Olaide WaheedFootball is a global game, and every nation on earth has an array of football stadiums and arenas, from small amateur grounds to massive international sports venues.
The quality and attributes of football stadiums are sometimes overlooked by fans, but as anyone who follows football matches and regularly bets on sports, say, in Betbonanza app, will tell you, the quirks of a stadium can make a difference to how events play out on the pitch. Some stadiums have open sections that produce distinctly unusual wind conditions, while others feature stands close to the pitch that can generate an intimidating atmosphere.
To give you a sense of the sheer variety of football stadiums out there, we’ve put together a short list of some of the most fascinating and unusual venues on planet football.
Timsah Arena, Turkey
Football stadiums come in all shapes and sizes, but the most unusual has to be the Timsah Arena in Bursa, Turkey. The home of Bursaspor, who play in the Turkish Super Lig, the Timsah Arena is owned by the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sport and took four years to build, finally opening in 2015.
Bursaspor’s nickname is The Green Crocodiles, although you could probably guess that as soon as you see the stadium, which is shaped in the form of a curled up giant bright green crocodile, complete with an open mouth that houses halls and conference facilities. The venue holds 43,331 supporters, and when you see it for the first time, you may not believe it!
The Float, Marina Bay, Singapore
Space is a valuable commodity in Singapore, but the ingenuity of modern architecture knows no bounds and in 2007, Singapore unveiled their water-based stadium, The Float.
Constructed on a steel platform that reaches out into Marina Bay, The Float is overlooked by a large stand that can hold over 30,000 spectators. Constructed originally as a temporary venue for the National Day Parade, it has continued in use for a wide range of events, including football. Although problems with the metal beams that surround the pitch prevented it from being used for the Singapore Cup Final, it continues to host Sunday League games and offers a remarkable spectacle.
Estadio Hernando Siles, Bolivia
If you know anything about South American football, you will know that altitude is a huge factor and no country presents a bigger altitude issue than Bolivia.
The best-known stadium in Bolivia is the Estadio Hernando Siles, in La Paz, the nation’s capital city. This is the venue for most Bolivian national games, as well as the home games of rival clubs The Strongest and Club Boliva, but it is also famous for being one of the highest grounds in the world.
This is not surprising, given that La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, but at 11,932 feet above sea level, the 41,000 capacity Estadio Hernando Siles is a striking and imposing sight. And as if that wasn’t intimidating enough for visiting teams, it is also rumoured to be haunted!
Stadion Vozdovac, Serbia
From the outlandish to the impressive, we head to Serbia, where the Stadion Vozdovac stands as one of the world’s most remarkable stadiums.
Work began on the stadium in 2011 and it was concluded in 2013, but what is most remarkable about the ground is that it has been built on top of a shopping centre. In fact, it is effectively a rooftop stadium, situated 24 metres above the street, so while shoppers in Vozdovac can visit the supermarket or shop for clothes, supporters above can be enjoying top flight football action.
The ground is owned by FK Vozdovac Belgrad, who are not among the elite of Serbian football and it only holds 5,200 spectators. The good news for Vozdovac fans is that the ground has been cleared by UEFA so if the team ever plays in a European competition, fans from other nations will have the chance to experience the Shopping Centre Stadium.
Igraliste Batarija, Croatia
Across the border in neighbouring Croatia, there is an equally spectacular stadium, although this ground is notable for very different reasons.
Igraliste Batarija is the home of HNK Trogir, who currently play their football in the lower reaches of the Croatian pyramid. With a capacity of a little over 1,000 it is the smallest stadium on this list, but none can match the location or the view that fans who visit can enjoy.
The ground is sandwiched between two different UNESCO World Heritage sites. At one end there is the Tower of St Marco and at the other is Kamerlengo Castle. Both date from the 15th century and both have the distinction of featuring in Game Of Thrones since the town of Trogir was cast as the city of Qarth in the fantasy TV show.