Stadiums are generally linked to their specific sports or teams, but many venues have become multi-purpose to help with the annual running costs.
Read on as we look at some of the best multi-purpose stadiums in the world, starting with one which boasts a rich history in New Zealand.
Eden Park
The 50,000-capacity stadium is renowned for hosting rugby union matches, but its versatility allows it to host other sporting events, including football and cricket.
Eden Park is home to New Zealand’s Super League side, the Auckland Blues. It has also hosted thrilling games in other sports at domestic and international levels.
One of the most memorable contests in the stadium’s history came a decade ago when Grant Elliott hit a crucial six to clinch the coveted Cricket World Cup title for New Zealand.
Eden Park has also hosted several international football games and is famous for being the only stadium to host two Rugby World Cup finals in 1987 and 2011.
Sports events at Eden Park always generate plenty of interest from the betting community. The excitement surrounding the games always sparks a surge in betting activity on NZ betting apps.
Fans can place wagers during the events, with the stadium’s excellent Wi-Fi allowing them to stay connected with their chosen online sportsbook.
Wembley Stadium
Known as the ‘Home of Football’, it is inevitable that the home of the English national team is among the top contenders on this list.
Wembley Stadium was built on the site where the original venue previously stood. It was reopened in 2007 and features the majestic Wembley Arch.
The ground has been the backdrop for several unforgettable moments in football history, with cup finals and play-off matches among the occasions staged at the venue.
Football fans would prefer that the stadium was used solely as a venue for sporting showpieces, but Wembley is versatile enough to host other events such as music concerts.
Although it is primarily a famous ground for football games, it has regularly hosted boxing matches, American football games and rugby events.
Michigan Stadium
The Michigan Stadium is popularly known as ‘The Big House’. The stadium opened nearly a century ago and has served as the home ground for the University of Michigan football team.
The 107,601-capacity stadium is the largest in the United States and the third largest in the world, only behind India’s Narendra Modi Stadium and North Korea’s Rungrado 1st of May Stadium.
The stadium could initially hold only 72,000 fans, but renovations over the years have expanded its capacity to its current size.
It has hosted several iconic events, including the 2014 National Hockey League Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, one of the stadium’s biggest milestones was hosting a face-off between European giants Real Madrid and Manchester United in the International Champions Cup in 2014.
Despite having the capacity to house 107,601 fans, the Michigan Stadium made US history as more than 109,000 spectators flooded into the venue to watch the game.
Given the size and importance of the stadium in the US, it was also used for graduation ceremonies in the 1990s.
It has hosted numerous other memorable moments, including President Lyndon B Johnson’s iconic commencement speech in 1964.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) takes its rightful place among the stadium elites thanks to its status as the world’s 10th largest sports venue.
It is the largest stadium in Australia and holds a special place in cricket history, having hosted the first-ever test match and one-day international (ODI) in 1877 and 1971, respectively.
The renowned ground is widely referred to as the spiritual home of Australian Rules Football, but it also houses the National Sports Museum, which is a must-visit for any sports fan.
The stadium hosted the riveting 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final, where global powerhouse Australia flexed their muscles in a comfortable 85-run victory over India.
The thrilling triumph sealed their fifth T20 international title and cemented their unparalleled dominance in the sport.