The 10 Most High Tech Sports Stadiums in the World

Technology has changed almost every aspect of modern day life, including the way we watch sports. One of the most incredible changes in the sporting world is how high tech stadiums have become. Long gone are the days of just-tolerable seating, limited dining choices, and obstructed views. The most technologically advanced stadiums today boast amenities that make them look and feel more like resorts than ball parks.

Here are ten of the most high tech sports stadiums on the planet.

1. Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, Canada

Scotiabank Saddledome was engineered as an inverse hyperbolic paraboloid the help support its weight without view blocking pylons. It has a seating capacity of 19,289 and because of its excellent views this stadium hosts a number of events in Calgary, from the city’s annual Rodeo to NHL games. Though it’s one of the oldest stadiums in the National Hockey League, Scotiabank Saddledome is still a fan favorite.

2. New Miami Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida

Formerly called Hard Rock Stadium, New Miami Stadium recently underwent $500 million in renovations. New additions include video boards in every corner of the stadium, more exclusive suites, and an open-air canopy hanging over a large number of the seats. To accommodate all of these changes, the stadium’s capacity was reduced by 10,000 and is now 65,0000. Still, its new premium furnishings and luxury pods will ensure that all fans that come to the stadium are satisfied.

3. National Stadium – Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The neat thing about Taiwan’s National Stadium is that it sports a dragon like motif. The venue has a capacity of 55,000 and is the world’s first stadium to power itself via solar energy. Incredibly, National Stadium generates almost all of the power that it needs to operate solely by the panels that cover its exterior.

4. AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

AT&T Stadium is best known as the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. It has a capacity of 80,000, is the fourth largest stadium in the NFL, and the largest column-free room on the planet. One of the most impressive features of this massive stadium is it’s retractable glass doors hovering over both end zones, which happen to be the largest electronic glass doors in the world. The jumbotron there is also one of the biggest and most technologically advanced contained inside of any venue.

5. Sapporo Dome – Sapporo, Japan

Sappro Dome in Japan is home to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team and the Consadole Sapporo football club. Because it caters to two very different sports, the stadium had to be built with the ability to completely change its playing surface. For baseball games it holds artificial turf, but when the football team plays the stadium’s surface transforms into a grass pitch. Sappro Dome’s unique ability to convert itself makes it one of the most high tech sports stadiums in the world.

6. Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, California

Levi’s Stadium cost a whopping $1.3 billion to construct. It has a capacity of 68,500, which can be expanded to 75,000. Known primarily as the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, Levi’s Stadium is among the league’s greenest sports stadiums. The unique seating arrangement inside of the venue provides fans with the closest seating of any professional sports stadium in the world. Connectivity within the building is as good as it gets, and for fans who want the ultimate experience it hosts 9,000 club seats and 174 luxury suites.

7. Allianz Arena – Munich, Germany

Germany’s 71,437 seat Allianz Arena open to fans in 2005. Because of its shape it was nicknamed “Schlauchboot”, which means inflatable boat. The venue was the first among all the sports stadiums in the world to have the ability to change colors while teams are playing on its field, which thrills fans. It’s also so large that it’s able to hold the Museum of Bayern Munich inside of it.

8. Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, Ca

Golden 1 Center in Sacramento California is absolutely massive and quite lavish. It contains the largest screens in the entire NBA, and the stadium’s main screens are 44 feet wide. Each one broadcasts in 4K Ultra HD — that’s seriously high definition. In addition, Golden 1 Center has more than 600 HD displays and free Wi-Fi throughout the venue with speeds that are 17,000 times faster then those obtained via the average home network.

9. Ericsson Globe – Stockholm, Sweden

It’s hard to miss this distinctive stadium in Stockholm, Sweden. Ericsson Globe is the national indoor arena of the country and it’s also the world’s largest hemispherical building — picture of huge dome with a diameter of 360 feet. Because of the excellent tech integrated into the venue it often hosts concerts and large events, such as Eurovision. When performers aren’t on the stage in the venue, it serves as an ice hockey arena with a capacity of 13,850.

10. Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts

Gillette Stadium is often noted as being one of the most impressive in the NFL. The huge stadium has a grand entrance that’s notably distinguished and includes a bridge and a lighthouse, both of which have been incorporated into the stadium’s logo. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft worked very closely with the stadium’s designer, Populous, to ensure that his vision for the stadium would come to fruition — the team really hit the mark with the finished design.

The venue has a capacity to seat 68,756 guests, 87 luxury suites, and 6,000 club seats. Super high definition Daktronic screens serve as displays, and for awhile these screens were the second largest video monitors in any NFL stadium. The tech in this venue is not only used to provide fans an awesome experience, it also helps it run efficiently. As it stands, Gillette Stadium has the best food safety record of any venue in the NFL with absolutely no critical violations.

Because everything is so streamlined, stadium management is able to run an in-house food and beverage service rather than outsourcing like most other sports stadiums do.