The small clubs with big grounds thread!

[Big Geordie]

Been thinking about this for a few days and thought I would throw it open on here. Can you name any clubs which have huge stadia in comparison to the size of the club? A few off the top of my head;

Queens Park - Hampden Park (50000+) Amateur Club playing in the home of Scottish football

Darlington - The Reyonds Arena (or whatever it is now - 25000) White elephant of a stadium that could well end up causing the death of the club

Bari - San Nicola (50000+) Built for Italia 90, but since then has rarely, if ever been full.

Any others worth a mention across the globe?

[phnompenhandy]

Gateshead play in a stadium built for the Commonwealth games or something.

[Things Could Get Messi]

There are numerous club's in Germany with 30k plus stadiums outside the top division including Aachen (32960), Dresden (32,066), Frankfurt (51,500), Dusseldorf (54,400) and 1860 Munich (69,000).

In England you can also name Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United in League 1.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Queen's Park are a special case.
Bari used to be in Serie A for many years.

Darlington I'll give you, they built a stadium far too big for their needs. They would have to win promotion to the Premier League to come close to filling it and that's a couple of leagues higher than they've ever been.

You could perhaps say Milton Keynes Dons... but then their stadium hasn't actually been finished.

[Nobby_McDonald]

There are numerous club's in Germany with 30k plus stadiums outside the top division including Aachen (32960), Dresden (32,066), Frankfurt (51,500), Dusseldorf (54,400) and 1860 Munich (69,000).

In England you can also name Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United in League 1.

Frankfurt and Dusseldorf were in the top division for a long time. 1860 Munich (used to?) ground share with Bayern.
You can't really call the Sheffield teams small either, they are just in a bit of a slump the past few years. They'll come back in time.

[Things Could Get Messi]

It wasn't clear what exactly the OP meant by the word 'small'. He named Bari which suggested to me he just wanted clubs outside the top division in their country.

[stevvy]

Queens Park - Hampden Park (50000+) Amateur Club playing in the home of Scottish football

That 1 has never made sense to me. How did that even end up happening? Got to be a bit freaky playing in a 50k+ stadium with what's probably just a few hundred people there.

[bjoggi33]

RB Leipzig, 44.345k. They play in the Regionalliga in Germany which is unplayable in FM.

[Larsson#1]

That 1 has never made sense to me. How did that even end up happening? Got to be a bit freaky playing in a 50k+ stadium with what's probably just a few hundred people there.

Because they are Scotland's oldest team. When it was built they were a much bigger team, but because of there strict amateur policy they obviously can't compete at the top level anymore. It's also our national Stadium so the SFA pay to maintain it i imagine which allows them to keep playing in it.

[rancer890]

Beijing Guo'an FC in China play in the Workers Stadium with 65k+ capacity, and were supposed to play in the Bird's Nest as well, although the stadium is more than half empty most games.

[Barside]

That 1 has never made sense to me. How did that even end up happening? Got to be a bit freaky playing in a 50k+ stadium with what's probably just a few hundred people there.

Hampden is no stranger than the English FA having Wembley, I can't think of too many other international grounds outside the UK that does not have a resident club using it as their home stadium.

[PenS66]

RB Leipzig, 44.345k.

You should add: They play fourth tier (Regionalliga) and have never been higher.

[19052000]

Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor (Istanbul B.B) in the Turkish Super League - they play their games at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium (Capacity 76k) due to being the team of the Istanbul Metropolitan Council and not having a suitable ground of their own. They were only formed in 1990, don't have a natural fanbase in a city with established three larger clubs and a host of established smaller clubs and as a consequence tend to play their home games in front of about 70 odd thousand empty seats! The only exception being when they play one of the big three Istanbul teams at home.

[nine_iron]

Grimsby, I only went to one game, I had to use a megaphone to ask the guy sitting next to me if he was enjoying the game too

[chile_paul]

Not stricly in the game, but can be activated in the Editor (as per my game at the minute) the mighty Pyongyang City of North Korea play in a massive 100,000 seater stadium and regularly receive attendances of 1,500!!!!

Those crazy North Koreans!!!

[CrD]

Grimsby, I only went to one game, I had to use a megaphone to ask the guy sitting next to me if he was enjoying the game too

Made me laugh

[dafuge]

East Bengal along with a few other clubs in India share the 120000 capacity Salt Lake Stadium.

[Robsy1990]

I was gonna say that practically every team in North Korea has a huge stadium, the Kim Il-Sung one springs to mind which is 50,000; I think either April.25 Sports Club or Pyongyang City play there. Not sure if the 100,000 capacity one, used for the mass games, is used for football. Maybe for internationals?

RB Leipzig is a good one, anyone know what their average attendance is? I used to play for the reserve side of a semi-pro German club (SC Herford) and they have a stadium that can hold almost 20,000, think quite a few small German clubs have big stadiums. And yes, 1860 Munich still groundshare with Bayern.

