22 Cool Urban Stadiums - and some stupid ones

Mikael explores his favourite urban stadiums - whether they are football stadiums or multi-use for sports like speedskating, bandy, gaelic games or ancient Greek competitions. He offers criticism about modern stadium development and "stadium districts", as well as the massive footprint many stadiums occupy.
(Sorry for the shaky video in places! The table was bumping the tripod)
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Anders Hviid Photography - Football Stadiums and the people who use them: hviidphotography.dk/football/
The Townscaper code for Mikael's town:
KSizOiHCZozOM1lbvp-s6P9_H95-go-a6PrOlSpvvetWrP0etWrv4GcOnwneDev33gLECyHjLECy-Uw-DO-P78HRwYM2XT-Z1ff9Ha-F3f693g-y4JlS9Py8vJwf78YMGfE93g-y4JlS9np8nMPGjy3O-N4fMeChQ-p6G_m3P_9rg-S5PZOEChvd_bx-Y8QIE_wxN8puow5beRnP_9rg-c4vU_TmVKl6bn-G8PGPEChfLfZMG7fx2xX4G_U3v59jfZMG7rgZMG7wh-S5PZOpUqvd_bx-wnN8hthvx9Td-m3P_lyYsvC_bn-G8QIE_TjN89sfY7X4_pufw7H-zYM2XB-lzfz83O-p3-wI-b9a4wY-e2PsF9Fufq738_yvhQI8VxfO83F-Bzf78HR-p3Onw9bD73C-P0a4rX-M2vn9Db-C3P19be-43QIE_K4w5c_c4vL_Dk-I6PreMGff9YM_Q7yY8F3jyY8Pb73I-bra4jW-61Pj97Z-x2vx9Td-m3P_9rgDpUK95xpvL_Dk-S5Pi_3WYECh_HRN8tqhPa9rX-M2vn9Db-C3P19be-43vC_9ev3nDjQI03FjQI0HI-ev3XK-R0fN9nV-91fo9Xc-y4fV_nn-nZa4TUDfr6Ht_1rfG73w_htfh7n6_Nvf8bAAAvvC_wh-u4PQWIEivU_Tv-G8PGPEChxXlbMGj5ww-O9PY-3i1vF_fg0xXmG_EV03q_Rrf96ny_9soPs9Lc-U3v5NAAg3H-_VxfO83F-BzOnw9lzfVuyYMmPPnyYM23pwYMG7D2-z9Ph-PP0xHkG_z0PR9bVTpU6jWfv37rXDv37wY-e2Ps9Lc-UXAAAefw7H-_VxfO83F-BzOnw9lzfnOYMGjPYHMGjyXu-J8fL-H1-n_Z47QDfQ6XvGChPj97Z-x2vxFAAg3n6_Nvf87XB-5xfX8HIvWr1XK-B7MGj9l7MGj9J8lSp8t8Onw9R9-Tz_b1Z4wPDfH6XvGCfGb47ZDhPs99ev379Fuv379evP19be-43vC_wh-u4PQ_cOnvU_L3LlS5T4dOn79t8AjyY_o_-kNDf15nf_htpUKlUfhbIEChxn6_Nvf87XB-5xfX8HIfOnwXK-B7MG7b5NGjy8R9-5YG_YwvxNEChQI8pufw7H-i_K4PH_7iDhQ4Dk-O9w58t8lSp8_o_-ULDfj5X4GChxn6_Nvf87XB-5xhQI8dyfeeoUKlPhPYMGw3zrUK1-k1-j-_N1fc9-ElhPt0F_GwP28rO-8wvD9DS-z0PR9bV-o1ve9wY-e2vxFhQI0n6_NvfFMChQoPH_rp-_6PhPEC-j9_9vIECh_qaGjy_n8FhQI0-gkhvo8TLdhvyME_YwxXdG_8wx3hG_g0xXmG_E1x3qG_o1QIE_61379Zsv377Z-CXAChQfq7XB-5xfE9XTHQI0nVTIEz3X-l7hQ4Pg3AChQf_7HF-L2LChQoPN_3_yxHS_Flfa53Y_ymf15nf_dofQ6Xm_JqfraIECf06Xv_ZstW77Z-CXEChQfqLChQov59jf-A5vd_joBIE6wqBpU67r-gdhQI_TbM89jfI5XU_plfj5Hb_Vnf_p77Q-g0vM9TUBAQ4bV-o1ve9wYNGw3w_Fufq738_lzfz83OjQI0nVfOnw3X-daMGjy_g9-sFDf243P_hkfRp7TL-GT0Hb_Vnf_53h_BpfZKAACfi63q_Rrf96nyKEivn9Ll-kZQr1_saChQ__6P0_Lu-07vT-9ev3fSihvWME_syvf8DJ-izPt8bM-Ywv68wP-O0PINEChvM9TU-WV0Ht_1rfGbr1atvn9Ll-kZChQ_salSp__6w5c_QbgQI_ibGjy_07PP-9ev-kEDftoLECf2YI89jhPkM8FlhPtM8NmhP2M8VnhP-M8dohQI8BpfZ6no_tqf06Xv_ZshWr99sfp8nMTIEzHawYM2XcDOnwne-9eAlSpUq-0G-_yPk8LK-0zvy8jN-qwP-87QDjy4DS-zU3no_tquPa9rX-M2Qr1_e2vC_wh-S5PZ_cOnv4WpUqP9_9evvB-79AKlSpU-pf_doMGj9BpfZ6no_tqf06XvqUK1ny_yvfF879efO85cOfXsw5cfp8nMvWr1ne-ev33g-9eAl6PlxvN8wP-OUECh_g0vM9TU-W1Pa9cOnve9be-4X079_K4PH_7iBAgw5_S5PZGMGjv3DoU-pE_thtW7jEbt2XLaMmPbEMGf-ow5_QSnw5cf_53hG_g0vM9TU-W1yYM_o1P19beJEChQ_43PH_7idOn7Ll-k5yYM_oOAgyYsv3DoU-ZC_JhgW7bD-IyvW8wG-_yP-87QDfQ6Xm_JqIEC9tqfh7n6SIEz38_5xfXcIECfp8nMPGjyH1BYMAgy_TA8LBNGjy8Jhf_53hG_g0xXmG_E1Ps9LcJEChQ_U3PH_7iDhQ4Ll-k5Wr9RdAGDAYs-EA-SQGj9Jhf_53h_BpfZ6no_tqf06Xv_ZsfP7H2uWrvx9wh-u41atWfz83OfKlzXuBAKlSp_oOAgyYs-EA-SQAg9JhfR5nW_Nmfs5Xd_ZsfPrQIEfY7nD-dyIEC9Jwf78HRHChxXuBU-JA_lgMG7TC-Qzvo0YMfapSp_GwWr9ymfG73wKECyH2_5xfXMgyYf78HR-lbAgSpUq-EA-SQAh8Jhfb43P_hkhQ4LK-0zvyE0afs5ny_9st2H2_5xfXMChQfeGYtWr16f0YUr1_nOu1at-BA-SQGj9Jhnw5bD-syvfME_QzPt8bMZM2Hb_lpfi63q_9suPs9wh-8MxCsAg1fQy-zA_pytWr9bA4XC_Jhnw5bD-IyvW8wGbt23P_plfjJjy_YwvM9TUDhQ4bV-o1ve9rg-c4vLOlSpPPDsALAY9bPYK9PJ4nEmSpvNs1afkIjy_aRjy8ZjfR5nWCGjvy8TU-WVlSp_oVlSp_61Pj9jf-K4QIE_c4QIE_u4QIE_8MxCAAg1fmgfS43G_RiGj5rF-Qzvo8cOfa53q_RrMGjy_6VGjyYfG7H-gQI0XcBEChQI_wN8jE-_yPk05_izPa9rXbtWr9ZsfP7XcBEAAAI_wW8wG-_Rn7DJ-W1Pa9rX-MWQr1afP7H2_FXABAAAi-kE-aR0nNi__Rnw5_QzvD9DS-z0PR9bVJEzHtSIkvelQIfG73wiQIE6Db-C3P0CIEAgQ8PlKhQ_tN8jEDhxXL_Zjf-4XU_5nfHKAc_gUA48lpnw5c_E1vV9jW-61Wr9ZsfP7H2GChQ4Lc-U3-cDDhxHJ_plfj5Hb_Vnf_55cOnvD9DS-z0Pa9rXXr1ny_htfhbIECfq7HRBChQIEC-Tg_bS43G_plCh4bMBCyHbKEiv6UIEf_5Ht_1rjy4wY-x2vx93Aw-IL-MwfRC-YwPa9rXDt2ny_lSAAAAAA3-0l-Gt_1rhW7wYbt23w_BSAnw5cO3fSrf9apUKfG73FBAAAAAc-ZBBAAx5cO-J-AOnw5PnHAAAOnw5D
0:00 Mikael's Townscaper Town
0:56 Urbanism and Football
2:09 American Stadium Development
4:39 European Stadium Development
5:47 22 Cool Urban Stadiums
6:20 Copenhagen
7:09 London - Arsenal
7:44 Selhurst Park
8:00 Singapore
8:18 Buenos Aires
8:36 La Paz, Bolivia
9:18 Sao Paulo
9:22 Mexico City
9:31 Dublin
10:11 Chicago
10:45 Green Bay
11:03 Detroit
11:34 Barcelona
12:05 Stadium Parking Stupidity
12:43 Madrid
13:17 Belgrade
13:44 Seville
14:08 Antwerp
14:32 Oslo
14:57 Athens
16:03 Buenos Aires
16:37 Conclusion
Music: Mikael Gjøl

