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Football is a game made for and by the fans, a fact we found out ever so cruelly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic when football was confined to games behind closed doors. The electric atmosphere and rousing voices of the fans were dearly missed, as football games resembled eerily staged practice games in silence.
The 2021-22 Premier League season has seen a return to close to full capacity, capturing the excitement, sound and sight of a live audience. From the holy grounds of Anfield, to St. James' Park and Stamford Bridge, here's a look at the top 10 largest Premier League stadiums by capacity:
#10 Everton | Goodison Park, 39,572
Goodison Park has historically been defined as England's first ever major football-specific stadium. The blue half of Merseyside has called this stadium at the heart of Liverpool "home", since 1892. Even more interestingly, modern day Liverpool FC was born out of infighting and politics regarding Goodison Park.
Everton's history has seen the stadium evolve and adapt to the demands of spectator capacity and safety regulations. Goodison is also famous for being the first ever ground to have undersoil heating in 1958 to overcome the rock hard conditions of the English winter.
#9 Chelsea | Stamford Bridge, 41,631
The history of Stamford Bridge, located in South West London, predates the birth of its occupants, Chelsea Football Club.
First opened in 1877 and used by the London Athletic Club, Chelsea FC was formed in 1905 and have been occupants for well beyond a century. In its heyday, Stamford Bridge could hold close to 100,000 standing spectators, having been designed by Archibald Leitch. Leitch was also the man responsible for Craven Cottage and Hampden Park.
The 1970s plans for redevelopment and increased seating capacity almost put the club in bankruptcy, having been a costly and arduous affair. The modern iteration of Stamford Bridge has coincided with the club's rejuvented success and global rise to popularity. The naming rights of the ground, pitch and turnstiles are owned by the Chelsea Pitch Owners Association, a fan-owned organization that preserves the integrity of the historic ground.
#8 Aston Villa | Villa Park, 42,682
Another historic ground on this list, Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, is home to one-time European champions Aston Villa. In 1897, Aston Villa moved to what was once called Aston Lower Grounds, in the middle of the Aston Hall grounds. The field was in place of what was once designated as a pool area.
Once capable of hosting over 70,000 plus, the current capacity, with four double tier stands, is currently a little more than half that figure. Due to a combination of Villa's relegation and recoveries, the allure is slightly lost on this once historic ground. However, it still boasts a cracking atmosphere during the big games, especially against perennial rivals Birmingham City
#7 Newcastle United | St James' Park, 52,354
St. James' Park (infamously named the "Sportsdirect Arena") is the holy cathedral of Newcastle United's religious fan base and has hosted the "Toon" since 1897. Another redesign by the famous Archibald Leitch in the 1920s, St. James' Park was built across a slanting grazing ground and had a capacity of up to 60,000 in 1905.
The modern stadium, signified by the "Sir John Hall" stand inaugarated in 1993, is iconic for its "Shilloute" architecture. The white color of the Leazes and Milburn stands proudly jutting across the top of the pitch.
#6 Liverpool | Anfield, 53,394
It's almost hard to believe that Liverpool rank sixth on this list, considering the ground has been lauded as one of the most popular in European club competitions. The club synonymous with Anfield has been Liverpool FC, despite which Everton were the first occupants in 1884.
It was in 1892 that Liverpool Football Club was born out of a dispute over Anfield, which has since been a spiritual home for the Reds. Many legends such as Bob Paisley, Bill Shankly and Sir Kenny Dalgalish have all seen glory and been honored across the stadium.
The "You'll Never Walk Alone" echoing across the terraces is a celebrated club tradition. Additionally, the phrase "kop" now almost exclusively used to describe Liverpool's famed Scion Kop.
The highest ever recorded attendance at Anfield was 61,905 with the sadly disbanded standing allowance. It is a figure the planned expansion aims to reach over the coming years.
#5 Etihad Stadium | Manchester City, 55,097
Initially known as the "City of Manchester Stadium," the stadium was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. It was renamed the Etihad Stadium after the flagship airline owned by the Abu Dhabi group that took control of the club and its naming rights.
Manchester City contributed to inheriting the stadium in 2003, having said farewell to the iconic Maine Road Ground which they occupied for close to a century. The spectacular sea wave design of the stands makes the stadium stand out as an architectural marvel. It also coincided with the rise of Manchester City's second golden era.
Many - including Pep Guardiola - have gone on to make complaints about the grounds atmosphere or lack thereof. However, the Etihad and its surrounding sports complex house a state-of-the-art training center and youth pitches that put Manchester City at the forefront of infrastructure in the league.
#4 West Ham United | London Stadium, 60,000
West Ham United's Boleyn Ground was an iconic monument of the club's working class roots. In 2016, West Ham made the shift to the London Stadium, specially designed for the 2012 London Olympics, on a 99 year lease. The move was a major upgrade to modernize the club and stadium facilities.
West Ham have fought off bids from Tottenham Hotspur and other multi-purpose stadium contractors to occupy the stadium. It also has the distinction of hosting the first ever major league baseball game in Europe in 2019, when the Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees.
#3 Arsenal | Emirates Stadium, 60,704
The landmark Emirates stadium, inaugurated in 2006 planned exclusively for Arsenal and was a massive step up from the smaller, more intimate Highbury Stadium. With the club enjoying an immense spell of success under Arsene Wenger, the club hierarchy felt it was imperative to capitalize on the club's commercial value and build a stadium rivaling Manchester United.
The £260 million loan for the stadium development was much talked about as a reason for extraordinary austerity under Arsene Wenger's later years. Regardless, the stadium has been of immense value to the future of Arsenal.
The reported "distant" feel of the stadium was combatted by the "Arsenalisation" project with several memorabilia and changes across the stadium. This includes statues of Gooner legends Thiery Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
#2 Tottenham Hotspur | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 62,850
The newest Premier League ground is also one of the largest and most modern architectural marvels in London. Having opened in 2019, the arena is a state-of-the-art multipurpose stadium equipped with a retracting football pitch, as well as a turf and open grounds for events.
Tottenham Hotspur had plotted to develop White Hart Lane since 2009, and proceeded to demolish the site of the old stadium to build from the ground up. In the meantime, Spurs used Wembley Stadium as a temporary home. Chairman Daniel Levy will consider it a masterstroke in terms of club revenue and commercial value in the years to come.
#1 Manchester United | Old Trafford, 74,994
The largest club stadium in English football, Old Trafford is a mammoth stadium located at Stretford, and is the eleventh largest in all of Europe. Famously called the "Theater of Dreams," the iconic stadium has been in use since 1910 and could originally house an astounding 80,000.
Home to one of England's most successful modern domestic and continental teams, Old Trafford is almost always packed to the rafters. During the Second World War, air raids destroyed the stadium, leaving Manchester United to share Maine Road with Manchester City. In 1949, repairs and roof installations were finally completed at the famous stadium.
The famous North Stand is now called the "Sir Alex Ferguson Stand" in honor of the 25 years of excellence the Scotsman dedicated to the club. The stand can impressively house over 26,000 spectators on its own.
