Champions League Ready? Mapping Europe’s Best & Worst Stadiums

  • Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park tops the list for best European football stadiums, and will host several key group stage matches in the 24/25 Champions League season
  • Tickets to a Borussia Dortmund match average just £30, with an impressive Google review score of 4.7/5 and a capacity of 81,365
  • In contrast, Germany’s BayArena in Leverkusen holds the lowest rating, scoring 4.32

With the Champions League kicking off next week, Europe is abuzz with excitement for the new football season. As 96 group stage matches are set to unfold across the continent, fans are eagerly anticipating thrilling games and unforgettable moments in iconic stadiums.

To enhance the fan experience, luggage storage network Stasher has rated the continent’s top football venues. Discover where to catch the best action and enjoy the ultimate football experience this season.

The top (and bottom) five stadiums and their scores

Top 5Bottom 5
#StadiumCountryScore#StadiumCountryScore
1Signal Iduna ParkDortmund, Germany5.9450Bay ArenaLeverkusen, Germany4.32
2Santiago Bernabéu StadiumMadrid, Spain5.9249Ljudski VrtMaribor, Slovenia4.33
3Camp NouBarcelona, Spain5.7348King Baudouin StadiumBrussels, Belgium4.35
4Old TraffordManchester, England5.5247Estadio El MadrigalVillarreal, Spain4.36
5San SiroMilan, Italy5.4446Stadium of LightSunderland, England4.36

Of the 50 stadiums analysed, Signal Iduna Park (5.94) – home of Borussia Dortmund and site of the Euro 2024 semi-final – ranks in first position as the best stadium in Europe.

Known for its famous yellow-wall and notoriously good atmosphere, this stadium ranks well in all categories, with a large capacity (81,365), reasonable average ticket price (35€ just under £30), and very good public accessibility, complemented by excellent Google reviews (4.7/5).

Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium ranks second. With a high capacity (81,044) and outstanding disabled access, it also offers a very low cost of a pint 2.5€ (around £2.10) and great Google reviews (4.6/5), making it a top choice. Barcelona’s Camp Nou ranks third, just losing out to its Spanish rival. The largest stadium in the list with a capacity of 99,354, Camp Nou also boasts great disabled access and good public transport connections.

Coming in fourth, but reigning supreme in the UK, is Manchester’s Old Trafford (5.52). Renowned for its exceptional disabled access and excellent transport links, this iconic stadium boasts a capacity  of 74,140 and very positive Google reviews (4.6/5).

Completing the top five is Milan’s legendary San Siro, the shared home of rival clubs Inter Milan and AC Milan. For years, rumours of its demolition have circulated, threatening to erase a piece of football history.

Recently, however, these plans were halted due to arguments for its cultural significance (https://footballgroundguide.com/news/san-siro-rebuild-demolition-updates).

German stadiums top and tail this list, with Leverkusen’s Bay Arena coming 50th on the list. Expensive beers, average disabled access and weaker Google reviews (4.4) give it the lowest score of any stadium on this list.

English stadiums rank well overall, with four of them featuring in the top 10. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium secures a strong position at 6th, surpassing its fierce North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and their new stadium since 2019, which closely follows at 7th. Meanwhile, the iconic Wembley Stadium claims the 8th spot in the rankings.

Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, in Tbilisi Georgia, is the ideal destination for budget-conscious sports enthusiasts. Not only does it offer the cheapest tickets on this list at €10 (around £8.40), but it also serves the most affordable beer, with an average pint costing €1.67 (just under £1.50). The stadium once recorded an attendance of 110,000 in 1979 when FC Dinamo played against Liverpool, but has since undergone extensive renovations, resulting in a significantly reduced seating capacity.

England has consistently the most expensive tickets – taking the 5 most expensive rankings in our table. Old Trafford’s average ticket price is a staggering €118 (around £100). The stadium with the highest cost of a pint is the Emirates Stadium in London, home to Arsenal FC (7,45€ or £6.30).

