GREAT STADIUMS of the WORLD

AZTECA, Mexico, Mexico City
Capacity 110,000
The stage of two World Cup Finals.  The Azteca was the scene of two classic World Cup @
Finals- Brazil v Italy in 1970 and Argentina v West Germany.  The Azteca opened in 1966 and within @
2 years it was staging an Olympic Final.  The three tiered Azteca was built on wasteland in the @
South West of the city.  One of the most colourful stadiums in the world, it also was the birthplace @
of 'the Mexican Wave.'

BERNABEU STADIUM, Madrid , Spain
Capacity 105,000
Real Madrid's first stadium was decimated during the Spanish Civil War.  Raising the money to build @
a new ground by public subscription proved to be a great idea and in 1947 the 75,000 capacity @
stadium staged it's first match.  During the 1950, Real Madrid dazzling exploits in the European @
Cup provided the finance needed to increase the stadium's capacity to 125,000.  The stadium @
hosted the 1982 World Cup Finals.  Further adjustments and refinements have been made, with the @
increase in seating bringing the capacity down to 105,000. 

MEAZZA STADIO  ( formerly San Siro )
Capacity 83,000
This superb stadium with its trademark cylindrical towers is the host to two of the greatest club @
sides in the World - AC Milan and Internazionale.  It also hosted the opening match of the 1990 @
World Cup Finals.  A third tier and roof being built before the World Cup Finals in 1990.  The cost @
of the re building was in excess of œ 60 Million pounds. 

NOU CAMP, Barcelona, Spain
Capacity 130,000
Financed by Barcelona Club members with intentions to outdo bitter rivals Real Madrid's @
Bernabeu Stadium the Nou Camp just got bigger and bigger.  It staged it's first match in 1957.  @
A whole sports complex has sprung up around the Nou Camp with an indoor sports hall, Ice @
Hockey stadium, a 16,500 capacity mini stadium and concert hall.  In preparation for the 1982 @
World Cup a third tier was added taking the capacity up to 120,000.  Amazingly they found room @
to build another 10,000 seats ready for the 1992 Olympic games.

MARACANA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   
Capacity 120,000
The Maracana is the largest stadium in the world, home to four club sides and the Brazilian @
national side.  Lately there have been serious problems with its structure and the ground has @
frequently been out of use.  It took a monumental 17 years before the stadium was completed @
in 1965.  A world record crowd of 199,850 watched the deciding game between Uruguay and Brazil @
in the 1950 World Cup.  The oval ground, the cantilevered roof and moat separating crowd from @
pitch all combine to make the Maracana one of the greatest stadiums in the world.  

OLYMPIASTADION, Munich, Germany
Capacity 74,000
The scene of over 5 major finals, the futuristic Olympiastadion divides public opinion like no other @
major ground - the glass and steel structure not appealing to everybody's tastes.  It's opening in @
1972 coincided with home club Bayern Munich's emergence as THE major force in European Football.

PARC DES PRINCES, Paris, France
Capacity 49,700
Rebuilt twice in the 20th century, the advent of the 1998 World Cup in France means that this @
venue's status as National Stadium is nearly at an end - falling 30,000 short of FIFA's minimum @
capacity for a final.  A œ300 million new stadium is currently being built in the north of the city.  @
The home of the French football and rugby teams as well as club sides Racing Club and Paris @
St Germain, Parc Des Princes was the first European stadium to have floodlights and close @
circuit TV.  The highlight in the stadium's history has to be France's European Championship @
final against Spain in 1984.

WEMBLEY STADIUM, London, England  
Capacity 80,000
This grand old stadium has come in for much criticism of late, yet it still remains the place that @
most players dream of playing.  Wembley Stadium was built for the purpose of the 1923 Empire @
exhibition and attracted a crowd of 200,000 for its first F.A. Cup Final.  Wembley was also the @
scene of the national's side's greatest triumph in 1966.  Wembley has tried to adjust with the times @
it's capacity dropping to 80,000 due to all seating.