[@shigemorif1066]

Fenway Park in Boston is well incorporated into the city...and the 'green monstah' is iconic. :)

[@mdhazeldine]

Wembley stadium used to be horrible, with so much parking. The new one is much better now that buildings are going up around it. Has much more life to it. The London Olympic Stadium/West Ham Stadium is also pretty nice being in a green park. I'm also looking forward to the new wooden stadiums coming along soon, like Forest Green Rovers.

[@oscarsusan3834]

With the increase in women’s participation in “male orientated” sport in Australia the unique problem is that there was a lack of grounds to incorporate the influx of the junior females.The AFLW Woman’s Australian rules Football was the real catalyst at a national level and all the great local inner suburban grounds and the iconic country clubs are now invigorated with new clubhouses,facilities ,grounds keeping putting a vibrancy into the 4k -35k capacity grounds.it’s all been good for all the field sports. Melbourne’s Sporting Precinct has to be up there, 10 minute walk from CBD central surrounded by botanical gardens .I might be biased but despite Melbourne’s faults it’s a great place to be.

[@luukpeters2240]

Brentford's Griffin Park, famous for having a traditional pub on every corner, used to be amazing before the club sadly left it this summer for just another box at the edge of the town. They are now redeveloping it into housing like in Highbury, which of course is better than replacing it by big retail, but it was still sad to lose such iconic football ground.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Oh yeah, that's a cool one! /Mikael

[@nialli2000]

It's the view put of my study. I agree It's an urban stadium thay fits so well into its environment

[@dcseymour93]

Providence Park here in Portland is a well integrated stadium in a rapidly urbanizing section of the city just outside of downtown with connections to multiple light rail and bus lines. They recently added more seats, unfortunately not in time since COVID hit. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_Park

[@urmanascrewed]

I did a project in school on stadium districts, but only focused on Seattle and Cincinnati's development plans for their new stadiums. Amazing how Barcelona and Madrid fit stadiums of that size within the city fabric.

[@deanlemckeevans]

The Rogers centre or Skydome as the locals call it in Toronto is pretty nice it is such an iconic structure right next to the CN Tower. Though some of the other stadiums, BMO field and Scotiabank Arena have that parking problem.

[@ryanprairie1516]

i would say the ACC(now scotia bank arena) doesnt have as much of a parking issue as there are apartment buildings directly next to and part of the arena. not to mention the ford performace centre where minor league teams play is very nicely tucked into the city.

[@manoelfernandez]

Check Riazor Stadium in A Coruna (Spain). It is totally integrated in the urban fabric, with other sport facilities and next to the beach. In fact, one of the sides has a tower that resembles a lighthouse. It has very little parking space, what, in such a compact and dense city as Coruna, makes a great experience to walk to the stadium with other 20000 fans, many of whom will gather a couple of hours before kick off in the many bars next to the stadium. Congratulations for such a nice channel, by the way!

[@jsbean013]

I saw Real Betis v Mallorca back in February and loved the location of the stadium. I think it adds so much to the theatre of going to a match to turn a corner and "BAM!" there it is rising up in front of you. Much, much better than the London Olympic stadium, for example, where you have to negotiate public transport links that aren't quite close enough and involve walking through a shopping centre.

[@jampetable]

Het Kasteel (The Castle) in Rotterdam is really cool, home to one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands. I also really enjoyed Craven Cottage of Fulham FC along the Thames.

[@gonzalomud]

The one in Mexico City is (with the bull fighting one next to it) going to be teared down to build....... a shopping mall..........

[@LifeSizedCity]

Yeah, I read that! So sad. But it's postponed, so I included it for now. /Mikael

[@cardenasr.2898]

I heard the original project included a lot of sporting facilities, thus the name of the neighborhood Ciudad Deportiva, but the stadium and bullring was the only built and the rest was occupied by residential and commercial buildings

[@GFmanaic]

Marina Bay is also used as an F1 track, so it helps keeping the appeal. Great circuit as well.