Germany offers the cheapest tickets of any west European country – with tickets typically costing €30 – €35 (£25 – £30).

To see the full data for each stadium please visit Stasher’s dedicated webpage here.

Edinburgh City FC announces sponsor partnership with Nuffield Health

Edinburgh City Football Club (ECFC) of the Scottish Professional League (SPL) League 2, has partnered with Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest trading charity.

The partnership spotlights Nuffield Health’s comprehensive approach to health and wellbeing which spans physical and mental health — from personal training, health assessments, GP services, and physiotherapy to providing mental health support or hospital treatments for serious conditions.

The arrangement provides both health and wellbeing and traditional medical services to players and staff of ECFC and hopes to raise awareness for its network of services among Edinburgh community members and football fans.

In addition to working to promote the partnership through traditional and social media activations, Nuffield Health will be the ECFC First Team Jersey Sleeve sponsor and Headline sponsor of the ECFC Under 18 Academy Team for the 2024 / 2025 season.

“This is a momentous day for Edinburgh City Football Club as we work with one of the most recognized and respected names in healthcare in Scotland and the UK,” says John Dickson, Chairman of ECFC of the partnership.

“Giving our athletes access to Nuffield Health’s fitness and well-being will make the difference as we work toward a winning season in League 2.”

The Director of Wellbeing, Scotland of Nuffield Health, Naomi McMinn, believes “Edinburgh City FC is deeply entrenched in the local community and will serve to exemplify the value of a focus on wellbeing as it relates to health.

“We are confident that this partnership will help us positively impact the health outcomes for many more people in Edinburgh and Scotland.”

Edinburgh City Football Club is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club which plays in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier of the Scottish Professional Football League.

ECFC made SPFL history in 2016, by becoming the first team to progress to league football, via the pyramid system and becoming the first “third” senior football club in Edinburgh. ECFC currently plays its home games at Meadowbank Stadium.

Spartans FC marks youth players’ long service with special medals

Long-serving Spartans youth players have been presented with medals to mark 10 years of service to the club.

The group belong to the current Under-17s set-up, having first joined not long after starting primary school.

Les Atkinson is chairman of the youth section and said: “We want to make people feel welcome and create a safe place for them to play their football and enjoy themselves here. It’s the ethos of the club which we work on and testimony to that is the length of time people stay at the club. 

“There is a real family feel to the club, a community spirit to it, and that helps keep players with us as they want to be part of something special.

“We are always pleased to develop players so they can move to bigger clubs but often they come back to us if things don’t work out for whatever reason.”

Spartans take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the quarter-final of the League Cup later this month and Les, who is also manager of the Under-20 Development Squad, added: “We have a visible pathway now which the youngsters can see. At least half a dozen of the first team players have come through the youth section to the U20 development squad and into the top team.

“Now we are in the SPFL, the players have a real target to aim for. The success of the first team filters down to the development team and then through the youth section and creates a real feel-good factor.

“But we have always been about more than just football and winning trophies. A key part of our success is doing a lot outwith the football, helping the local community.”

The youngsters were presented with the medals at half-time of a recent league match at Ainslie Park.

Photo shows back row (l-r): Les Atkinson (Spartans FC Youth Chairman), Stuart Gray (coach development officer), Daniel Weir, Cameron Findlay, Joe Barry, Josh Smith, Ola Benson, Michael Kiddie, Ford Mills, Tony Lewis (U17s coach), Paul Woods (U17s coach).Front row (l-r): Hugo Boyle, Charlie Cusiter, Preston Kennedy, Joe Woods, Ben Lewis, Finlay McNally, Chris Mill.

Aspiring footballers score donation from Amazon in Edinburgh

The Amazon Edinburgh team has collaborated with David Pollacchi, Managing Director of Lomax Sports to support Firrhill High School and the Kevin Thomson Academy with donations of over £3,000 worth of equipment.

