Sport and romance have gone hand in hand since time immemorial. Back in Ancient Rome, huge crowds would congregate to watch everything from chariot racing to gladiator battles. Perhaps neither of these events would be considered acceptable by today's civilized standards (we expect combatants to shake hands at the end of a contest, not be carted away in stretchers!) Nevertheless, you can be sure the onlookers often had one eye on the action, the other on prospective partners amongst fellow spectators! Fast-forward a millennium or so, and the equivalent of the Coliseum is Stadio Olimpica, where both AS Roma and Lazio play their home games (two of Italy's top football teams, in case you were wondering!) Bloodletting may have gone out of fashion centuries ago, but football (or soccer to Americans) remains a sport which can ignite passion. From the huge stadiums that play host to Italy's Serie A teams, to smaller grounds the length and breadth of countries across the world, let's take a closer look at the best places to find love with other fans.
Football is the perfect backdrop for your date. What better way to create an atmosphere conducive to romance than the excitement of an adrenaline-fuelled match between two teams of 11 players at their athletic peak? The first thing you'll have to do is find someone sharing your interest in 'the beautiful game,' and the best place for such a search is by going online. In the digital environment, you'll come across so many singles who've professed football as their favoured leisure time activity. So, have you ever pondered the question, 'Where would be the best place to arrange hook ups near me, preferably involving someone equally enthusiastic about football, where should I go?' if the answer is an emphatic ‘yes!' then you need to sign up to a digital matching resource. Here, you'll find a discreet platform where you can mingle with other singles, and chat about teams you love watching, and players whose posters might have adorned your bedroom walls when you were younger. Reach out with DMs. Start a conversation. Suggest arranging a liaison at an appropriate venue.
Don't fret if you've never tried online matching resources before – you'll quickly discover how intuitive these services are. Algorithms will help you track down singles on your wavelength. Search forms can be tailored to the Nth degree. If you're set on meeting a fellow Manchester United fan, you can state as much when completing your site profile. If you're feeling adventurous, you could always plan to get together with someone following your bitter rivals, Manchester City. There's that age-old adage about opposites attracting! Why not list all the best grounds in England, where you're bound to come across a vast array of potential talent, whether they favour those two Manc giants, or follow London sides like Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham, Crystal Palace or Fulham; or lesser-known clubs such as Millwall, Queen's Park Rangers or Brentford?
We've covered the easiest part of this quandary – where to hook up with a footie fan who'd make for an ideal matchday (and perhaps match night) companion. Assuming you've established regular lines of communication, the next question is which grounds are guaranteed to kindle oodles of love or simply sparks of lust? It's easy to arrange stadium tours (which can be conducted anytime, presenting a unique opportunity to become immersed in a club's history). But the time to get the best buzz is between kick-off and the final whistle on match days. Here are the stadia to visit:
Hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years later, Rio is synonymous with street festivals and partying. Perfect for romance.
Once the home ground for football legend, Lionel Messi, who scored 474 goals in 520 appearances, this vast arena oozes class and charm.
After undergoing a major refurbishment in 2009, this stadium hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Designed like an African dish, then the lights are on, this remarkable location takes on the appearance of something vast that's cooking up something delicious!
Home to the sky blues of Manchester City, rivals to Manchester United, there are 14 event spaces and room for 53,400 fans. The city itself offers fabulous socializing venues where you and your partner can discuss the match before indulging in more romantic chats.
Arsenal's home ground contains vast banks of spectating positions, where massive banners frequently create a carnival atmosphere. There are restaurants and burger bars, and licenced premises if you feel like enjoying romantic drinks to put you in the mood for thrilling games.
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