The 16 Most Expensive Stadiums Ever, Ranked

Manchester United, the British soccer giant, plans to replace its 115-year-old Old Trafford with a cutting-edge 100,000-seat stadium. Designed by renowned architect Norman Foster’s firm, the $2.6 billion project, set to open within five years, ranks among the costliest sports venues globally.

Stadium projects, however, often face delays and budget overruns, regardless of the sport. From NFL behemoths in the US to Premier League landmarks and Olympic spectacles, explore the 16 most expensive stadiums worldwide, ranked by total cost. We also uncover who funded them and whether they met their timelines and budgets.

16. Bramley-Moore Dock, UK: $1 billion

Everton Football Club’s new 52,000-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool, England, transformed an abandoned site into a futuristic venue for Premier League games, megastar music tours, and cultural events. 

The project, completed in late 2024, faced significant challenges due to the dock’s historic status and coastal location. Preservation efforts for the dock walls and rail tracks cost $71 million, while dredging operations sourced sand from the Irish Sea for infill. Two porpoises were relocated before sealing the dock, and the Royal Navy cleared 12 unexploded WWII bombs.

Originally budgeted at $650 million, the project’s cost ballooned to $1 billion due to escalating supply chain expenses, with $20 million funded publicly. Construction began in 2021 and finished on schedule. Everton’s first match at the stadium is set for August, but fans got a preview on February 17, 2025, during a friendly between Everton and Wigan Athletic Under-18s.

15. Lucas Oil Stadium, USA: $1.06 billion

Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, cost $720 million when built in 2008, equivalent to $1.06 billion today, ranking it among the world’s priciest sports venues. Funded by the State of Indiana, City of Indianapolis, and the Colts, construction began in 2005 next to the former RCA Dome.

 The stadium boasts a retractable roof, retractable windows offering city skyline views, and a brick façade nodding to local heritage. Upgrades include luxury suites and club seats. Beyond football, it has hosted concerts like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the 2024 US Olympic swimming trials with a temporary Olympic-sized pool.

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14. Arena BRB Mané Garrincha, Brazil: $1.2 billion

Originally named Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, this Brasilia-based multi-purpose stadium was built in 1974 and underwent a major renovation to host the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup. The rebuild, initially budgeted at $500 million, ballooned to $900 million (about $1.2 billion today) due to delays and poor planning. 

With a capacity of 72,000, Brazil’s largest stadium has hosted significant events, including soccer matches for the 2016 Olympics and 2021 Copa América, alongside major concerts. However, the publicly funded venue faces criticism for being underutilized, as local teams struggle to fill seats and generate sufficient revenue.

13. Singapore Sports Hub, Singapore: $1.3 billion

Opened in 1973, Singapore’s National Stadium was a pioneering sports facility with an eight-lane track, soccer field, and air-conditioned squash courts. By the 2000s, it required modernization, leading to its demolition in 2010. 

A new integrated Sports Hub was constructed to promote health and community engagement, hosting both professional and local events. Originally planned for 2008, construction was delayed by the global financial crisis, breaking ground in 2010 and completing in 2014. Built through a public-private partnership, the project cost S$1.3 billion (approximately $1.3 billion, inflation-adjusted).

The 55,000-capacity stadium faced early criticism for its poor pitch, prompting costly upgrades with artificial fibers and specialized grow lights. Now, it successfully hosts rugby, cricket, concerts, and national and community events.

 

12. U.S. Bank Stadium, USA: $1.46 billion

The Minnesota Vikings, long-time tenants of Minneapolis’ Metrodome alongside the Minnesota Twins, faced challenges with the stadium’s air-supported roof, which famously collapsed during a 2010 blizzard. In 2012, the Minnesota Legislature and Minneapolis City Council approved a $975 million replacement stadium. Construction began in 2013 and finished in 2015, slightly over budget at $1.1 billion ($1.46 billion today).

Designed to resemble a Viking longboat, the stadium features a weatherproof, translucent roof that allows natural light but prevents snow accumulation. However, the project faced criticism: only about a third of Minnesotans supported public funding, and environmentalists raised concerns about the glass facade, which kills at least 100 birds annually due to collisions. A proposed $1.1 million bird-safe glass alternative was deemed too costly.

Despite controversies, U.S. Bank Stadium has been a hit with fans, earning the NFL’s top game-day experience rating in 2024.

