Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Football (or soccer as it's called in North America) is the most popular sport globally, in part due to the unique experience of watching a match live at a huge stadium. Iconic playgrounds such as the Maracana, Stamford Bridge, or Allianz Arena are revered places where loyal fans go to pay their respect to the game just as much as to cheer for their teams. Some of these world-class stadiums can accommodate more than 70,000 people and typically have great acoustics, so they tend to be very loud and boisterous, especially during a high-stakes game.
In Canada, soccer is still far less popular than hockey or basketball but in recent years it has gained some momentum. The game is being taught at the youth level, which is strengthening the foundation for producing elite players and creating a large number of future fans. Another factor that drives interest in football is the possibility of online betting, which is now available in every province in Canada. The nation has solid infrastructure for further development of the sport, with several beautiful stadiums that are worth visiting in person. Let us take a look at some of the most prominent examples.
Built nearly 50 years ago for the 1976 Summer Olympics, this stadium still has the largest capacity in all of Canada. In its base setup it has more than 60,000 seats but can be expanded to receive additional visitors. Sadly, the local MLS team (CF Montreal) considers this stadium to be too large and only occasionally plays its official matches there. This is a covered stadium suitable for all seasons, and its location near the Montreal Tower makes it a popular tourist attraction. Among the locals, this football stadium is often affectionately called The Big O due to its shape.
While this stadium is most commonly used for Canadian football, it also serves as the home grounds for the national soccer team. It bears the distinction of being the largest open-air sports venue in the country with the official capacity of over 56,000. This structure is also quite old, being in continuous use since 1978, albeit with major renovations and expansions completed little more than a decade ago. Over the decades, it has hosted five Gray Cups and numerous other sporting events of the highest profile. Despite its age, the Commonwealth Stadium still looks impressive, especially on the inside.
If you are on the West coast of Canada, you should stop in Vancouver to experience this incredible football ground. Built in 1981, BC Place is still going strong and routinely welcomes crowds that exceed 50,000 people. Like many stadiums in Canada, it is shared between the local Canadian football team and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer team. Until 2010, it was the world's largest stadium with an inflatable dome, but after reconstruction it now has a retractable roof in its place. Staying informed about details of the game was also made easier by the installation of a huge digital scoreboard above the pitch.
Perhaps you didn't know that Canada has another Olympic stadium, even if it's not called by that name. The 1988 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies were organized at the McMahon stadium, which was expanded for the occasion from its regular 37,000 seats to 60,000. This stadium was constructed in 1960, and was repeatedly upgraded to bring it up to modern standards. It is situated close to University of Calgary, which is also the owner of this charming sports venue. While the facility is well-suited for soccer games, there are currently no soccer teams calling it home.
Widely regarded as one of the prettiest sports venues in Canada, the Princess Auto stadium is smaller than most of the other examples on this list with just over 32,000 seats. It opened for the public in 2013, and it represents a true gem of modern architecture. Equally useful for Canadian football and soccer, it is perhaps best known as the location of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. At Princess Auto stadium you can find luxurious amenities including more than 50 suites and a restaurant, making this venue very interesting for people who want to enjoy every moment of a sports event to the fullest.
Constructed in 2007 in the same location as several older sports venues and owned by the same group that controls the Toronto FC pro club, BMO Field is definitely among the finest soccer grounds in the country. This is confirmed by the fact that it will serve as one of the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with the BC Place in Vancouver. While the current seating capacity of just 28,000 leaves a lot to be desired, planned upgrades ahead of the tournament will bring it up to around 45,000. If you don't want to wait until 2026 to see this incredible place, you can catch a regular season MLS or CFL game there.
Of course, if you can't make it to any of the cultural locations we've mentioned in person – because, let's face it, life is hectic, and travelling is expensive – we don't need to tell you how many options you've got on the phone in your pocket. You can still capture a sense of excitement by live betting here on matches, held at one of these cracking stadiums or elsewhere.
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