For centuries upon centuries, stadiums have shaped the way people view sporting and cultural events. Ever since the Ancient Greek era, they have provided grand settings for the biggest and best that human endeavour has to offer.
Fortunately, despite state-of-the-art modern venues replacing many of the stadiums of the past, there are still lots of old stadiums that are still in use throughout the world. These stadiums have resisted the pressures of time and technological advancement to remain prestigious venues.
So, from the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens to Fenway Park and beyond, explore our pick of the top 20+ oldest stadiums that are still in use today.
Whether you’re a sports fan, architecture hobbyist or a history buff, these stadiums will provide an interesting insight into the background of the different sports and events we love today.
1. Panathenaic Stadium
First Use: 330 BC
Location: Athens, Greece
Main Sport: Mixed Use
First on our list of the 20+ oldest stadiums still in use today is the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece. Built in 330 BC, it was originally built as a venue for the Panathenaic Games and was renovated in the late 19th century for the first modern Olympic Games.
Regarded as the spiritual home of the Olympics, the stadium has continued to play host to a number of international sporting events including the 2004 edition of the games. It is also the only stadium in the world to be made entirely of marble!
2. Sandygate Road
First Use: 1805
Location: Sheffield, England
Main Sport: Football
Next on our list, Sandygate Road is a historic football stadium located in Sheffield, England. It is home to Hallam FC who are one of the oldest football clubs in the world, and as such has an important place in the history of the game.
Matches have been played there since 1805, which makes it one of the oldest football stadiums still in use today. The first ever game held at Sandygate Road, between Hallam FC and city rivals Sheffield FC, was known as the ‘Rules Derby’ due to the fact it was played under Sheffield Rules.
3. Lord’s Cricket Ground
First Use: 1814
Location: London, England
Main Sport: Cricket
Lord’s Cricket Ground, usually referred to simply as Lord’s, is a prestigious stadium that many think of as the ‘home of cricket’. This is because the sport has been played there since 1814, and continues to be a world-class test match venue over 200 years later.
The St. John’s Wood venue is not only considered a historic site but also an architectural marvel, with the stadium’s pavilion being Grade II listed and the rest of the ground boasting diverse features. Lord’s is the headquarters of Marylebone Cricket Club, which is the oldest cricket club in the world.
4. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
First Use: 1854
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Main Sport: Cricket, Australian Rules Football
Built all the way back in 1854, Melbourne Cricket Club (MCG) is a mega stadium that today seats over 109,000 people, making it the ninth largest sports venue in the world. It has held cricket fixtures for over 160 years, with Australian Rules Football games coming later.
As well as cricket, the MCG has also hosted other important sporting events, such as the 1956 Olympic Games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Not only that, it also puts on regular concerts from top performing artists from around the world.
5. Bramall Lane
First Use: 1855
Location: Sheffield, England
Main Sport: Football
The second Sheffield stadium on this list, Bramall Lane is one of the oldest professional football grounds in the world, with fixtures taking place there since 1862. However, it was originally intended as a cricket venue, and this lasted from 1855 until 1973 when the stadium became fully enclosed.
Interestingly, in 1878, Bramall Lane was also the first stadium in the world to install floodlights, which allowed matches to be played at night! Today, it continues to be the home of Sheffield United, who play in the highest divisions of English football.
6. Churchill Downs
First Use: 1875
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Main Sport: Horse Racing
Residing as the home of the famous Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs has long been renowned in the horse racing world as one of the most prestigious venues the sport has to offer. Since 1875, it has held races for the enjoyment of the 150,000+ spectators who come to watch.
Located in Louisville, Kentucky, people from all over the world visit Churchill Downs for Derby week, making for an electric and eclectic atmosphere. Architecturally, the racecourse is known for its distinctive twin spires, which have become symbolic of the track as a whole.
7. Parc Des Princes
First Use: 1897
Location: Paris, France
Main Sport: Football
Since 1897, Parc Des Princes has been one of the main venues where Parisiens have gone to enjoy watching top level sport. In its original form, it held cycling and rugby events as well as football, with the latter becoming its main sport in the years since.
Today, with a capacity for over 47,000 spectators, it plays host to Paris Saint Germain, one of the most successful football teams in France. Talks about a move away from Parc des Princes have rumbled recently, so it remains to be seen how long it remains one of the oldest stadiums still in use!
8. Eden Park
First Use: 1900
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Main Sport: Rugby
Eden Park is a 50,000 capacity seat sports stadium located in Auckland, New Zealand. It had its inauguration in the year 1900, and has since hosted some of the biggest sporting and cultural events in the country, including rugby and cricket games, concerts and other performances.
Notably, it hosted numerous games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, including both semi-finals and the final. Today, it is the home of the Auckland Blues rugby team, and has undergone multiple renovations in order to make sure it is capable of meeting modern safety standards.
9. Hampden Park
First Use: 1903
Location: Glasgow, UK
Main Sport: Football
One of Scotland’s biggest stadiums, Hampden Park has played host to many important sporting and cultural events in the years since its first use in 1903. As well as hosting the Scottish national football team and Scottish Cup Final, it has also been the stage for 2014 Commonwealth Games and many concerts.
Upon opening, Hampden Park was the biggest stadium in the world, with room for over 100,000 spectators. Indeed, a staggering 149,415 witnessed a Scotland vs England match there in 1937, which represented the biggest attendance ever seen for a European football match. Today, following the renovation of the stadium, the capacity stands at 51,000.
10. Twickenham Stadium
First Use: 1909
Location: London, England
Main Sport: Rugby
Twickenham Stadium, located in Southwest London, England, is one of the oldest rugby stadiums still in use around the world. Opening in 1909, it has been home to the English national rugby team ever since, hosting two Rugby World Cup finals in the process.
