stadium

A stadium is a large, usually open-air venue designed to host sports events and other large public gatherings. It centers on a playing field or court at or near ground level, surrounded by tiered seating that provides unobstructed views of the action. Many stadiums are open to the sky, but some are covered by roofs ranging from light canopies to fully enclosed domes, and a subset have retractable roofs to allow for different weather conditions.

Key features typically include seating bowls, concourses and walkways, locker rooms and facilities for players and officials, press and broadcast areas, lighting for night events, and large video boards or scoreboards. Modern stadiums also emphasize sightlines, acoustics, accessibility, safety, and crowd management. The playing surface may be natural grass or artificial turf, and surrounding features can include running tracks, field houses, and training facilities.

There are several types of stadiums. Single-sport stadiums are designed for one primary sport, while multi-purpose or multi-use stadiums host different sports or large-scale events. Baseball stadiums are often called ballparks, whereas football and soccer stadiums may share a common configuration or include a running track in older designs. Capacity varies widely, from several thousand to well over 100,000 spectators.

Origin and terminology: the word stadium derives from the Greek stadion, a unit of length and a place for spectators. Modern stadiums emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of organized sports, professional leagues, and international events such as the Olympics.

Uses extend beyond sports to concerts, ceremonies, and large gatherings, making stadiums important cultural and economic hubs in many regions.