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After discussing Anfield on another thread I thought I'd compile a list of grounds that ideally any football fan would love to see during their lifetime. This will allow you all to disagree with me vehemently but I would like to request that anybody grumbling about my list supplies one of their own, it's only fair!
The list was going to be 20 or 25 but I couldn't stretch that far, the idea is that these are places that you would regret never having been to if the clubs move or you were somehow never able to attend a match again and not that many grounds fit the bill.
Anyway, in no particular order:
1. Wembley Stadium (London) - The home of English football, the spiritual home of the world's oldest cup competition and a venue that every schoolboy (in England at least) dreams of playing at. The new ground has nothing on the old one, but the name means a lot.
2. Camp Nou (Barcelona) - Architecturally unique, the largest ground in Europe and the home of Barça. On the outside it's ugly, inside it's beautifully breathtaking, especially when full for a clásico or big European game.
3. Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid) - Despite the reprobates that fill it, the Bernabéu has the feel of a footballing palace with its steep, steep stands and the fans close to the touchline.
4. San Mamés (Bilbao) - By consensus the best atmosphere of any La Liga ground by a distance and the name "La Catedral" speaks for itself.
5. San Siro (Milano) - A ground that's alway fascinated me because of the weird area behind one of the goals but it's an imposing stadium which can create a fantastic atmosphere.
6. Stade Velodrome (Marseille) - A wonderfully atmospheric ground with the most passionate supporters in France and two enormous stands behind the goals.
7. Stade Louis II (Monte Carlo) - Strange, edgy, bizarre design which is totally unsuited to football matches and creating a decent atmosphere, but the unique nature of the ground and above all the setting makes the Stade Louis II a memorable visit.
8. Westfalenstadion (Dortmund) - For those with a passion for terracing and the atmosphere of yore Borussia's ground must be well worth a visit with its massive terrace behind the goal that's the largest in Europe.
9. Allianz Arena (München) - Worth a visit for an evening game just to see the glowing bowl close up. Inside it is admittedly your standard modern arena, albeit an impressive version with sweeping lines and interesting retractable blinds on the roof to allow extra sunlight.
10. La Bombonera (Buenos Aires) - Few people know the real name, I can't be bothered to look it up (Estadio Armando something or other), it's universally known by its nickname meaning "the chocolate box" so called because of the steep terracing and the minimal distance between the stands and the touchline. Seeing the fans behind the goal pour forward and leap onto the fence after a Boca goal is a breathtaking sight and the atmosphere is frenetic and relentless.
11. El Monumental (Buenos Aires) - So La Furia doesn't treat me too harshly. It's a big concrete bowl basically, most famous for the tickertape in 1978 and a raucous atmosphere on matchday.
12. Estadio Azteca (Ciudad de México) - Another legendary stadium in the Americas, it seats 105,000 people and is where Diego Armando Maradona displayed two very different kinds of genius in the 86 world cup.
13. Marcana (Rio de Janeiro) - That other famous stadium in South America, it used to be the largest in the world but the coversion to an all seater venue has seen the capacity drop to 85,000. Due to be renovated for the 2014 world cup and 2016 Olympics Games
14. Celtic Park (Glasgow) - Probably best not to turn up for a match against St Johnstone or Kilmarnock but the atmosphere on European nights can be scintilating and there's no denying the passion of the fans at this ground.
15. Old Trafford (Manchester) - For the truly American matchday experience, complete with Rocky entrance music. Not what it used to be, but it's big and you kind of have to go just once. In fairness on my one visit I was impressed with the noise from the crowd but when they're winning a CL semi final they should make some noise...my scouse friend alleged that the chants were played over the PA but I'm dubious about that.
16. Anfield (Liverpool) - "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark." The home of what used to be the most atmospheric terrace in Britain. All seater venues have put pay to what The Kop once was, but on some European nights it's still up there with the best.
The list was going to be 20 or 25 but I couldn't stretch that far, the idea is that these are places that you would regret never having been to if the clubs move or you were somehow never able to attend a match again and not that many grounds fit the bill.
Anyway, in no particular order:
1. Wembley Stadium (London) - The home of English football, the spiritual home of the world's oldest cup competition and a venue that every schoolboy (in England at least) dreams of playing at. The new ground has nothing on the old one, but the name means a lot.
2. Camp Nou (Barcelona) - Architecturally unique, the largest ground in Europe and the home of Barça. On the outside it's ugly, inside it's beautifully breathtaking, especially when full for a clásico or big European game.
3. Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid) - Despite the reprobates that fill it, the Bernabéu has the feel of a footballing palace with its steep, steep stands and the fans close to the touchline.
4. San Mamés (Bilbao) - By consensus the best atmosphere of any La Liga ground by a distance and the name "La Catedral" speaks for itself.
5. San Siro (Milano) - A ground that's alway fascinated me because of the weird area behind one of the goals but it's an imposing stadium which can create a fantastic atmosphere.
6. Stade Velodrome (Marseille) - A wonderfully atmospheric ground with the most passionate supporters in France and two enormous stands behind the goals.
7. Stade Louis II (Monte Carlo) - Strange, edgy, bizarre design which is totally unsuited to football matches and creating a decent atmosphere, but the unique nature of the ground and above all the setting makes the Stade Louis II a memorable visit.
8. Westfalenstadion (Dortmund) - For those with a passion for terracing and the atmosphere of yore Borussia's ground must be well worth a visit with its massive terrace behind the goal that's the largest in Europe.
9. Allianz Arena (München) - Worth a visit for an evening game just to see the glowing bowl close up. Inside it is admittedly your standard modern arena, albeit an impressive version with sweeping lines and interesting retractable blinds on the roof to allow extra sunlight.
10. La Bombonera (Buenos Aires) - Few people know the real name, I can't be bothered to look it up (Estadio Armando something or other), it's universally known by its nickname meaning "the chocolate box" so called because of the steep terracing and the minimal distance between the stands and the touchline. Seeing the fans behind the goal pour forward and leap onto the fence after a Boca goal is a breathtaking sight and the atmosphere is frenetic and relentless.
11. El Monumental (Buenos Aires) - So La Furia doesn't treat me too harshly. It's a big concrete bowl basically, most famous for the tickertape in 1978 and a raucous atmosphere on matchday.
12. Estadio Azteca (Ciudad de México) - Another legendary stadium in the Americas, it seats 105,000 people and is where Diego Armando Maradona displayed two very different kinds of genius in the 86 world cup.
13. Marcana (Rio de Janeiro) - That other famous stadium in South America, it used to be the largest in the world but the coversion to an all seater venue has seen the capacity drop to 85,000. Due to be renovated for the 2014 world cup and 2016 Olympics Games
14. Celtic Park (Glasgow) - Probably best not to turn up for a match against St Johnstone or Kilmarnock but the atmosphere on European nights can be scintilating and there's no denying the passion of the fans at this ground.
15. Old Trafford (Manchester) - For the truly American matchday experience, complete with Rocky entrance music. Not what it used to be, but it's big and you kind of have to go just once. In fairness on my one visit I was impressed with the noise from the crowd but when they're winning a CL semi final they should make some noise...my scouse friend alleged that the chants were played over the PA but I'm dubious about that.
16. Anfield (Liverpool) - "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark." The home of what used to be the most atmospheric terrace in Britain. All seater venues have put pay to what The Kop once was, but on some European nights it's still up there with the best.
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