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11. AT&T Stadium, USA: $1.7 billion

The Dallas Cowboys, an NFL icon, play not in Dallas but in Arlington, Texas. With their Texas Stadium lease nearing its 2008 end, the team aimed to build a state-of-the-art venue for the 2009 season, capable of hosting major events like the Super Bowl.

In April 2004, a $650 million Dallas stadium was proposed, with taxpayers covering $425 million. The plan was rejected. By June, Arlington agreed to contribute $325 million—half the cost—while the Cowboys and a $150 million NFL loan covered the rest. Construction began in 2006, but costs ballooned to $1.15 billion by completion, equivalent to $1.7 billion in 2025.

AT&T Stadium is a spectacle, seating 80,000 (expandable to 105,000), featuring the world’s largest Jumbotron, a retractable roof, luxury suites, plush seating, and an art collection. Beyond Cowboys games, it hosts diverse events, including the 2024 Tyson-Paul boxing match. A $295 million renovation is underway for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

10. Levi’s Stadium, USA: $1.74 billion

The San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium faced a long road to replace Candlestick Park. After nearly a decade of stalled talks, the team shifted focus in 2006 to Santa Clara, 40 miles south. Agreements allowed the team to retain "San Francisco" in its name without taxpayer funding. 

A June 2010 ballot measure passed with 58% support, and construction began in April 2012. Completed on time and on budget in 2014 for $1.3 billion ($1.74 billion today), the 68,500-seat stadium was the first new NFL stadium to earn LEED Gold certification, featuring recycled materials, solar panels, and a green roof with native Bay Area plants.

Post-opening challenges included heat exhaustion for fans on the unshaded eastern side, with no feasible way to add sunshades due to height restrictions near San Jose airport. Pilots also reported being blinded by stadium lights during night games in 2015. Despite these issues, 97% of 49ers season ticket holders renewed over the first four years. Levi’s Stadium has since hosted diverse events, including concerts, FIFA and MLS games, motocross, and monster truck rallies.

9. Wembley Stadium, UK: $1.8 billion

Wembley Stadium in North London, opened in 2007, cost over $1 billion to build, equivalent to $1.8 billion in 2025. Initially budgeted at $435.3 million in 2000 ($788 million today), construction faced delays due to financing issues and defective sewer pipes, inflating costs. Public funding covered $214.7 million ($345 million today), and the stadium opened a year late.

With a capacity of 90,000, Europe’s largest stadium hosts major sporting events and concerts and served as a temporary home for Tottenham Hotspur. In 2018, the Football Association considered selling it to Shahid Khan for $800 million ($994 million today), but the deal collapsed. By the end of 2024, the stadium’s construction loans were fully repaid.

7. Santiago Bernabeu, Spain: $1.9 billion

The Santiago Bernabeu, home to Real Madrid, is nearing completion of a four-year, $1.9 billion renovation. The project, set to finish this year, will expand capacity from 81,000 to 85,000 seats. Approved in 2011 and started in 2019, the upgrade faced delays due to COVID-19 and the Ukraine war, pushing completion from 2022.

The revamped stadium boasts a modern façade, a retractable roof, and new amenities, including a luxury hotel and shopping mall, aiming to attract tourists beyond soccer fans. In 2025, it will host an NFL game featuring the Miami Dolphins. Real Madrid played at the Bernabeu during most of the renovation, except from March 2020 to September 2021.

7. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, UK: $1.9 billion

The Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur relocated to their new stadium in 2019, replacing White Hart Lane at a cost of $1.5 billion ($1.9 billion in 2025). Although construction took three years, with the team temporarily playing at Wembley Stadium, plans for a new venue began two decades earlier. Options like taking over London’s Olympic Stadium were considered but rejected due to fan backlash, despite potential savings.

In 2011, the club gained approval for a privately-funded stadium next to White Hart Lane, with construction starting in 2015. Designed to maximize revenue, the stadium features a microbrewery, heated seats, and a retractable artificial turf for NFL games, making it the first purpose-built NFL stadium outside the US. It hosts at least two NFL games annually.

With a 62,850-seat capacity for concerts, it’s London’s largest club stadium, attracting major acts like Beyoncé, who will perform six shows there this summer.

6. Intuit Dome, USA: $2 billion

Los Angeles hosts two NBA teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers, both of which relocated to the city through various sales. The Clippers, long considered underachievers, transformed after billionaire Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, acquired the team in 2014, ushering in a new era of success.  