The football coaching kits include embroidered sportswear, footballs and cones. The academy will use the equipment as part of a partnership with Firrhill High School, a secondary school based in south- west Edinburgh, which has received two sets of 11 aside school football kits as part of the donations. 

The Kevin Thomson Academy (KTA) offers football coaching across the city through classes, private and team sessions. The Academy is run Kevin Thomson, a former Scottish professional footballer who played for clubs including Hibs, Middlesborough and Rangers.

David Pollacchi has a proven track record of making a tangible difference within communities in Edinburgh and has been formally recognised by Sportscotland, Scottish Football Association and the City of Edinburgh for driving sporting initiatives to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of children within the city.

To mark the donation, members of the Amazon team and the Kevin Thomson Academy visited staff and pupils from Firrhill High School to donate the items.

Ethan Smith from Amazon in Edinburgh said: “As an avid football fan, I’m so pleased Amazon has supported Firrhill High School and the Kevin Thomson Academy with these donations.

“It was a pleasure meeting pupils and members of the school and academy, and I hope this donation makes a lasting impact.”

Kevin Thomson added: “We want to express our thanks to Ethan and the team at Amazon in Edinburgh for this donation.

“Football is our passion and with donations like this, we can continue to support young people across the city in developing their skills and keeping fit. Huge thanks to David Pollacchi for managing and facilitating the whole process end to end over a number of months.

” We look forward to our training with Firrhill High School.” 

Graham Hamilton, Headteacher at Firrhill High School, said: “Thank you to David Pollacchi and Kevin Thomson, generously supported by Amazon in Edinburgh, for this donation of equipment, which means so much to our pupils.

“It was great to meet David, Kevin and the team from Amazon and we look forward to the sessions run by the Kevin Thomson Academy and to many victories in these new strips.”

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.

Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 4 million surplus goods to over 400,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, and London.

Amazon has supported more than 700,000 students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

Super Strikers at Royston Wardieburn

Under 5s classes starting soon here at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre ! ⚽️

Morning classes will be running on Fridays from 6th September! 🥳

Starting from 18 months up to 5 years old, Super Strikers bring fun football to toddlers across Edinburgh every week! Come along to learn new skills, make friends & score goals! ⚽️

More information and booking here:-

https://super-strikers-edinburgh.classforkids.io/term/53

#superstrikers

#under5s

#totsfootball

#toddlers

#football

Spartan Army marches into League Cup Quarter-Finals

CONGRATULATIONS to North Edinburgh’s own community club The Spartans, who yesterday created their own piece of history when they defeated top-flight team Ross County at Ainslie Park.

League Two Spartans hard-fought 1-0 victory sees the local side progress into the quarter finals for the first time in their history.

Blair Henderson’s looping header in the first minute of the second half proved to be the difference between the two teams but the result was no fluke – County manager Don Cowie acknowledged well-organised Spartans thoroughly deserved their win.

With a toothless Hearts losing tamely at Falkirk yesterday and Hibs facing the might of Celtic in Glasgow this afternoon, Spartans are likely to be the only capital club left in the competition.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the @PremSportsTV Cup will take place today after the Celtic v Hibernian tie.

Quarter-final ties are due to be played on the weekend of 21/22 September.

Man Utd vs Rangers at Murrayfield this Saturday: Police Advice

Rangers FC meet @ManUtd in a friendly at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh this Saturday 20th July.

Please plan ahead using info available here https://orlo.uk/solnk

SING WHEN YOU’RE LOSING!

Expert on how to cope with the disappointment of England’s defeat – and why singing is the perfect way to banish the disappointment of England’s loss to Spain:

AFTER days of expectation we now know … it’s NOT coming home.

And the washout summer is unlikely to lift the mood in the wake of England’s defeat against Spain. 

But according to a leading mental health expert the disappointment millions are now feeling isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 

And, channelled in the right way, Nathan Sherman, the director of therapy and training at Red Umbrella says, it can be turned into a positive. 

Here, Nathan, a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor with a background in private practice and 10+ years of experience in the field, offers his advice on how fans can cope with the aftermath of Sunday night’s defeat.