I'd have thought there would be some examples in Brazil, but I'm not as knowledgeable about their football as North Korea or Germany's

[nine_iron]

Made me laugh

Grimsby is also the only stadium where the odds for winning the half time lucky draw is 50/50






I'll get my coat

[PenS66]

RB Leipzig is a good one, anyone know what their average attendance is? I used to play for the reserve side of a semi-pro German club (SC Herford) and they have a stadium that can hold almost 20,000, think quite a few small German clubs have big stadiums. And yes, 1860 Munich still groundshare with Bayern.

Leipzig had an average of over 9000 for the first half of this season. Impressive I'd say.
By the way: 1860 still goundshare with Bayern, but Bayern now own the arena completely and should have repaid all the loans in five or six years. Then they're gonna invest in the team big time!!

[Edinton]

Frankfurt and Dusseldorf were in the top division for a long time. 1860 Munich (used to?) ground share with Bayern.
You can't really call the Sheffield teams small either, they are just in a bit of a slump the past few years. They'll come back in time.

I'm playing as Dusseldorf at the moment - started unemployed and got offered the job about 14 games into the season - couldn't believe my luck with the standard and size of the stadium they have! It even has a retractable roof...

To be fair, they've been all the way down to the regional divisions in the last couple of years so they're not the force they were 30 or 40 years ago by any means. Not until I get them promoted of course...

[phnompenhandy]

Ah, I knew I'd come across this topic in The Guardian before - here it is in all it's glory:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...tion-knowledge

[BiggusD]

Bradford League Two with 26000, Telford has 11000 in BSP? (not sure). Las Palmas 30000 in Liga Adelante. Many big stadiums in The Championship. River Plate in Argentina?

There are plenty of these in all the big football nations.

[Eugene Tyson]

Started a game with Santo Andre of Brazil Third Division. With a crowd of 1,500 each week, their 18,000 seater stadium was a bit empty.

But I got them to the top of Brazil and filled all those seats eventually

[Barside]

Vila Nova (GO) play in a 50,000 seat stadium & iirc from my FM08 days average attendances were in the low 000's

[Lower Leagues Rule]

Como in Serie C2, Real Oviedo in Spanish Second Div B both have reasonably large sized stadiums.

[nine_iron]

For my custom Linconshire Database I have noticed many clubs that are down in the lowest leagues in the game having 4k plus stadia, this is leaving with with most clubs getting less than 30% of capacity. In the lowest leagues i have seen clubs get 8% of capacity for 500 capacity stadia.

I wonder what is the most people you can get round a pitch and have everyone see, no stadia, just the green grass and one of those stringy rope things they use to keep the parents from intefering with the game.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Bradford League Two with 26000, Telford has 11000 in BSP? (not sure). Las Palmas 30000 in Liga Adelante. Many big stadiums in The Championship. River Plate in Argentina?

There are plenty of these in all the big football nations.

Bradford is the fifth biggest city in the country and the team was in the Premier League for a couple of seasons not too long ago. That said, they should be a bigger club than they are.
Telford's capacity is more like 6-7000 not 11,000.

[Nobby_McDonald]

That 1 has never made sense to me. How did that even end up happening? Got to be a bit freaky playing in a 50k+ stadium with what's probably just a few hundred people there.

Queen's Park own Hampden.

[Crispypaul]

Bradford is the fifth biggest city in the country

No it isn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_population

[BiggusD]

Bradford is the fifth biggest city in the country and the team was in the Premier League for a couple of seasons not too long ago. That said, they should be a bigger club than they are.
Telford's capacity is more like 6-7000 not 11,000.

Maybe it was Hereford I remembered having the biggest stadium in the BS leagues then. Bradford is a small club now - despite being a relatively big club a decade ago. Any club playing in League Two is a small club.

[scott MUFC]

leeds *runs*

[Chris M]

Bradford League Two with 26000, Telford has 11000 in BSP? (not sure). Las Palmas 30000 in Liga Adelante. Many big stadiums in The Championship. River Plate in Argentina?

There are plenty of these in all the big football nations.

River Plate may be many things, but a small club isn't one of them.

[RocheBag]

Not as crazy as some mentioned here but Paris FC play in France's 3rd division in a 20,000 seat stadium

[Dr. Hook]

No it isn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_population

If you look at metro area sizes, not just the city proper, then it is.

[Nobby_McDonald]

As Dr Hook said.

[Broloi]

Gl. Vejle Stadion - 15.000
Ikast Stadion - 15.000
They're both unused.

We've got Frederikshavn Stadion here in Denmark. The team (Frederikshavns forenede Idrætsklubber) is currently playing in Danmarksserien (inactive in FM) and the station capacity is 10.000

[BREAL]

Messina with a stadium of 40.200 seats, and they play in the Italian Serie D.
River AC in Brazil, they can hold 44.200 and in FM they only play in Campeonato Piauiense.

[bazfmmad]

Only because it includes Leeds...... 24th biggest in Europe with Leeds included.

Thats Bradford btw

[x42bn6]

Persija Jakarta play in the 88,000+ Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Indonesia, although they can get around 35,000+ at times when they play derbies (otherwise, attendances are usually around the 5,000-10,000 mark).