[@tom_j315]

Mikael, you should check out bloomfield stadium in Tel Aviv. It recently underwent a major expansion that eliminated almost all parking, instead relying on a light rail station set to open in 2 years or so. In response to angry fans, saying that until the station opens they have no way of getting to the stadium, the mayor said (and I’m rephrasing) “we decided that it’s worth the price of being able to walk, bike or take public transit to the stadium in the long term, rather than building a new stadium outside the city, only accessible by car, that’s against the city’s vision of sustainable transport”

[@LifeSizedCity]

Just had a look! So cool! Thanks /Mikael

[@Brabour]

Het Kasteel, the stadium of Sparta Rotterdam integrates quite interestingly. Also the new plans for the Excelsior stadium in the same city are quite exciting with flats literally planned on the corners of the stadium.

[@Leonum1860]

As you mentioned Munich. We have two great stadiums in our city. One is the Olympiastadion or Olympic stadium which was built for the Olympics in 1972. Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich also used to play there. The other is the Grünwalder Stadion. Both are owned by the city. The Allianz Arena was originally planned to be near the Olympiastadion but Bayern Munich wanted the stadium to be outside the city

[@CitiesoftheFuture]

Always interesting content! hope we can collaborate one day ;) Have you seen Bjarke Ingels´ proposal for a future stadium in Oakland?

[@yuongon2368]

Interesting channel Cities of the Future!

[@LifeSizedCity]

Thanks! Ingels was great when he designed his early stuff. Now he's just Mr Skyscraper and Stadium. A lot of pushback against newer proposals of his here in Copenhagen. /Mikael

[@jonahskinner9627]

Mong Kok Stadium in the heart of Kowloon. The stadium on one side, and HK's main (and always delightful) flower market on the other. I live a minute walk round the corner so can vouch for it blending into the community. Watching my beloved Eastern there is a dream. 6.5k capacity though so too small for this list.

[@danielmedici5179]

When in São Paulo, I encourage you to have a visit and watch a match at Allianz Parque. Right in the middle of a mixed-use neighborhood, full of bars in the surroundings. Morumbi stadium, featured here, lies in a resodential mansion-filled neighborhood devoid of life

[@andrewmedlar214]

This is such a great video! I have recently been thinking about American baseball stadiums and the urban spaces they occupy. "Stadiums" like Fenway Park in Boston have the "Green Monster" which is a thirty-foot wall in left field because there used to be a used car dealership behind it and they didn't want baseballs damaging the cars. Baseball is unique because the urban fabric the stadium exists in has a direct impact on the action of the game. For a while in the '70s and '80s, new stadiums were all identical because they had all the space they needed so every field was symmetrical and boring. Newer development like in Baltimore with Camden Yards incorporated the urban fabric and fans and citizens of the city love it. This sparked a bunch of new stadiums to incorporate the urban fabric and embrace the funky dimensions that come with it. Baseball stadiums definitely help tell America's history of car-centric development

[@LifeSizedCity]

Interesting point about how baseball is unique in that sense. Also, how it interacts with the exterior urban fabric when home runs gets knocked out of the park. :) /Mikael

[@bikesarebest]

Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal is a great urban stadium, does a great job connecting the mountain and the city. Even the Bell Centre is really well incorporated.

[@LifeSizedCity]

I looked at Montreal and Percival Molson IS cool, but if it was in the middle of Mile End, for example, it would have made the list. Thanks! /Mikael

[@dagh7376]

Great video! However i don't know if it was by mistake or you did it on purpuse but when you show the Camp Nou, the picture of the inside of the stadium is actualy of Santiago Bernabeu!

[@ashleyhamman]

My local Sacramento has shifted from Arco Arena to the new Golden One Center (of course, America and corporate naming....), which is three blocks away from the state capitol building in one direction, the historic district in another, and the main train station in a third direction. It also has light rail right next to it and happens to have replaced the major mall. I've not been by because sports aren't really my thing, but it's a nice change to see.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Ah, that's pretty cool. I just had a look. Thanks! /Mikael

[@gdconde]

One from Argentina that is inside a residential area and next to the river so it looks quite good is "Gigante de Arroyito" in Rosario.

[@ZacharyWyatt]

Happy to see my team's stadium (Lambeau Field in Green Bay) on this list. It really does rise up from a residential neighborhood made up primarily of single family homes. The atmosphere in the neighborhood on game day is wonderful!

