Modern indoor stadiums and arenas are true hubs of entertainment. They offer a wide range of events that cover the biggest sports to the most grandiose concerts, and come in an array of shapes and sizes.
Not only that, they often feature some of the grandest architectural designs to be found anywhere. With state-of-the-art construction technology, these structures are becoming bigger and bolder with every passing year.
So, join us as we explore the 30+ biggest indoor stadiums and arenas in the world, featuring stadiums which either have a permanently covered roof or dome. We’re basing this list on the seating capacity of the respective structures.
Get ready to be wowed!
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1. Caesars Superdome
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 73,208
First on our list of the 30 biggest indoor stadiums and arenas in the world is the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This multi-purpose stadium is home of the New Orleans Saints of the NFL, and has hosted seven super bowls.
With a capacity of over 73,000, it is the largest indoor stadium in the world with a permanently covered roof. As well as huge sporting events, it has also been the setting for many concerts and performances.
2. SoFi Stadium
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 70,240
A recent addition to the biggest indoor stadiums in the world list is SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Opening in 2020, it holds over 70,000 people and plays host to both the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams NFL teams.
The SoFi Stadium is fully enclosed due to one of Earth’s largest domes; one that spans the length of the venue. As well as the main stadium, there is a 6,000 seat auditorium called YouTube Theater situated under the same roof.
3. The Dome at America’s Center
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 67,277
The Dome at America’s Center is, as you might have guessed, located in the centre of the USA – namely, St. Louis, Missouri. It has a capacity of around 67,000 seats and has hosted some of the most prestigious sporting and cultural events around.
After undergoing a renovation in 2019, the stadium now boasts a state-of-the-art sound system, as well as improved seating. It is one of St. Louis’ most iconic and visible landmarks.
4. U.S. Bank Stadium
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 66,680
Seating almost 67,000 people when full, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is a true multi-purpose stadium. From Super Bowls, to Final Four basketball matches, to star-studded concerts, it has been centre stage for it all.
And, if you’re a fan of modern architecture, you won’t want to miss a trip to this stadium. It features a gigantic glass wall and transparent roof, making it one of the most visually striking venues anywhere, and a new icon of Minneapolis.
5. Allegiant Stadium
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 65,000
Another of the relatively recent American trends featuring huge indoor stadiums is the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Since its opening in 2020, it has been home to NFL team Las Vegas Raiders, and has put on a wide range of other sporting events and concerts.
One of the most striking aspects of the Nevada venue is the retractable pitch that slides in and out of the bottom of the stadium in order to give the pitch some natural sunlight. There is also a 3.9 million pixel video screen, designed to give fans a fully immersive experience.
6. Ford Field
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 65,000
Ford Field, a 65,000 seat capacity stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, is named after the famed car manufacturer with which the city is inextricably linked. It is a mammoth multi-purpose stadium that has hosted a range of sporting events and performances.
The stadium opened in 2002, and ever since has primarily hosted Detroit Lions games in the NFL. Its design features a 10-storey glass atrium as well as a stadium-spanning dome, making it one of the city’s most distinctive buildings.
7. Alamodome
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 64,000
San Antonio’s Alamodome continues the American theme on our list of the world’s biggest indoor stadiums. This towering Texan structure has room for over 64,000 people, and is known for being the home of the Valero Alamo Bowl.
The Alamodome has a versatile design, meaning the floor can be utilised for events as wide ranging as rock concerts to trade shows. It is one of San Antonio’s most recognisable and iconic buildings.
8. Olympic Stadium
Location: Montreal, Canada
Main Sport: Football
Seating Capacity: 56,040
As its name suggests, the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada, was built primarily for the Olympics. Indeed, it was the premier venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics! It has also been centre stage for a variety of other events, such as baseball, football and even political gatherings.
The Olympic Stadium makes it onto this list somewhat unconventionally. It wasn’t always intended to have a permanent roof, and only gained one after having problems with a prior retractable one.
9. Philippine Arena
Location: Bocaue, Philippines
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 55,000
While we have solely focused on indoor stadiums so far, Philippine Arena is notable in that it is the largest designated arena in the world. It has a 55,000 seat capacity – a remarkable number considering its floor is too small for any field sports.
Located in Bocaue, Philippines, the structure is used for a mixture of religious, cultural and sporting purposes, with basketball being the predominant sport. Since its completion in 2014, it has been a major landmark and point of pride for the Philippine people.
10. Tropicana Field
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Main Sport: Baseball
Seating Capacity: 42,735
Tropicana Field is a covered baseball stadium situated in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. It primarily serves as the home for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team in the MLB, although it has also hosted the MLB all-star game.
With a seating capacity of over 42,000, it is one of the biggest indoor baseball stadiums in the world. Its dome helps to prevent the temperamental Florida weather from impacting the sporting fixtures that take place at the stadium.
11. Sapporo Dome
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Main Sport: Football
Seating Capacity: 41,566
Since its opening in 2001, Sapporo Dome has been used for a variety of sporting events and concerts. It can hold over 41,000 people, and is the home of both the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo football club and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team.