[css_matt]

Charlton
27,111

We also got planning permission for approx 45,000 (before we got relegated from the prem), I assume this is recognised in the game if you do well enough.

[nine_iron]

Gl. Vejle Stadion - 15.000
Ikast Stadion - 15.000
They're both unused.
0

I think they are both multisport venues, maybe unused for football but other things use them during the year.

[selcuk.fenerbahce]

istanbul büyükşehir belediyespor from turkish super league. municipality owns them so they got no fans no stadium so they play in that olimpic stadium liverpool won their milan CL final. 76.000 capacity. they get like 20-30 home fans every game

[Giggles]

If England's 2018 World Cup Bid was successful we would of had a 45k seater stadium.

[bellz2002]

Charlton
27,111

We also got planning permission for approx 45,000 (before we got relegated from the prem), I assume this is recognised in the game if you do well enough.

Hardly a small club (although technically Charlton itself is quite small). Capacity totally justifiable when in Prem. Same as both Sheffield teams, stadiums expanded to current size when in prime position. Could say the same about some current Prem teams if they ever drop down to lower leagues.

I've always thought Darlo's stadium too big when I saw them on tv highlights when in League 2. Hopefully they'll stave off closure.

[Broloi]

I think they are both multisport venues, maybe unused for football but other things use them during the year.

Both are old stations and the clubs decided to built new ones.

Vejle BK used to play at Gl. Vejle Stadion, but is now playing at Ny Vejle Stadion - Placed right next to the old one.
FC Midtjylland used to play at Ikast Stadion, but are now using SAS Arena.

The same goes for Gl. Fredericia Stadion, with a capacity of 10.000 - FC Fredericia wanted a new stadion and the old one is now unused.

[css_matt]

Hardly a small club (although technically Charlton itself is quite small). Capacity totally justifiable when in Prem. Same as both Sheffield teams, stadiums expanded to current size when in prime position. Could say the same about some current Prem teams if they ever drop down to lower leagues.

I've always thought Darlo's stadium too big when I saw them on tv highlights when in League 2. Hopefully they'll stave off closure.

Ye, thought id mention it though, because this year we are quite an interesting game.

- A good footballing team
- Stadium that holds 27k but only gets around 17k per game, can be expanded
- 2 leagues lower than where we should be
- Expected to get promoted, poor financial state

[Timma]

Maybe it was Hereford I remembered having the biggest stadium in the BS leagues then. Bradford is a small club now - despite being a relatively big club a decade ago. Any club playing in League Two is a small club.

Im pretty sure when we (Hereford) were in the Conference we didn't have the largest ground. In fact Halifax's (who we beat in the playoff final) capacity is about twice the size of Edgar Street.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Any club playing in League Two is a small club.

So if Manchester United ended up playing in League Two, would they then become a small club?

[BiggusD]

So if Manchester United ended up playing in League Two, would they then become a small club?

Of course they would. History is full of formerly big, now forgotten clubs.

[shirajzl]

There are quite a few clubs in German Regional Division with 20k+ stadium.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Of course they would. History is full of formerly big, now forgotten clubs.

I would only agree if they were to spend many seasons at that level. I can but hope!

[MartinGregory84]

Bradford is the fifth biggest city in the country and the team was in the Premier League for a couple of seasons not too long ago. That said, they should be a bigger club than they are.
Telford's capacity is more like 6-7000 not 11,000.

As a Bradford fan I can vouch our ground holds 25,250, The reason we are not a bigge club is because of this thread really lol

Our mad chairman spent 7.5m on a second tier and a corner for our main stand(where the 1985 fire stand was) which we obviously did not need.

THis and ITV Digital was the reason we went bust

We currently average 10k in League 2 which is still pretty good :-)

One day we will be back :-D

[philly_flyer10]

So if Manchester United ended up playing in League Two, would they then become a small club?

Yes, Do you consider Preston, Derby, Huddersfield or Burnley big clubs? They are all multiple title winning teams of the past.

[Lambo95]

Grimsby is also the only stadium where the odds for winning the half time lucky draw is 50/50






I'll get my coat

Not Wigan?

[Suge]

Vale have a capacity of almost 24,000 in League Two.
Darlington are another one, 25,000 in the Conference.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Yes, Do you consider Preston, Derby, Huddersfield or Burnley big clubs? They are all multiple title winning teams of the past.

They aren't big clubs... but look at it from the other side and there is no way you can call them small clubs either.

[BiggusD]

As a Bradford fan I can vouch our ground holds 25,250, The reason we are not a bigge club is because of this thread really lol

Our mad chairman spent 7.5m on a second tier and a corner for our main stand(where the 1985 fire stand was) which we obviously did not need.

THis and ITV Digital was the reason we went bust

We currently average 10k in League 2 which is still pretty good :-)

One day we will be back :-D

Already there in my save

[Quacky]

Austria Klagenfurt, starts in unplayable Austrian leagues.

32000 seater Hypo Arena built for Euro '08.