Series titles to add to the Dodgers grand total of 6. 

16. Signal Iduna Stadium

• Home of Borussia Dortmund
  
• Located in Dortmund, Germany
• Opened in 1971
• Capacity: 81,365
• Significance: There are great sports teams who are renown for their championships or their star players, and then there are some that are renown for their fanbase, and Borussia Dortmund is an utmost example of the latter. The south end stand of the field referred to as the "yellow wall" demonstrates some of the most passionate fans in the game. I'm not sure whether it's the awesome yellow and black team colors, or the stadium's design, but the atmosphere just seems simply surreal. The team is miles behind their great rivals of Bayern Munich, yet are still considered the 2nd most decorated team in Germany, with 8 league titles to it's name.  

17. Rose Bowl Stadium

• Home of the Rose Ball Game
  
• Located in Pasadena, USA
• AKA "America's Stadium"
• Opened in 1922
• Capacity: 92,542
• Significance: It was built in 1923 to host the annual Rose Bowl game, which at the time was the "Granddaddy" championship game for college football. At the time of it's completion it was the largest sports stadium in the country, until it was surpassed by Michigan Stadium in 1998. Along with it's annual Rose Bowl Game hosting duties, the stadium has also recently become home to the UCLA Bruins since 1982. The stadium has hosted many college championships as well as various events at the 1932 Summer Olympics, 5 Super Bowl Championships, the 1994 Men's World Cup Final, and the 1999 Women's World Cup Final.  It has thus gained a reputation as a stadium for championships and for this historic and prestigious reason it is on my bucket list to experience. 

18. Centre Court Wimbledon

• Home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
  
• Located in Wimbledon, England
• Opened in 1922
• Capacity: 14,979
• Significance: It is home to the most prestigious tennis Grand Slam tournament in the world, the Wimbledon Championships. Is serves as the main court of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club located in the Wimbledon district of London. I am still somewhat new to following tennis yet to experience a centre court match at Wimbledon would be the pinnacle experience of professional tennis. Assuming a championship match would cost a fortune and probably be impossible to attend, there are still various other games of importance held at centre court during the Wimbledon tournament and this would suffice for me. 

19. Stamford Bridge

• Home of Chelsea FC
  
• Located in London, England
• AKA "The Bridge"
• Opened in 1877
• Capacity: 40,834
• Significance: It is one of the oldest football grounds in all of England, the home of the great Chelsea FC located in London. The stadium has undergone various renovations throughout its long history yet is rich with lore and heritage. Since the club's inception in 1905, they have gone on to win 6 league titles and a European Championship in 2012. The stadium plans to increase it's capacity in the coming years to a capacity of 63,000. As a fan of history and soccer I would love to experience a game here at this true gem of the English Premier League. 

20. Santiago Bernabau

• Home of Real Madrid
• Located in Madrid, Spain
  
• Opened in 1947
• Capacity: 81,044
• Significance: It is home to one of the most decorated football clubs in the world, Real Madrid. With it's 33 Spanish league titles and 13 European league titles it is the undisputed champion of European Soccer. The club has seen various waves of incredible talent such as Alfredo di Stefano during the 1950s, the Galaticos of the 2000s (Beckham, Ronaldo, Figo, Zidance, and Roberto Carlos), and recently the great Cristiano Ronaldo. They have recently returned to their dominant ways winning 4 UEFA champions leagues in the past 6 years. The stadium atmosphere is one of great pride, displayed at it's finest during their match-ups against their Spanish arch-rivals FC Barcelona. 

21. Court Philippe Chatrier

• Home of the French Open Tennis Tournament 
  
• Located in Paris, France
• Opened in 1928
• Capacity: 15,500
• Significance: It is the center court of the prestigious French Open tennis tournament. The Philippe Chatrier court is a part of the Stade Roland Garros complex that consists of three large courts. The center court is named after the famous French tennis player, journalist, and president of the Tennis French Federation from 1973 to 1993. It holds an impressive capacity of 15,500 with it's unique clay court. While I am still somewhat new to following tennis Grand Slams this is the tournament that my favorite player Raphael Nadal always dominates and would be quite the treat to experience a game at this venue. 

22. Madison Square Garden

• Home of the New York Knicks
  
• Located in New York City, USA
• AKA "the Garden"
• Opened in 1968
• Capacity: 19812
• Significance: It is the most famous NBA venue, home of the New York Knicks who won 2 championships in 1970 and 1973. It is however more than just a basketball arena and hosts many other prestigious entertainment events in downtown New York. It is home to the New York Rangers NHL hockey team and the St. Johns Red Storm men's NCAA basketball team. It also hosts big scale wrestling events and big name musical concerts. Much of the stadium's allure comes from it's location in downtown New York and also it's musical business. It is the 2nd most profitable music venue in the world behind the O2 arena in London. I once passed through this area when I visited the Big Apple with my family in 2005, however I do not recall visiting the venue, and definitely have not had an entertainment experience here yet. 

23. Churchill Downs

• Home of the Kentucky Derby
  
• Located in Louisville, USA
• Opened in 1875
• Capacity: 170,000 (including infield tickets)
• Significance: It is home to the most historic and prestigious thoroughbred horse-racing tracks. While I am in no way whatsoever familiar with the sport of horse-racing I have heard of the Kentucky Derby since I can remember. It appears to cater to the wealthy as the attendees traditionally dress in their Sunday's finest clothes, however ticket prices are reasonable for the infield. Due to it's historical quality, I would consider this a lifetime experience of great cultural value. 

24. Bryant-Denny Stadium

• Home of the Alabama Crimson Tide
  
• Located in Tuscaloosa, USA
• Opened in 1929
• Capacity: 101,821
• Significance: They are one of the most successful college football programs in history with an impressive 17 claimed national titles. The stadium is the true beacon of southern football that has brought great pride to the American south for many years. It's SEC rivals of Auburn and LSU are also highly regarded national programs yet always in the shadow of the great Crimson Tide. It has a very rich winning tradition that has continued to thrive to this day under Coach Nick Saban. Although I confess to be quite envious and spiteful of the team's great success, as a sports fan I still admire the stadium's cultural significance. 

25. Arthur Ashe Stadium

• Home of the US Open Tennis Tournament
• Located in New York City, USA
• Opened in 1997
• Capacity: 23,771
• Significance: Named after the late great tennis player Athur Ashe who won 3 Grand Slam titles during the 1970s, this stadium was opened in 1997 as the main center court venue of the prestigious Grand Slam US Open tournament. Located in Flushing Meadows Park of New York City is the center feature of the Bille Jean King National Tennis Center. With a capacity of nearly 24,000 it is the largest tennis venue in the world and has witnessed many great US open finals throughout it's modern history.