Architects gmp – von Gerkan, Marg und Partner Architects
World-Class Sports Stadiums
Modern arenas are true architectural works, using the latest materials and technology. Take a look at 10 of the most impressive structures
By Stacy Perman
Sports architecture can be traced back thousands of years. The first known stadium was built in Olympia, in western Peloponnesus, Greece, where the Olympic Games began in 776 B.C. While stadiums were built to host competition, they were also seen as a reflection of a society's strength, glory, and wealth. Today's Olympic stadiums, World Cup soccer arenas, and other sports facilities are built with those same intentions -- though they're obviously more complex affairs, leveraging 21st-century building technology and materials to push the bounds of architecture. Take a tour of the 10 of the most intriguing examples.