World Stadium Index
(The project was concluded in 2012)
The objective of the project has been to investigate the use of the mega-event stadiums after the event to see which stadiums can be called a success and which stand empty after the event, becoming a financial burden for their owners.
The report investigates the use of mega-event stadiums from around the world, and creates an index which makes it possible to compare stadiums.
It covers stadiums built or renovated during the period of 1996-2010 for
- Olympic Games
- Commonwealth Games
- Pan-American Games
- Asian Games
- All-Africa Games
- FIFA World Cups (1998 excluded)
- UEFA European Championships
- Africa Cup of Nations
The project has created a stadium index by dividing the attendance figures by the stadiums’ capacities. That makes it possible to compare the stadiums included in the study in a simple manner.
The index has also made it possible to visualise the state of each stadium built or renovated for particular events and compare and examine the events to determine which types of events have been most successful in terms of sporting legacy.
Find out more about the project
The objective of the project has been to investigate the use of the stadiums after the event to see which mega-event stadiums can be called a success and which stand empty after the event, becoming a financial burden for their owners.
By pointing out that the promised sporting legacy is not always achieved, the project seeks to ignite a debate on the thoughtless waste of resources by many host countries and cities, who forget to take local needs into account before venturing into great construction projects.
Instead, they customise their stadiums according to the requirements of the major sports organisations such as the IOC, FIFA and UEFA, who on their side also need to add more importance to economic and social sustainability in their lists of requirements.
The report investigates the use of mega-event stadiums all over the world, and it covers stadiums and arenas which have been constructed or extensively renovated as part of a mega-event in the period from 1996-2010.
It includes the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, Asian Games, All-Africa Games, the FIFA World Cup (1998 excluded), UEFA European Championships and the Africa Cup of Nations.
The study has collected factual data about construction costs, capacity, cost per seat, number of spectators in 2010, ownership, and number of events in order to evaluate each stadium.
The information has been gathered using internet sources, and direct enquiries to the responsible parties and local informants in the different countries covered.
The main variable in the report is the number of spectators per season/year.
By dividing the attendance figures by the stadiums’ capacities, the project has created an index that makes it possible to compare the stadiums included in the study in a simple manner.
The index has also made it possible to visualise the state of each stadium built or renovated for particular events and compare and examine the events to determine which types of events have been most successful in terms of sporting legacy.