And one of his tips for coping is singing. 

“A surprisingly good way of releasing disappointment and frustration is actually singing,” he says. “Singing releases emotion, including anger, so put that favourite song on in the car, turn the volume up, and sing like no one is listening.”

Why do people get so disappointed in the aftermath of a sporting defeat?

Nathan says: “Disappointment is a normal human emotion to feel, but in many ways it can be healthy and helpful – disappointment might drive us to try harder, practice more and grow as a person.

It also helps us appreciate the wins more; if we always won at everything it would probably feel quite shallow and unsatisfying.

We experience a more emotional response when we attach more meaning to something. If it matters to me, I’m going to feel more disappointment if it goes wrong than if I don’t think something is that important. Sport is emotive to us because we value it – the camaraderie, the value we place on success, and how we view our national identity.

The England team represent us, we vicariously live their glories. Very few of us get to compete on a global stage, so we attach meaning to the actions of those who we feel represent us, as a way to experience some of that glory. Of course, when they lose, we feel the disappointment and loss just as keenly.”

How can we channel disappointment in a more positive way?

“Start by remembering, firstly, disappointment isn’t a bad thing. We like to attach meaning to emotions – this one is good, this one is bad, but all feelings are valid. The first thing we can do to help is talk through what we’re feeling.

“Bottling up disappointment not only helps it to build, but can easily turn that disappointment into anger and resentment.

“Firstly, we should talk it through with someone we trust, who is going to allow space for us to feel disappointed. Secondly, we should allow ourselves the space to feel this. It’s okay to feel this way in the day or two after the final.

“We don’t want it to last forever, and the feelings will subside, but for now, giving ourselves permission to feel what we feel is important. Thirdly, don’t fixate on the negatives. The team might have lost, but they also reached a second consecutive final. They are competing at the highest level and that’s a positive thing.

“We felt the disappointment of losing, but also the joys of winning along the way, of scoring goals and celebrating success.”

How can you avoid disappointment leading to anger? 

“It’s easy to get angry when we feel powerless, as none of us could control the result. Many people may feel upset at the result, and for men in particular, upset is not an emotion we’ve been allowed to express. So that upset turns to anger instead, because that’s been seen as a more acceptable emotion.

“Start by asking yourself if you really feel angry, or if you actually just feel sad. Recognising and expressing the right emotion is important. If you do feel angry, safe physical expression can help. Going for a walk, kicking a ball in a park, clenching and unclenching your fists or punching a pillow can all help express the physical energy of anger safely.”

What strategies can people have in place to avoid disappointment and overcome it?

“How we perceive disappointment can help with how we feel about it. If I told you that I could see the future and that England would lose in the next two major tournaments, but win the third, how would you feel about the next two tournaments? Probably some disappointment, but maybe not so much because you’d see it as one step closer to the one they would win.

“Seeing progress as a journey, not an end point, and knowing that losing helps us to grow and develop and often then leads to success, can change how we feel in the moment. Focusing on the good that we have experienced rather than the end point can shift how we feel, too.

How exciting was it to see young players performing well? How did we feel when England scored? What we choose to remember and focus on matters.”

When should you start to worry about the way you are feeling?

“Disappointment is normal to feel – but if that feeling persists longer than a few days, it’s best to reach out for help and support. Sometimes we might just need to have an outlet for our feelings, but if we weren’t feeling great to begin with, a disappointment like this can be the trigger for something more serious.

“Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to reach out for help. It might feel like something we ‘should’ cope with, but everyone is unique and we all respond differently. It’s okay to not be okay.

“Disappointment can feel worse if we’ve experienced other disappointments recently too. So, while we might think we don’t care that much about the football result, maybe that’s coming on top of a missed promotion at work, a relationship breakup, or any other kind of loss or disappointment.