[@LifeSizedCity]

Good to hear! I had to assume as much and it's great to hear from someone who knows it. /Mikael

[@tinnagigja3723]

It's only fitting that the only publicly owned - and therefore best- team in the NFL play in a community-friendly stadium.

[@NotGamersHD]

I think that Petco Park should have been on this list. I was born and raised here in San Diego and might be a bit biased but I genuinely think that it is such an underrated urban stadium not only in baseball but in general. Snuggly put right in the middle of the downtown core, it went against the grain in terms of its design especially in the context of other stadiums in car-centric california. Its connected to the light rail system (SD trolley) that goes throughout the entire city, and isn't surrounded by a moat of parking. Its very well integrated with the surrounding city, and makes the entire area around it just wonderful to walk around. It acts as a sort of strong anchor that revitalized the area and helped attract lots of different restaurants and retail development that is incredibly pedestrian oriented. The stadium keeps in line with making cars feel like a guest in the area rather than the main mode of getting around. Maybe its just because I live in such a car dependent area, but its hard to describe how noticeable and enjoyable the feeling is of a dense walkable city especially when a massive stadium integrates itself with that design. And this isn't even getting into the amazing orientation of the stadium that offers sweeping skyline views, the wonderful climate, the integration of the historical Western Metal Supply Co. that became an integral part of the stadiums design, and the proximity to the beach and comic-con building. The designers and city really hit it out of the ballpark with the design (pun intended ;)) you should totally look into it. (walking around the exterior on google maps will give you a really nice feel for the area too)

[@jackpilkington5691]

St James park in Newcastle upon Tyne sits right in the center of the city. Some might argue it's our cathedral ♥️

[@LifeSizedCity]

And, like god, it keeps letting you down. ;-) /Mikael

[@LifeSizedCity]

Although I have a couple of Newcastle players on my Fantasy Manager team. And a friend of mine - his dad played for Newcastle back in the 70s: Preben Arentoft

[@jackpilkington5691]

@@LifeSizedCity hahahaa well... You've got me there 😪😂

[@DeDappereKoe]

The Cambuur Stadium in Leeuwarden, Netherlands is also well-fitted into it's urban environment. Most fans come by foot or by bike, as supposed to be in the Netherlands. Sadly, it's gonna be moved to the outskirts of the town. On pictures of the new stadium, there are more cars visible then people.

[@ethanzanelli]

The Velodrome in Marseille home to OM, is a good example of stadiums in an urban context with also a new commercial area surrounding the stadium

[@marcosalvador5055]

You should check out the Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena, it is squeezed between the hills that make up the city, minutes from its medieval center!

[@LifeSizedCity]

I can't believe I forgot to check Siena. Just had a look. So cool! /Mikael

[@KSPAPchannel]

Veitch Field - Swansea City's old home used to be right in the centre of terraced houses near the city centre. It's now an understated park, popular with drug dealers and users.

[@AdamBurianek92]

Tehelné Pole stadium in Bratislava, Slovakia 🇸🇰 is a good example of stadium in the actual city. The stadium was built in the same place as an old Tehelné Pole. But while the old stadium was built in 40s in what was suburb back in the days, the location leveled up and now it's considered as a extension of the city center. There was an option where the new stadium would be built somewhere in suburbs but fans of that club refused it, saying that ŠK Slovan Bratislava belongs only to Tehelné Pole area. 🙂 So the stadium was rebuilt in a place of the previous one. 😎

[@mybigjak]

lisbon and amadora have some of the best urban stadiums right on the most dense neighbourhoods in portugal

[@StarryNightGazing]

BTW I enjoy these videos a lot. You should be a way bigger channel TBH.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Working on it!

[@guillaume6459]

Where I live, Le Havre (France) we got a stadium with a blue, wich is our color, the colors of the sea. However, the roof color being so on point, seagulls fought it was water and dived right in this new built roof. After a while they change out the color for an other blue taint.

[@neuroticsam]

I wrote my Regional & Urban Planning MSc at LSE on football stadium planning in the UK.

[@jacopochiefjaco123]

you got a link:)?

[@LifeSizedCity]

Interesting. I had a read of "The Impact of Sports Teams and Facilities on Neighborhood Economies: What is the Score?" Author: Robert Allen Baade Lake Forest College" /Mikael

[@aditboy]

Check Local Oil stadium in Indianapolis! Amazing brick facade and a massive window on one side looking to the city. Found on Google maps and thought it was a massive factory

[@alesoldo3264]

Have a look at Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena. It is located in a depression surrounded by the historic city.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I'm suprised the principality stadium in Cardiff wasn't included, right in the city centre, a park to the north, river walk to the side and a couple of minutes walk too the transport interchange (bus+train and soon to be Metro too).

