European leagues with better stadiums (overall) than MLS's

[pc4th]

How would you rank the European leagues by stadiums and where would MLS be?

My ranking of European leagues with best stadiums (overall)

1. EPL
2. Bundesliga
3. Ligue 1
4. La Liga
5. Series A
6-7-8: Dutch, Portugese and English Championship in no order
9. MLS?

Here's pictures of MLS stadiums so you can judge.

Los Angeles
Capacity: 27,000
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6044842_7_1.jpg

Chicago
Capacity: 20,000
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6044846_7_2.jpg

Denver
Capacity: 18,000
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6045874_7_5.jpg

[pc4th]

Dallas
Capacity: 21,000
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6044856_7_1.jpg

Toronto
Capacity: 20,000
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6045884_7_4.jpg

Columbus
Capacity: 22,000
http://web.mlsnet.com/t102/imgs/stadium/stadium.jpg

[pc4th]

Real Salt Lake
Capacity: 25,000
Progress: Under Construction
Completion Date: Spring 2008

http://www.iconvenue.com/global/images/popups/sandy_stadium_7_popup.jpg

Red Bull Park
Capacity: 25,000
Progress: Under Construction
Completion Date: Fall 2008 (early) Spring 2009 (latest)

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/6045060_7_1.jpg

DC United Stadium
Capacity: 27,000
Progress: Advanced Stage (need land transfer)
Completion Date: Spring 2010

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/7006892_7_2.jpg

[pc4th]

The first six stadiums were built recently specifically for soccer.
Two are under construction (Salt Lake and New York). DC stadium plan is in the advanced stage, though negotiation seems to stall for now. Kansas City and Houston are in early stage of negotiation for a 20,000 seats soccer specific stadiums.

Kansas City
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/past_future/pictures/future_stadiums/kansas_city_wizards.jpg

New York Red Bulls (until 2009)
http://www.lacancha.com/images/BARPHOT5.jpg

New England Revolution (no plan for a smaller stadium since the team owner also this Stadium)
http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/goldcup/2005/pics/Gillette.jpg

[evangel]

How would you rank the European leagues by stadiums and where would MLS be?

My ranking of European leagues with best stadiums (overall)

1. EPL
2. Bundesliga
3. Ligue 1
4. La Liga
5. Series A
6-7-8: Dutch, Portugese and English Championship in no order
9. MLS?


UEFA would disagree with your ranking here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Stadia_List . Spain and Germany have the most 5-star stadiums. England has Old Trafford (and presumably the new Wembley) as 5-star, though it has numerous four star stadiums. France and Portugal would come next, though Portugal has some pretty bad stadiums outside its top three clubs. Because of their size, MLS soccer specific stadiums wouldn't rank in UEFA, but these new stadiums are certainly better than the stadiums for lower table teams in these Euro leagues, and they would probably meet all the other criteria set by UEFA.

[kaala]

come on. MLS....being in top 10 would be great. european stadiums are much better. austria, swizerland, england leagues, serie b, portugal, ireland, scotland, denmark, netherlands. even norway, belgium and sweden have nice stadiums. you think all these leagues would be worse than MLS?

[dannytoone]

I'm actually very impressed with the steps MLS has taken to improve their infrastructure and invest in their future...

However, their stadiums are still not within the top 10 of europe.

[leg_breaker]

I'd say Germany has the best stadiums, then England. The Bernabeu is the only decent ground in Spain. And don't even talk about Italy...

[SIR-T]

come on. MLS....being in top 10 would be great. european stadiums are much better. austria, swizerland, england leagues, serie b, portugal, ireland, scotland, denmark, netherlands. even norway, belgium and sweden have nice stadiums. you think all these leagues would be worse than MLS?

The only leagues i would put mls behind in terms of overall stadia quality is england, germany, spain, portugal and the netherlands. Other than that it is on par or only just behind a lot of the other leagues.

[Tashinho]

lol US has tiny stadiums

[zippy85]

UEFA would disagree with your ranking here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Stadia_List . Spain and Germany have the most 5-star stadiums. England has Old Trafford (and presumably the new Wembley) as 5-star, though it has numerous four star stadiums. France and Portugal would come next, though Portugal has some pretty bad stadiums outside its top three clubs. Because of their size, MLS soccer specific stadiums wouldn't rank in UEFA, but these new stadiums are certainly better than the stadiums for lower table teams in these Euro leagues, and they would probably meet all the other criteria set by UEFA.
That is complete crap everybody knows england or britain has the best football stadiums, like wembely, millenium stadium, hamden park, old trafford, emirates stadium, st james park, stadium of light etc


Best sport stadiums in the world are in america, china, korea and japan

[M]

The problem with too many of these supposedly "soccer specific" stadia in the US is that they have a stage with little or no seating on one side. Such stadia wouldn't even qualify for the Conference in England and the lack of one side detracts significantly from the atmosphere:- The new Colorado stadium is particularly poor, imo. As for best in Europe, I think Germany is the clear leader right now after all their rebuilding for the '06 WC.