“If you start to feel like you’re not quite yourself and you can’t work out why, because the football wasn’t that big of a deal to you, be aware that it could just be the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

About Nathan Shearman

Nathan Shearman is the director of therapy and training at Red Umbrella, an organisation that’s improving the mental wellbeing of the UK workforce by working in partnership with large employers to deliver bespoke mental health training and support solutions.

Nathan is a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor with a background in private practice and 10+ years of experience in the field.

BBC ALBA brings fans live action from UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifier

BBC ALBA is set to air the upcoming home qualifier match for the UEFA Women’s European Championship 2025 as Scotland Women’s National Team (SWNT) face Serbia on Tuesday 16 July.

Broadcasting live from Partick Thistle’s Wyre Stadium at Firhill, the match kicks-off at 6.00pm GMT, with commentary from BBC Spòrs reporters Derek Mackay and Alex O’Henley, alongside former Rangers captain, Clare Gemmell.

English commentary will also be available via the ‘Red Button’ with regular broadcaster Stuart Mitchell, and former SWNT player Joelle Murray.

Pedro Martinez Losa’s side enter the latest EURO 2025 qualifying game having drawn 0-0 with Serbia during their first head-to-head in Leskovac in April.

SWNT have so far secured victories over Slovakia, and back-to-back home and away wins over Israel.

Fiona MacKenzie, BBC ALBA commissioning editor, said: “Scotland have delivered an impressive performance during the opening matches of the EURO 2025 qualifiers. After drawing 0-0 with Serbia during April’s away match, we’re expecting this match to bring great excitement to BBC ALBA viewers.”

Scotland are currently sitting at the top of Group B2 with 10 points, followed by Serbia, Slovakia and Israel. With 51 teams competing across three leagues, there are no automatic qualification places available for Scotland but there is the opportunity to earn a play-off spot, as well as the chance of promotion for group winners. 

Watch live or on demand on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00216fs

Pubs to stay open late as England bid to ‘bring football home’

Pub and bar licensing hours extended tonight after England reach the final of the UEFA European Football Championship

TONIGHT (Sunday 14 July), pubs and bars across England and Wales can keep their doors open until 1am as England bid to become champions of Europe, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed.

Following the Three Lions’ emphatic (Eh? – Never a penalty! – Ed.) semi-final win on Wednesday night, the team is set to go head to head with Spain in the final of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.

The heavyweight clash will kick off at 8pm, with fans up and down the country coming together to show their support.

Pub licensing hours can be relaxed to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, meaning pubs and bars will be able to stay open for an extra 2 hours tonight.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We’re so proud of Gareth Southgate and the England team. It’s right that we can all come together tomorrow to enjoy the match and—do we dare to dream?!—hopefully celebrate an England victory.

“I want to pay special thanks to the police officers and first responders who will be working across communities to keep us safe.

“I look forward to getting behind all our brilliant players, who bring so much pride to our country, and I want to wish the team the best of luck. Let’s bring it home.”

As well as bringing fans together for longer, tomorrow night’s extension is due to be a welcomed boost to the hospitality industry.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “As with the semi-finals, pubs will be licensed to stay open until 1am on Sunday night and thanks to the Home Office for making the changes to the licensing rules for allowing this to happen. 

“The changes give fans even more time to enjoy the game, support our pubs and hopefully celebrate football finally coming home. 

“Fans have shown us resoundingly this tournament that there is no better place to watch our teams and soak up the atmosphere than the great British pub. This Sunday the BBPA urges everyone to get down their local, support our pubs and get behind the boys. Come on England!”

UK Hospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The Euros have provided a huge boost for hospitality businesses this summer, as fans pack pubs, bars and fan zones to come together and cheer on the home nations.

The extended licensing hours for the final will allow venues and fans to take advantage of the occasion, and hopefully celebrate an historic England win.”

IN THE INTEREST OF BALANCE IT’S ONLY FAIR TO SAY THAT NOT EVERYONE IN THE BRITISH ISLES IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ‘AN HISTORIC ENGLAND WIN’:

MAY the best – and not just the luckiest – team win tonight! – Ed.