[@LifeSizedCity]

I had a look at Cardiff and, while cool, the stadiums are not as surrounded by urban fabric as others. /Mikael

[@tim333y7]

Portland timbers stadium in downtown Portland, is in a super urban area with no surface parking around it and a rapid transit Station next to it, thought it looked cool on google earth

[@greasher926]

Seattle has 3 stadiums in its urban core, there is surface parking but it’s pretty small compared to most places.

[@Drew-nv1op]

To pair with Wrigley, gotta mention Fenway. Many UK stadiums seem to be well integrated: Anfield and Goodison Park, Stamford Bridge, St. James' Park, etc. Also Providence Park in Portland, Oregon!

[@LifeSizedCity]

I was going to include Fenway and even researched maps of how the neighbourhood around it used to look before the highway replaced trains, etc. I've been there and it's cool, but not so "snugly nestled" as other stadiums. Lots in the UK were close to making the list, like the ones you mentioned. Providence Park def looks cool! Thanks. /Mikael

[@cardenasr.2898]

In Guadalajara Mexico the two main football clubs played at Jalisco Stadium, which is in a dense residential area and right next to one of the main streets in town. From the northern terrace you had an amazing view of the Huentitan Canyon that marks the limit to the city. It was a downgrade when Chivas moved to another new stadium in the wealthy part of town. It looks cool, not gonna lie but it's in the middle of nowhere, it's a pain in the ass to get there if you don't have a car (even if you have one)

[@craig.bryant]

Newcastle United’s St James’ Park is surely the closest stadium to the city centre of its city!

[@christill]

I was thinking of that one. I remember we drove past it when on a family holiday once and I was surprised that it was right there.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Oh great. NOW I'm thinking "what stadium is closest to the city centre in the world". There goes my Tuesday... thanks. :-) /Mikael

[@craig.bryant]

@@LifeSizedCity haha enjoy Mikael, get that online distance measuring tool and a cup of coffee!

[@guillembetetatorres7025]

Hi Mikael this is Guillem, a civil engineer student from Barcelona that wolud like to be an urban planner someday, and I just wanted to say that I love your content and that I if you could I would love to know what is your opinion about the new urbanisation and new stadium for the FCBarcelona club

[@ajearlywine4622]

University of Cincinnati’s American football stadium is pretty well integrated into the campus

[@sarmiento_casas]

@4:00 : "A speculation of developers"

[@LifeSizedCity]

Good one! A bit polite, but hey... :-) /Mikael

[@supahsean6710]

i Know I'm super late to the video, but were you trolling @ 11:57? Because that a picture of the interior of Real Madrid's stadium.

[@christill]

I always thought Fratton Park in Portsmouth is cool because the entrance is hidden away in a residential street. I just stumbled upon it when visiting the city.

[@LifeSizedCity]

I checked that out and it looks cool, but I went with stadiums that are more surrounded by urban fabric than Fratton Park. Cool entrance on street view, though! /Mikael

[@mattmunn71]

You missed the Melbourne Cricket Ground, its in the middle of a park 15 minute walk from the main business district half the trains in Melbourne stop at the station on the corner.

[@LifeSizedCity]

I had a look at it - and watched cricket there when I lived in Melbourne - but I chose stadiums in the urban fabric, not near it. Cool stadium, though! /Mikael

[@aca2983]

Nationals Park in Washington DC isn't terrible. Its a redevelopment area, but they kept the street grid and built on it. Nearby new Frederick Douglass Bridge will be a nice addition to the skyline.

[@LifeSizedCity]

I had a look. Super cool! Thanks. /Mikael

[@robertnorth1681]

I like University of Michigan stadium. A deep bowl that fits 100,000 or more at each game, but you can park in town, at the school or the golf course a d walk to the stadium. Many people just walk from homes and dorms, of course.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Just checked it. Super! /Mikael

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Would be interesting to hear your opinion on FC Köln's current stadium, its history, and especially the Club's plans to not only expand (upwards that is) its stadium, but also its "Club Home" and adjacent practising facilities, located in the Outer Greenbelt (Äußerer Grüngürtel) of Köln. Ah, and FC Union Berlin's stadium is worth a look at, too. Especially regarding its latest renovation a few years ago, and who was involved in the works.

[@CitiesoftheFuture]

Interesting! we will check them out!