The Dome was one of the host stadiums for the 2002 Fifa World Cup and the 2019 Rugby World Cup. As part of its design, the venue features a retractable grass surface which allows organisers to swap out baseball and football pitches.
12. Taipei Dome
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Main Sport: Football
Seating Capacity: 40,575
The newest indoor stadium on this list, soon-to-be-completed Taipei Dome is a 40,575 seat capacity domed stadium that will be used for a variety of purposes. Located in Taiwan’s biggest city, the stadium was initially scheduled to commence construction in 2007 and be completed in 2011, although it will now only be open for business in Summer 2023.
Upon completion, the stadium will be an epicentre of activity, housing a complex that will include a mix of commercial facilities such as a shopping mall, movie theatre, hotel, and office space. It is projected that the stadium will be utilised mainly for baseball games, but it will also be employed for other sporting events such as football, softball, and even competitive gaming.
13. Nagoya Dome
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Main Sport: Baseball
Seating Capacity: 40,500
The Nagoya Dome, officially named the Vantelin Dome Nagoya for sponsorship reasons, is a fully covered baseball field situated in the heart of the bustling city of Nagoya, Japan. The Dome’s capacity seats up to 40,500 people for sports and 49,000 for concerts, making it a remarkable feat of engineering.
The Nagoya Dome has been the HQ for the Chunichi Dragons baseball team since its grand opening, and has also played host to a myriad of other baseball teams. It is one of the largest examples of geodesic domes in the world.
14. Saitama Super Arena
Location: Saitama, Japan
Main Sport: MMA
Seating Capacity: 27,000
State-of-the-art venue Saitama Super Arena, located in the city of Saitama, Japan, is another of the world’s most cavernous indoor arenas. Designed by renowned architect Dan Meis, it held its first event on September 1 2000, following years of construction work.
With a seating capacity of around 27,000, and a maximum capacity of 36,000 with standing areas, the Super Arena features movable seating sections, boosting its versatility. Now, it is capable of staging everything from MMA bouts, ice hockey and tennis, to American Football!
15. Kyocera Dome
Location: Osaka, Japan
Main Sport: Baseball
Seating Capacity: 36,220
Opened in 1997, the Kyocera Dome, located in Osaka, Japan, and, since 2005, has housed the Orix Buffaloes baseball team. The covered stadium has room for over 36,000 spectators, and at the time of construction was one of the most advanced indoor stadiums in the world.
Kyocera Corporation’s subsidiary, Kyocera Document Solutions Incorporated, has advertised at Osaka Dome since April 2003, hence the stadium’s current name. It is highly accessible and situated close to numerous stations on the Osaka metro network.
16. JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome)
Location: Syracuse, New York, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Seating Capacity: 35,642
Sometimes referred to as the Carrier Dome, or simply ‘The Dome’, the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, is a storied venue in American sports history. Located in the University Hill area of the city, it has hosted American football, basketball, and lacrosse fixtures.
The JMA Wireless Dome features the biggest dome of any college stadiums, and is one of the largest domed venues in the country. It has a full capacity of 35,642, and has undergone numerous renovations, including an extensive 2020 remodelling.
17. Belluna Dome
Location: Tokorozawa, Japan
Main Sport: Baseball
Seating Capacity: 31,552
Belluna Dome, also known as Seibu Dome, is a spectacular domed stadium in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. It is the base for Saitama Seibu Lions, which are the city’s primary baseball team, and has been since the club moved from Fukuoka to Tokorozawa.
Interestingly, the stadium’s dome features a gap in between the roof and the stands, meaning that home runs can technically leave the stadium. It has been named the Belluna Dome since 2022, when the mail order company won the naming rights from Seibu.
18. Forsyth Barr Stadium
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Main Sport: Rugby
Seating Capacity: 30,748
Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium is one of New Zealand’s most interesting venues. With a capacity of 30,748 seats, it is the largest in the country to be entirely covered, and its vast glass roof has earned it the nickname of the ‘Glasshouse’.
Among the many events the Forsyth Barr Stadium holds, the most common include football, rugby union, rugby league, netball and musical performances. In particular, it was one of the venues hosting fixtures in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, after opening months earlier.
19. La Defense Arena
Location: Paris, France
Main Sport: Rugby
Seating Capacity: 30,681
La Defense Arena is the first European entry onto our list of the world’s largest indoor stadiums and arenas. The Nanterre venue opened its doors in October 2017, to house the Racing 92 rugby team as well as a range of other sporting and cultural events.
To allow this, La Defense Arena was designed with a versatile seating configuration that means it can easily adjust where people sit. The arena also features 33,000 square metres (360,000 sq ft) of office space, 300 student rooms, commercial space and even a brewery!
20. Mineirinho
Location: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Main Sport: Volleyball
Seating Capacity: 25,000
The Estadio Jornalista Felipe Drummond, known informally by the name Mineirinho, is a huge indoor arena located in the city of Belo Horizonte in Brazil. It can hold up to 25,000 people, and is the biggest sporting arena in the country.