With a capacity of over 82,000, it is not only one of rugby’s oldest stadiums, but also its biggest. Twickenham Stadium is famous for its unique atmosphere, with fans known to create a fantastic noise during matches.
11. Old Trafford
First Use: 1910
Location: Manchester, England
Main Sport: Football
As one of European football’s great cathedrals, Old Trafford has the history to back up its well-renowned status. The stadium, which has the nickname ‘Theatre of Dreams’, has hosted Manchester United games since 1910, when it first opened its doors.
Today, fans from across the globe make the pilgrimage to the ground every year to take in top-class Premier League and Champions League football. After multiple renovations, it is now the biggest club football stadium in England, with a capacity of 74,310.
12. Fenway Park
First Use: 1912
Location: Boston, USA
Main Sport: Baseball
Fenway Park, home of Boston Red Sox, is one of the most well-renowned and iconic traditional stadiums in baseball. Opening on April 20, 1912, it has played host to some of the sport’s most iconic moments, and it is the oldest ballpark in the MLB.
Among the beloved features of Fenway Park are a famous 37 feet tall outfield wall known as the ‘Green Monster’, and the right field foul pole as the ‘Pesky Pole’. The stadium has been host to numerous World Series, including the famous 2004 edition, when the Red Sox won their first championship in 86 years.
13. Wrigley Field
First Use: 1914
Location: Chicago, USA
Main Sport: Baseball
Only slightly younger than Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field is the second-oldest ballpark in the MLB and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic ballparks in the country. Its ivy-laden outfield and manual scoreboard have made it a unique stadium to visit.
Wrigley Field has hosted three World Series, and was the venue for Babe Ruth’s famous ‘called shot’ home run in 1932. Despite many renovations over the years, it remains a character-filled and atmospheric venue for all sports fans to enjoy
14. Centre Court, Wimbledon
First Use: 1922
Location: London, England
Main Sport: Tennis
Centre Court, as the name suggests, is the central and most prestigious court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London. It is most famous for being the centre-point of the Wimbledon Championships, which is one of the four Grand Slams in tennis.
Opened in 1922, it has been expanded and added to at various times over the last few decades, with the current capacity standing at 15,000. It remains one of the most hallowed and iconic tennis courts on the global circuit.
15. Rose Bowl
First Use: 1922
Location: Pasadena, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Situated in Pasadena, California, the Rose Bowl has long been one of the USA’s most traditional and illustrious sports venues. From the World Cup final to the Olympics, it’s had over a 100 years of hosting the biggest and best sporting events.
In recent years, the Rose Bowl has undergone a variety of renovations aimed at modernising the structure. However, the 90,000 seat giant has retained its traditional aura, and remains to this day one of the must-visits for any North American sports fan.
16. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
First Use: 1923
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was not only named after a piece of Roman architecture, its design was inspired by it – which might explain why it has lasted so long! The 77,000 stadium has hosted a variety of high-profile sporting events, most notably the 1932 and the 1984 Olympics.
Today, the Coliseum is the home of the USC Trojans, and between 2016 and 2019 it temporarily hosted the Los Angeles Rams while their new Sofi Stadium was being constructed. Around the same time, the seating arrangement was reconfigured to increase the amount of commercial space.
17. Soldier Field
First Use: 1924
Location: Chicago, USA
Main Sport: American Football
Originally constructed for the 1924 World’s Fair, Soldier Field in Chicago has hosted top-level sport and entertainment for almost a hundred years. This has included everything from NFL games to international football matches and concert performances.
Soldier Field seats 60,000 people, and has had numerous facelifts to increase the amount of space for luxury suites, more seating and improved landscaping. However, it has retained its historic facade, which is distinctive for its colonnade.
18. Estadio Centenario
First Use: 1930
Location: Montevideo, Uruguay
Main Sport: Football
Inaugurated on July 18, 1930, Estadio Centenario, located in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, is one of South America’s oldest stadiums. It has a rich history in the world’s beautiful game, as it was the first stadium to host the FIFA World Cup.
The stadium only took nine months to build, and at the time of opening held room for 100,000 people. Despite many decades of use, the original concrete structure of Estadio Centenario is still in place today, and it remains a landmark for fans of the beautiful game around the world.
19. Ernst Happel Stadion
First Use: 1931
Location: Vienna, Austria
Main Sport: Football
Ernst Happel Stadion, Austria’s largest stadium, is known as one of Europe’s most historic stadiums. Built in 1931, it has a capacity of over 50,000 seats, and has been the venue for many important sporting events, including football’s 2008 European Championships final.
Originally called Praterstadion, the stadium was later named after famous footballer Ernst Happel. After modern renovations, it has developed into a world-class venue capable of hosting top-level entertainment for years to come.
20. Stadio Olimpico
First Use: 1937
Location: Rome, Italy
Main Sport: Football
Although not quite matching the age of some of the other famous architectural sights in Rome, Stadio Olimpico was built in 1927, making it one of the oldest stadiums still in use. It gained its current name when it was used in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Today, after multiple refurbishments to modernise its facilities, it is now a UEFA four-star standard venue capable of hosting the biggest sporting and cultural events. It is home to both A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio, who play in the top Italian league.
Thanks for exploring the 20+ oldest stadiums still in use with us. While there’s no doubt that the new stadiums of today can be stunning architectural and engineering feats, it’s nice to know that there are some stadiums that have stood the test of time, and look to continue doing so.
Like to get the best news, views and discussion from the world of stadiums and sports arenas? If so, take a look at some of our related articles, including what Qatar will do with the 2022 World Cup stadiums.
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Last Updated on 14 March 2023 by Michael
