The 5 Largest (American) Football Stadiums outside of America
Football is a very American game. (In fact, say the word almost anywhere else and people will assume that you’re talking about soccer.) But football has made its way to other places in the past and that’s resulted in some great stadiums outside of the United States. The following are all American stadiums that have been used by American teams playing football in other countries. The majority of them were stadiums associated with NFL Europa, an American football league in Europe which ended in 2007.
5. Rogers Centre, Toronto
Rogers Centre [Capacity 50,000] This stadium located in Toronto is home to the International Bowl, the only post-season bowl game that is played outside of the United States. Although it’s partially a Canadian football stadium (home to the Toronto Argonauts), it is also a part-time stadium to the United States’ Buffalo Bills.
4. Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Veltins-Arena [Capacity 61,000] This multi-purpose stadium which hosts everything from football games to concerts is considered to be one of the most modern stadiums in the world due to features such as the a retractable roof. Located in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, it is named after a local brewery (since everyone knows that beer and football go hand-in-hand). It was an NFL Europa stadium in the 2003-2004 season.
3. Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Murrayfield Stadium [Capacity 67,000] Located in Edinburgh, this is the largest sports stadium in Scotland. It was the stadium for NFL Europa games off and on throughout the life of the league.
2. Olympic Stadium, Berlin
Olympic Stadium [Capacity 74,000] Originally opened for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, this was the home of one of the NFL Europa teams until the league shut down in 2007. It remains open today as the host to several different annual events but it’s no longer a place for American football games.
1. Wembley Stadium, London
Wembley Stadium [Capacity 90,000] This huge stadium in London holds the distinction of being the largest stadium in the world which has all of its seats under cover. It is the second largest stadium in Europe and was used for NFL Europa Games in the early 1990’s.
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On May 23rd 2008, Jim wrote:
You’ve forgotten the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. They play Australian Rules Football their and it has a total seating capacity of 100,000.
On May 23rd 2008, Andrea Ross wrote:
What about the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Victoria, Australia? Recent renovations increased seated capacity to 101,000 , though it once held 121,696 for the 1970 Victorian Football League (Aussie Rules) grand final, and 130,000 for a visit by Billy Graham (1950s?).
On May 23rd 2008, Alanr wrote:
Murrayfield?, Veltins Arena? Are you kidding me?
Where is the Camp Nou (Barcelona) on your list? 100,000+ capacity, or the San Siro (Milan) or any of those soccer stadia in south america with 110k+ capacitys?
On May 23rd 2008, Steve wrote:
Wembley Stadium as shown wasn’t built until 2007. The NFL games were played at the old stadium, now demolished. Also, there are bigger stadia than those used for American ‘football’. Old Trafford in Manchester has a capacity of 76,000, though never used for American Football.
On May 23rd 2008, Mark wrote:
what a load of *** for a real list pls see –>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stadiums_by_capacity
On May 23rd 2008, Jonny wrote:
The (new) Wembley stadium you have shown and described there has only been open for a couple of years, so; “It is the second largest stadium in Europe and was used for NFL Europa Games in the early 1990’s.” is incorrect, you’ll be on about the old one they demolished.
Though there was one American football match held in the new Wembley(an exhibition one i think)
On May 23rd 2008, josh wrote:
That picture of Wembley is the brand new stadium that was built about a year ago. It didn’t hold NFL Europa games in the early 1990s because it didn’t exist, but the older Wembley Stadium it replaced held over 80,000 so it’s still #1
On May 23rd 2008, Tom wrote:
how about Telstra Stadium in Sydney, with an attendance record of 114,714 for the 2000 Olympics closing ceremony. Since then it has been reconfigured to 83,500
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstra_Stadium
On May 23rd 2008, Thomas wrote:
This list is completely false. Maracana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1dio_do_Maracan%C3%A3) a stadium in Brasil is way bigger, than Wembley Stadium. If I remember correctly a Stadium in Iran also seats 90000+
On May 23rd 2008, Panic wrote:
This is not correct!
There are some huge stadiums in the world that are alot bigger than the ones listed here. Check out the following article for details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stadiums_by_capacity
On May 23rd 2008, Chris Palmer wrote:
I’d suggest at least an honorary mention on this list for Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. as it seats 60,081 by default and has housed as many as 62,531 for a CFL grey cup.
I figure, if you’re going to include college football stadiums in the american list, including cfl-only stadiums in the non-american list only makes sense.
On May 23rd 2008, Mike wrote:
Old Trafford in Manchester holds 76,212
On May 23rd 2008, texlaw wrote:
You left off Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro Brazil which is larger than any of the ones you mentioned here. In 2007 it was reduced to 95,000 all seated capacity from the prior highest attendance of 210,000 for the 1950 game between Brazil and Uruguay.
On May 23rd 2008, Octa wrote:
What about “Estadio Azteca” in Mexico City, it host a 2005 NFL match between 49ers and Cardinals in regular season and had hosted the American Bowl many times. It’s capacity overpasses the 100k people, it should be at the top of the list.
On May 26th 2008, Touchdown wrote:
to all of you people complaining here – read the title of the article.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL Stadiums. not soccer.
On June 24th 2008, Phoenix wrote:
Poorly written piece, I’m afraid. You seem to imply at many points that these stadia were built with football foremost in mind, when Scottish rugby considers Murrayfield as its spiritual home and the other three European ones are big soccer venues — Wembley, in fact, is considered the cathedral of soccer.
“It [Olympiastadion Berlin] remains open today as the host to several different annual events”
And 20+ games a season for the city’s soccer team, maybe?
“The following are all American stadiums…”
Really now.
On October 30th 2008, mike wrote:
I have seen bigger stadiums
On December 29th 2008, Jake wrote:
Haha, see everyone missed the point about this being every-game capacities, not “one-time it held…” claims.
American football is bigger than soccer, get over it.
On April 23rd 2009, Jub Kinigit wrote:
This article is very strange and slipshod. I guess he’s trying to create a context where stadiums were american football “friendly”(?), but the language used does do justice to the actual history of these places at all. The connotation of the article makes the author appear very ignorant.
We have the stadium hitler built on the list; we have a picture of the new wembley just recently completed with a subtitle stating NFL Europa games were played there in the 90’s… and then we have a picture of a stadium in scotland that appears to be under construction with half it’s stands missing?
The content here is awesome, lol
On May 3rd 2009, alex wrote:
The old wembley in the 1923 Fa cup final was thought to have had between 240,00 people and 300,000 people.
It is said to be the biggest attendance biggest ever ‘non-racing’ attendance in sport ever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Wembley_Stadium#White_Horse_Cup_Final
On October 11th 2009, berk wrote:
Hacettepe Red Deers!!!! From Turkey!