Minerinho is primarily used for volleyball, basketball and football games, as well as concerts and musical performances. It is located in close proximity to the bigger Mineirão stadium, which was used in the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
21. Štark Arena
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 24,300
Multipurpose venue Štark Arena, located in the Serbian capital Belgrade, is one of Europe’s most illustrious basketball arenas. It is capable of holding basketball, futsal, handball, judo, table tennis and volleyball events, as well as concerts.
The arena is easy-to-reach, and is situated a mere 10-minute walk from the Novi Beograd railway station near the heart of the city. It was opened in 2005, and shortly after hosted that year’s European Basketball Championship – at the time, this was a historic moment for Belgrade.
22. Greensboro Coliseum
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 23,500
Greensboro Coliseum, sometimes called the Coliseum Arena, forms part of the sprawling Greensboro Coliseum Complex, located in North Carolina. It is over 60 years old, having been opened in 1958, and is one of the biggest arenas on the East coast of the USA.
As well as being used for basketball and a variety of other sports, it is also renowned as a concert venue, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the primary tenants of the arena are the UNC Greensboro Spartans.
23. United Center
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 20,917
One of the most iconic venues of the NBA, United Center in Chicago is famous as the home of the Chicago Bulls. It was opened in 1994, and, with almost 21,000 seats available, has the second largest capacity in the division.
United Center replaced the Chicago Stadium which previously stood on the site, and has undergone numerous renovations. Outside the arena, there is a statue of Michael Jordan, one of the all-time basketball greats.
24. Tacoma Dome
Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 20,722
Tacoma Dome, located in the state of Washington, USA, makes it onto the list of the world’s biggest indoor arenas thanks to its huge 530-foot diameter wooden dome. This geodesic dome enabled the structure to be the biggest arena in the world at the time of its 1983 opening.
The Dome has a capacity of 20,722 seats in its basketball configuration, and more for concerts and other community events. This is viablee due to the flexible arrangement of the seating, as well as the relatively open floor plan.
25. Mexico City Arena
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 22,300
Mexico City’s biggest arena is a $300 million venue that represents one of the country’s most important live entertainment hubs. Finished in 2012, it has hosted a wide range of events, from mixed martial arts, to basketball, to concerts from the world’s leading artists.
The 22,300 capacity arena boasts an impressive range of features, from 124 luxury suites, 2 heliports, to a parking garage with room for up to 5,000 cars. Indeed, it features two of the world’s biggest LED screens – the exterior screen covering 6,200 square metres of surface area, and the interior one making up 700 square metres.
26. Bell Centre
Location: Montreal, Canada
Main Sport: Ice Hockey
Seating Capacity: 22,114
Bell Centre, located in the city of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, is widely known for being the home of NHL team Montreal Canadiens. It’s also a hugely popular destination for touring musical artists and other sporting events.
Previously known as Molson Centre, Bell Centre replaced the historic Montreal Forum when it opened in March 1996. With a seating capacity of 21,105, it is comfortably the biggest arena in the NHL, as well as the biggest in all of Canada.
27. KFC Yum! Center
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Main Sport: Ice Hockey
Seating Capacity: 22,090
Multi-purpose sports arena KFC Yum! Center is another of the USA’s largest indoor sports and cultural venues. Preparatory and construction works on the structure cost over $450 million, which was completed in 2010.
KFC Yum! Arena is primarily used for basketball, and, with a capacity of 22,090 seats, is one of the largest arenas dedicated to college sports. The wider complex also features a large parking garage, which is connected to the venue via a skywalk.
28. Enterprise Center
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Main Sport: Ice Hockey
Seating Capacity: 22,000
Located in downtown St. Louis, the Enterprise Center is a 22,000 seat capacity arena that hosts the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). As well as this, it also puts on a range of other events, such as basketball, wrestling and concerts.
The arena opened in 1994, and has been renamed numerous times, with it now being sponsored by the car rental company Enterprise. A two-year renovation to the Enterprise Center was completed in 2019, featuring new changing rooms, a new scoreboard and replacement seating.
29. Dean Smith Center
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 21,750
The Dean Smith Center, often referred to as the Dean Dome, is a long-standing basketball arena situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It is the home court for the University of North Carolina’s Tar Heels men’s basketball team.
Upon completion in 1986, the venue was considered to be a state-of-the-art modern venue – however, some have argued that its facilities are now showing their age. In order to try and rectify this, there have been numerous refurbishments over recent decades.
30. Thompson-Boling Arena
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Main Sport: Basketball
Seating Capacity: 21,678
University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena is last but not least on our list of the largest indoor stadiums and arenas in the world. This 21,678 capacity multi-purpose venue primarily hosts the fixtures of the Tennessee Volunteers men and Lady Vols women’s basketball teams.
Located in Knoxville, close to the Tennessee River, the Thompson Boling Arena is one of the largest arenas in the state. Indeed, only the Greensboro Coliseum has had a larger capacity among other arenas in the Southeast.
That’s it for our guide to the 30+ biggest indoor stadiums and arenas.
Want to get more news, views and discussion from the world of stadiums and sports arenas? If so, take a look at some of our related articles, including why stadiums are named after brands.
Or, for more general guides to definitions and meanings of terms within the building profession, take a look through our range of building wikis, including a guide to what is a tuned mass damper.
Last Updated on 16 April 2023 by Michael