[zippy85]

The problem with too many of these supposedly "soccer specific" stadia in the US is that they have a stage with little or no seating on one side. Such stadia wouldn't even qualify for the Conference in England and the lack of one side detracts significantly from the atmosphere:- The new Colorado stadium is particularly poor, imo. As for best in Europe, I think Germany is the clear leader right now after all their rebuilding for the '06 WC.
I wish italy would have done the same as germany and funded all their stadiums for the their respective world cups, they have an unfair advantage over italy :(

[M]

I wish italy would have done the same as germany and funded all their stadiums for the their respective world cups, they have an unfair advantage over italy :(

Italy did invest significantly for the '90 WC as almost every stadium used was new or rebuilt. They just didn't spend very wisely, imo, meaning that those stadia have dated very quickly and now need to be invested in again. Delle Alpi in Turin is an example of this.

[FNU]

Italy did invest significantly for the '90 WC as almost every stadium used was new or rebuilt. They just didn't spend very wisely, imo, meaning that those stadia have dated very quickly and now need to be invested in again. Delle Alpi in Turin is an example of this.
Well, 1990 was a whole different era and the money in Europe wasn't there like it is today. Plus it's hard to foresee the future concerning what standards will be. 2012 was the opportunity though, but out the window and now Italy is left with some outdated stadia...:(

Once the owners are capable of owning the stadiums, which should happen sometime soon, I think we'll start to see some improvements. I hope at least the San Paolo gets a major face lift because we're probably the most deserving fans considering our passion.

Considering the MLS stadiums, I think they're better than nothing but too small to host major events. If the fans were there, it wouldn't be a problem to make them larger but it's not the case. Catch 22.

[M]

Well, 1990 was a whole different era and the money in Europe wasn't there like it is today. Plus it's hard to foresee the future concerning what standards will be. 2012 was the opportunity though, but out the window and now Italy is left with some outdated stadia...:(


Your points are valid, of course, but I have to contrast the improvements made to Spanish stadia for the '82 WC with those made for the '90 WC in Italy. it seems to me that those in Spain have stood the test of time better than Italy's, despite being made 8 years earlier. I also think the odds are pretty good that the improvements made in England for EC '96 will have a far longer useful lifespan as well.


Once the owners are capable of owning the stadiums, which should happen sometime soon, I think we'll start to see some improvements. I hope at least the San Paolo gets a major face lift because we're probably the most deserving fans considering our passion.


By "capable" do you mean "legally allowed" or "financially capable"?

[FNU]

Your points are valid, of course, but I have to contrast the improvements made to Spanish stadia for the '82 WC with those made for the '90 WC in Italy. it seems to me that those in Spain have stood the test of time better than Italy's, despite being made 8 years earlier. I also think the odds are pretty good that the improvements made in England for EC '96 will have a far longer useful lifespan as well.



By "capable" do you mean "legally allowed" or "financially capable"?
Legally owned/allowed since they're owned by the provinces for the most part I believe, then financially capable which shouldn't be a problem for some of the owners and the prospect of investors.

Yea, who knows what was going on for the 1990 stadiums. Probably a bunch of cheap bastards. It really does suck and it's sad. 2012 was almost our last chance to improve the infrastructures. :( Too bad a couple of jack asses ruined that.

[Wastl]

I wish italy would have done the same as germany and funded all their stadiums for the their respective world cups, they have an unfair advantage over italy :(

Actually, hardly any stadiums were funded by the state.
Berlin, Leipzig, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt are the four which were funded mostly by the state, only Berlin and Frankfurt actually have good enough teams to support the stadium; Munich got some infrastructure, but the stadium itself was funded by Bayern and 1860.

Schalke, Hamburg, Dortmund, the list goes on with stadiums which only got minor support and were funded almost exclusively by the teams.

[pc4th]

Considering the MLS stadiums, I think they're better than nothing but too small to host major events. If the fans were there, it wouldn't be a problem to make them larger but it's not the case. Catch 22.

What major events are you talking about?

World Cup? Why build 60,000 stadiums when you are drawing only 15,000 fans? Not to mention it would cost $500 million to build one. In addition, there are at least 12 stadiums in the United States that are World Cup ready with at least 60,000 seats. Also, World Cup will only be once every 20-28 years. Look at Korea. 8000 fans in a 50,000 seats stadium is not good for soccer atmosphere.

Stadiums that could host a World Cup

New Jersey - Giants
Foxboro
Soldier Field
Rose Bowl
Seattle
Philadelphia Lincoln
Charlotte
Birmingham
DC - FedEx Field
Phoenix
Cotton Bowl
Houston- Reliant
Dallas new stadium

[zippy85]

Italian teams may not attractive wise have the best stadiums but they still have lots of character which i like, although i hate the running tracks