Previously sharing Cryptocom Arena (formerly Staples Center) with the Lakers, the Clippers, under Ballmer’s ownership, built their own arena in Inglewood. Initially budgeted at $1.2 billion in September 2021, post-COVID inflation drove costs to $2 billion, making the 18,000-seat Intuit Dome one of the world’s priciest stadiums, yet among the smallest on this list.  

The state-of-the-art venue features facial recognition ticketing, a massive encircling 'halo' scoreboard, luxury suites, and sustainable elements like solar panels and heat pumps.

5. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, USA: $2.1 billion

Opened in 1992, the Georgia Dome was once the world’s largest covered stadium, hosting the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, Georgia State University’s football team, and the Peach Bowl for 25 years. By the 2010s, it no longer met Super Bowl hosting standards. 

To replace it, construction on the 72,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium began in 2014, funded partly by $200 million in public money. Completed in 2017 for $1.6 billion ($2.1 billion in 2025 dollars), the new stadium is shown alongside the Georgia Dome before its demolition.

The project sparked controversy in its economically challenged neighborhood, with fears of gentrification as investors acquired nearby land. In 2017, residents sued the Falcons over $26 million in unpaid property taxes, a case later dismissed by the state supreme court.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts diverse events, from sports to concerts, and features advanced technology like facial recognition for ticketless entry and checkout-free concessions, alongside strong sustainability credentials.

4. Allegiant Stadium, USA: $2.3 billion

The NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, formerly the Oakland Raiders, have a history of relocation, moving from Oakland to Los Angeles in the 1980s, back to Oakland in 1995, and finally to Las Vegas in 2019. Their new home, Allegiant Stadium, replaced a shared facility with the Oakland Athletics, built with $750 million in public funds. Completed in 2020 for $1.9 billion (equivalent to $2.3 billion today), the stadium was delivered on time and on budget.  

Designed with a glass roof for sun protection, entertainment lounges, a nightclub, and massive doors opening to the Las Vegas Strip, the stadium offers all-day fan experiences. Its black façade with silver lighting reflects the Raiders’ brand. The 65,000-seat venue features a retractable grass field and can expand by 7,000 seats for non-game events like concerts. In 2023, it earned over $70 million from non-NFL events, outperforming all other NFL stadiums.

3. MetLife Stadium, USA: $2.3 billion

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium serves as the shared home of the New York Jets and Giants, two NFL rivals. Opened in 2010, the teams equally funded the $1.6 billion construction cost ($2.3 billion today) to replace Giants Stadium. Designed for dual use, it features 10,000 club seats, 200 luxury suites, and team-specific colored lighting and video displays. Located 5 miles from New York City, the 82,500-seat venue hosts major sports events and blockbuster concerts.  

In 2025, a $14 million renovation will remove 2,000 seats to expand the field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the final.

2. Yankee Stadium, USA: $3.4 billion

 Located across the Hudson River, Yankee Stadium opened in 2009, costing $2.3 billion (equivalent to $3.4 billion today). It replaced the 1923 original (shown top left) and serves as the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees.

Public funds covered roughly $1.2 billion of the 47,400-seat stadium’s cost, per the New York Times. Initially budgeted at $1.3 billion in 2006, expenses ballooned 30% within two years. The city, having issued $942 million in bonds, sold an additional $350 million in tax-free municipal bonds to bridge the gap. The only baseball stadium on this list, it’s the second priciest ever built and primarily functions as a ballpark, hosting 81 MLB home games per season, plus playoffs.

While it has occasionally hosted Major League Soccer and college sports, it’s not suited for major entertainment events. A true sports venue, it offers tours and houses the New York Yankees Museum.

1. SoFi Stadium, USA: $6.8 billion

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the priciest stadium ever constructed, serves as a shared NFL home for the LA Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Initially planned as a $5.5 billion privately funded project for the Rams alone, costs ballooned to $6.8 billion with inflation—nearly double the original estimate.

Construction began in 2016, targeting a three-year timeline, but heavy rainfall delayed the opening to 2020. As the NFL’s largest venue, the 70,200-seat stadium can expand to over 100,000 and boasts 260 luxury suites, making it a hub for major events like the Super Bowl, concerts, and more.

Its high cost stems from innovative engineering, including a field sunken into the ground for seismic protection and a free-standing roof supported by 37 earthquake-resistant columns. A massive double-sided video screen hangs above the field, doubling as a rooftop display visible to passengers flying in and out of nearby LAX airport.