[@LifeSizedCity]

I had a look and it looks like it's less urban than located in parkland, compared to the very urban stadiums I featured. But still close to the city. /Mikael

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Ah yes, that's correct, Köln's "Club Home" actually isn't in such an urban environment. Which in turn is the core of the controversies here: they're planning to expand further into the Green Belt, thus destroying parts of it - and that in times of Climate discussions.

[@GKCanton]

@4:00 Surely it should be a Hoarding of Developers (of course I'm Irish she so we're biased on this)

[@memomerit]

in Mexico estadio Toluca en Hamilton tim hortons feald

[@hamidatbi7888]

I kinda agree with the idea, but there is question, how do the neighbours of these stadiums deal with the traffic of people (or cars!), the noise of stadium, and so on when there is a match on? Of course, it is sth that we can not neglect!

[@LifeSizedCity]

If you live there - and choose to live there - you are well aware of the situation. If you're going to move there, you will also be aware of it and make that choice. So the people who live there must be fine with it. Many of these stadiums have been in place for generations. /Mikael

[@aretorta]

I wonder what you would think of the municipal stadium in Braga, Portugal (the one which I remember you disliking particularly for it's old "American looking" urban design). Let me just say that the opinions are quite polarised.

[@LifeSizedCity]

I just had a look. It looks okay. It's not appropriate for this video because it's not in the urban fabric though. /Mikael

[@aretorta]

​@@LifeSizedCity Unfortunately that's what happened with a lot of stadia built for the Euro 2004 in Portugal. The exceptions ar two in Lisbon (Luz and Alvalade) which replaced older ones already inside the city.

[@StarryNightGazing]

dude was an earthquake happening in copenaghen? hahah

[@LifeSizedCity]

I know! The table was touching the tripod and I didn't notice. Sorry about that. /Mikael

[@nightfury8440]

American soccer fan here. The reason a lot of our Stadiums have such huge parking lots is that its a legal requirement for them. A lot of the stadiums that don't are either old or got an exemption. Also you should check out American soccer stadiums, they are small but a lot of them are really beautiful. P.S love the video

[@LifeSizedCity]

Good point. And yeah, I looked at some smaller US stadiums, but like I said, I had to draw the line somewhere. :-) /Mikael

[@Nandowestcoast]

11:59 that photo is of Real Madrid's stadium, not Barcelona's

[@LifeSizedCity]

Oops. Google search failed me. Awkward. :-) /Mikael

[@Jacon95]

I was waiting for some fun fact about Strahov stadium (capacity 250k)

[@LifeSizedCity]

I looked at Prague, but while that stadium is close to the city, it isn't really surrounded by urban fabric. Thanks! /Mikael

[@msmoniz]

I'm a car guy. I love to drive, but, BUT, why I love Mikael, his series, and this channel, is because unlike other car lovers, I don't believe you build a city based on and for cars! You build for people first! Highways and rural areas are for quickly getting around. Cities are for living in, not passing through as fast as you can; use a highway for that!

[@LifeSizedCity]

So cool to read! Thanks! /Mikael

[@desertson15]

A "parasite of developers." Jk, an important part of the urban development process Honorable mention could be Petco Park in San Diego, California. Plopped in the city center downtown by the bay, it went against the trend of Southern California car culture in a effort to redevelop the urban core of the city. Team performance aside, the stadium kick started the redevelopment and densification of our downtown. Another San Diego mention and future video? San Diego International Airport. Located directly adjacent to our high rise city center, it is the busiest single runway airport in the world.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Just had a look. Yeah, not bad. I like how the diamond shape is facing "the right way" on that location. /Mikael

[@nialli2000]

As someone who used to frequent Camp nou back in the noughties: you couldn't have made a bigger mistake than you did for the interior shot! I'm sure Real Madrid fans will be laughing

[@LifeSizedCity]

We know, we know. So awkward. :-)

[@kalle911]

It sounds like a lot of European cities qualify. I liked Warsaw's when I visited in 2018: goo.gl/maps/mSjoMR2AjYNv7isy7 High density housing nearby, parks, good public transport connections. And there's even a beach! But apparently it's not possible to swim in the river. I didn't even have to buy a weekly public transport pass, I got around by bicycle 100% of the time, although a lot of that on sidewalks and carrying it through some pedestrian tunnels in some places. There was some kind of a rudimentary cycling network. But they did have an arseload of cars. However, trams were separated from the rest of the traffic and they were fast.

