Hilton Club Traveler - Spring 2019 - 5

DREAM: THE 10

Winning
Soccer
Stadiums
Whether you call it soccer
or fútbol, it's hands down
the planet's most popular
sport. Get ready to shout
"Goooaaaaalll!" at some
of the world's greatest
stadiums.

1

ALLIANZ
ARENA, MUNICH
More than 300,000 colorchanging LED lights illuminate
the exterior shell of F.C. Bayern's
spaceship-like stadium, where
fan fervor is out of this world.
Can you blame them? The team
boasts a record 28 German
national titles.

TARANCHIC/GETTY IMAGES

2

WEMBLEY
STADIUM, LONDON
Before its demolition in 2003,
the original Wembley reigned
as the world's most famous
soccer stadium. Although the
new Wembley, which opened
in 2007, lacks the old building's
rich history, Londoners quickly
embraced its modern comforts,
primo sight lines and landmark
440-foot-high arch soaring
above the partially retractable
roof. The stadium is home to
England's national team and will
host the UEFA Euro 2020 finals.
If you prefer football American
style, you can catch the annual
NFL International Series here.

3

GIUSEPPE MEAZZA
STADIUM, MILAN
Better known as San Siro, this
1926 architectural gem is shared
by bitter crosstown rivals A.C.
Milan and Inter Milan. When
they play each other, this rockin'
80,000-seat stadium might be
the noisiest on earth. On nongame days, drop by and take a
guided tour.

4

AUDI FIELD,
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Head to the nation's capital
for bicycle kicks on the pitch
of this intimate 20,000-seater,
opened in 2018 and home
to Major League Soccer's

D.C. United. While the main onfield attraction is goal-scoring
magician Wayne Rooney, the
star wattage in the stands
emanates from famed chef
José Andrés, who oversees
stadium dining with match-day
bites ranging from chichi tacos
to overstuffed arepas.

5

ANFIELD,
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Some 54,000 fans singing "You'll
Never Walk Alone" in unison
traditionally welcomes Liverpool
F.C. players as they sprint onto
the pitch in their historic home
stadium, opened in 1884. What
Anfield lacks in size, it makes up
for with an incredibly raucous
atmosphere.

6

MARACANÃ STADIUM,
RIO DE JANEIRO
In Brazil, soccer isn't just a sport,
it's a religion. So it came as a
shock when this iconic soccer
stadium, host to two World Cup
Finals, fell into disrepair after the
2016 Olympics. Down but not

out, the old gal is undergoing
a major rehab and will again strut
her stuff in time to host the
Copa América final in 2019.

7

BANC OF CALIFORNIA
STADIUM, LOS ANGELES
Opened in downtown L.A. in
2018, this gleaming $350 million
stadium is home to Major
League Soccer's Los Angeles
Football Club. Fans rave about
the facility's high-tech bent and
love that no seat is farther than
135 feet from the field. The
global spotlight will shine on the
stadium during the Los Angeles
2028 Olympics.

8

CELTIC PARK,
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Celtic F.C. are the New York
Yankees of Scottish soccer clubs.
And their classic 1892 stadium,
Scotland's oldest and largest, is
so highly regarded, even former
F.C. Barcelona midfielder Xavi
once called it "a marvel" and its
throaty supporters "an example
for every team."

9

CAMP NOU,
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Behold Europe's biggest
stadium, a 99,000-seat
behemoth that since its 1957
debut has housed one of the
most successful football teams
of all time, F.C. Barcelona. It's
tough to match the energy
in this place, especially when
"Barça" takes on archrival Real
Madrid in a contest known as
El Clásico.

10

ESTADIO AZTECA,
MEXICO CITY
If legends Pelé and Diego
Maradona hoisting World
Cup trophies on the field isn't
enough to propel a soccer
stadium to global icon status,
consider that this colossal
venue (capacity 87,000) also
hosted matches for the 1968
Olympics. Today, it's home to
two pro clubs and the Mexico
national team, and it serves as
a concert venue rocked by the
likes of U2, Paul McCartney
and Shakira.

05
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Hilton Club Traveler - Spring 2019

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