Across Europe, grand stadiums that once roared with the cheers of thousands now stand silent and forgotten, left to the ravages of time and nature.
These abandoned stadiums, whether due to financial troubles, changes in sporting habits, or simple neglect, serve as poignant reminders of Europe’s rich and varied sporting history. Some, like the New Mestalla, stand unfinished, reflecting financial miscalculations, while others, such as Strahov Stadium, are relics of long-gone political regimes. While some may eventually be restored or repurposed, many will continue to crumble, serving as haunting monuments to times past.
In this article, we will have a look at them.
Great Strahov Stadium (Prague, Czech Republic)
Strahov Stadium, once the largest stadium in the world, stands as a relic of a different time.
Built in 1926, the stadium was used for gymnastics events and Communist-era Spartakiads, mass gymnastics shows that could draw up to 250,000 spectators. With the end of the Communist regime, Strahov fell into disuse.
Today, some parts of the stadium are occasionally used for training or concerts, but large portions lie abandoned and decaying.
Stadion Plovdiv (Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Plovdiv Stadium, located in Bulgaria’s second-largest city, was initially designed to be a multipurpose sports venue. However, it has been left largely abandoned since the late 20th century.
Opened in 1950, it was mostly used for concerts and athletics events. At its peak, it could hold up to 50,000 people.
Efforts to rejuvenate the stadium have stalled over the years, with plans to renovate it often falling through due to funding and bureaucratic issues.
Stadion Za Lužánkami (Brno, Czech Republic)
Stadion Za Lužánkami was once a bustling football stadium, home to FC Zbrojovka Brno. At its peak, it hosted over 50,000 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums in Czechoslovakia.
However, the stadium was abandoned in 2001, as the club moved to another stadium.
Despite numerous fan-led clean-up efforts and grassroots attempts to revive the ground, it remains largely neglected, with overgrown stands and crumbling infrastructure.
Stadio Sant’Elia (Cagliari, Italy)
The Stadio Sant’Elia, once the home of Cagliari Calcio, has been abandoned since the club moved to a new venue in 2017.
Built in 1970, the stadium had an initial capacity of 60,000 spectators, reduced to 40,000 for the 1990 World Cup, in which it hosted 3 games.
Stadio Sant’Elia is now partially demolished, while there are plans to redevelop the site into a modern stadium.
Stadio Flaminio (Rome, Italy)
The Stadio Flaminio in Rome opened in 1959 for the 1960 Olympics where it hosted the final of the football tournament.
For many years it was the home of the Serie C club, AS Lodigiani. In the 1989–90 season both Roma and Lazio played at Stadio Flaminio during the renovations of Stadio Olimpico. It later became home to Italy’s national rugby team and hosted various cultural events. However, after the rugby team moved to a new venue in 2011, Flaminio was abandoned.
Today, the once-iconic stadium is in a state of disrepair. There have been multiple proposals for redevelopment, but the stadium remains in limbo, awaiting either demolition or restoration.
Dan Păltinișanu Stadium (Timișoara, Romania)
Dan Păltinișanu Stadium, located in Timișoara, Romania, was the home of local football club Politehnica Timișoara.
Built in 1963, the stadium was the second-largest Romanian stadium with 32,000 seats until its closure in 2022.
Although plans were made for a new stadium to be built on the site, the project has been delayed as financial resources have yet to be secured for its demolition and reconstruction.
Casement Park (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Casement Park in Belfast was once a central venue for Gaelic games in Northern Ireland, with a capacity of 32,000.
The stadium has been closed and abandoned since 2013.
However, Casement Park has been selected as the Northern Irish venue for the joint UEFA Euro 2028 bid.
Stadion SKRA (Warsaw, Poland)
SKRA Stadium in Warsaw, Poland was once a bustling athletics venue in the Polish capital.
Opened in 1953 with a capacity of 35,000, the stadium has fallen into complete disrepair since 2015. While the seating area has begun to sprout weeds, the athletics track is still in use and opened to the public.
Now, Stadion RKS Skra can regain its former glory as construction works for the restoration of the site will begin in 2025.
Nicolae Rainea Stadium (Galați, Romania)
Nicolae Rainea Stadium, formerly known as Dunărea Stadium, was a key sports venue in Galați, Romania, serving as the home of the city’s football teams.
Built in the 1960s, the stadium had a modest capacity of around 23,000 and hosted mainly football events. However, in recent years, it has fallen into disuse and been largely abandoned.
Milmoor Ground (Rotherham, England)
Milmoor Ground, once the home of Rotherham United, now stands abandoned after the club moved to a new stadium in 2018.
Despite its long history, dating back to 1920, the stadium which could hold up to 8,000 people was left to deteriorate after its closure.
Nou Mestalla (Valencia, Spain)
The Nou Mestalla in Valencia is an example of an unfinished, rather than an entirely abandoned stadium.
Construction began in 2007 with plans to replace Valencia CF’s iconic Mestalla Stadium, but financial difficulties brought the project to a halt in 2009.
Despite several attempts to revive construction, the New Mestalla remains a concrete skeleton, with unfinished stands and exposed steel beams.