[@grahammorris8552]

Enjoyed the pacing of this video. Before you even started talking about American stadiums I started thinking about why I don't like most stadiums in the United States. Aside from the high levels of anti-terror infrastructure in and around the stadiums, the scale of the area of asphalt is so sad to look at and think about the wildlife and other things it could be. On that note, great video!

[@LifeSizedCity]

Thanks! I have an episode about terror urbanism on the podcast: soundcloud.com/mikael-colville-andersen/word-on-the-street-pilot-episode-terror-urbanism?in=mikael-colville-andersen/sets/the-life-sized-city-season-1 - about how cities should design better for anti-terror infrastructure. /Mikael

[@Wuz314159]

*Stadia

[@LifeSizedCity]

Haha! :-)

[@1pufc]

Away days are always better when the stadiums in the city, walking distance to train station and the pubs, the way it should be.

[@copenhagenizeblacktown]

Monaco, with its terracotta roof 👌

[@timothynewton5231]

There is no collective noun for developers. I looked. The closest job that has a collective now would be designers which are known as a "set". Doesn't really sound like the right word though... Edit: It's "A sprawl of developers"

[@LifeSizedCity]

Excellent word! :-) /Mikael

[@dennisverweij4817]

It almost looks like that old stadiums were shaped by their neighbourhood, while the new ones shape the neighbourhoods.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Good point! I prefer the first option. /Mikael

[@viktorvolosin9372]

I feel like tottenham hotspur stadium should have been on the list because of the way it interacts with the community, but wasn't there because of a minor bias.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Ha. Nah, I ain't that hardcore. It's super cool but similar to Emirates and, like I said, I had to draw the line somewhere :-) /mikael

[@tychobotter]

Not the Arena in Amsterdam

[@LifeSizedCity]

I thought about it, but it's not very urban. I had the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam on my short list, though. /Mikael

[@gnawershreth]

Ahh, I don't know if I'd compliment Parken in Copenhagen tbh, it's certainly not a good looking stadium and considering that it's the national stadium it's kinda shitty that it only really works for people from the Copenhagen area. It would be one thing if it was only FC Copenhagen's stadium since you'd assume that most of their fans are actually from Copenhagen, but being the national stadium as well it absolutely sucks that there's no parking to speak of anywhere fucking near it. Do you have any idea what a trip to see the national team would cost someone from Holstebro, Aalborg or whatever? lol They could get a week on a Greek beach for less money. Parken is utter shit for a national stadium but pretty good for a Copenhagen club stadium I'd say. I think we're actually one of the few countries in Europe that basically play all of their games in the capital btw, the German team doesn't play all of their games in Berlin for example. Like I mentioned in a comment on another video (Lynetteholm one I believe) Copenhagen is just located in an awful fucking location, it's "Udkantsdanmark" from a geographical point of view, it's about as well placed for a capital as Hanstholm would be, way over in the corner away from most of the country. Then we have insane prices on trains, you'd likely need to spend the night in Copenhagen after watching the game since you'd probably be drinking and then you'd need food, drinks etc. in the most expensive place in the country. You end with a ridiculous price for most Danes considering what you're actually getting for it.

[@catprog]

27.27.53S 153.0.64E

[@LifeSizedCity]

I typed that into google maps, but it didn't work. I even tried 27°27'53"S 15.3°0'64"E - but no luck

[@catprog]

@@LifeSizedCity try Lang Park Qld

[@emilianogb1]

el azteca, cdmx papa

[@robertnorth1681]

Walking in LA. Nobody walks in LA.

[@LifeSizedCity]

Good to hear from you, Randy Newman ;-) /Mikael

[@bryanmcgee2173]

i can see my house

[@a.d.3606]

Kinda disappointing you didn't seem to include any stadiums for real sports like hockey and basketball. :( Also kinda hard to believe there wasn't more stadiums that were note worthy from Asia...

[@LifeSizedCity]

I focused generally on global sports, not weird regional sports. :-) /Mikael

[@a.d.3606]

@@LifeSizedCity Haha. I'm waiting for your videos on Golf, Poker and Nascar then... Okay... haha Maybe just golf. Is anyone doing golf correctly from an urbanist perspective? CAN golf be correct from an urbanist perspective?

[@96preslav]

12:05 that ain’t Camp Nou chief

[@LifeSizedCity]

What?! What is it then? But okay... one mistake isn't bad. /Mikael

[@96preslav]

@@LifeSizedCity Considering the banners say Real Madrid, I'd say Santiago Bernabeu maybe ;)

[@73wacker]

F cars.. no cars no food..no football...no nothing.