World Most Expensive Soccer Stadiums
Building a soccer stadium does not come cheap. The cost of these creations always seems to spiral during the building process. It can cost over £1 billion to build a new stadium nowadays. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is home to MLS side Atlanta United - is thought to be the world's most expensive soccer stadium. It cost 1.5 billion to build and opened in 2017. But what are some other soccer stadiums that have cost a fortune to build?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Top of the list is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where NFL team Atlanta Falcons play their home games. The stadium is shared with Atlanta United, one of the best teams in MLS. Building work on Mercedes-Benz Stadium began in 2014 after years of negotiations. The stadium was intended to be a replacement for the city of Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Mercedes-Benz Stadium features a retractable roof so players can play NFL and MLS games either indoors or in the open air. The capacity of the stadium stands at 71,000, which means despite its cost it is not even close to being one of the biggest new expensive soccer stadiums in the world.
Wembley Stadium, London
Wembley became the world's most expensive soccer stadium when it was built a few years ago. Wembley replaced a stadium with the same name that had fallen into disrepair. Wembley acts as England's national stadium, hosting major cup finals and international soccer games. £1.1 billion was spent on building Wembley, which has a capacity of 90,000. Australian firm Multiplex handled the building process which was completed in 2007. While the original Wembley had the Twin Towers, the main feature of the new stadium is its arch, which can be seen from many miles around. And football, Wembley hosts other sporting events such as boxing bouts - Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko was held there in 2017.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Also in London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a new entry into the list of the world's most expensive stadiums. It cost near £1 billion and had a delayed opening in 2019. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the regular venues for NFL games that are played outside of North America. It has even been suggested that the Jacksonville Jaguars could make a permanent move to London at some point in the future. They would play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It is reported that Premier League club Spurs are seeking a sponsor for the stadium. Concerts are also set to be held at the stadium with Guns N' Roses lined up to play in 2020.
Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
Home to Russian football club Zenit, Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg was built for the 2018 World Cup and it cost around the $1.1 billion to build. Not only does the stadium boast a retractable roof, it even has a retractable pitch. There are set to be four UEFA Euro 2020 finals fixtures held at the stadium later in the year. The 2021 UEFA Champions League Final is also going to be played at Krestovsky Stadium, it was revealed. Around 65,000 people can attend football games at the stadium which has an enhanced capacity of around the 80,000 mark for when concerts are held there.
Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
Another stadium built for a World Cup, Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, cost about $800 million. Named after Brazil football legend Garrincha, its capacity is around 70,000 for soccer games. The original budget of the stadium was just $300 million. But spiralling costs meant it became one of the world's most expensive soccer stadiums, even though it is rarely close to being full. And 2014 World Cup games, football at the 2016 summer Olympics, was played here.
