Top five largest hockey stadiums in the world

These scenic hockey grounds are sublime pieces of architecture.

Modern hockey stadiums need to have all amenities required by the players and spectators included. They need to have proper passageways, restrooms, dressing rooms, cafeteria and so on. Most importantly, a stadium needs to have a proper turf to play the game. Apart from that, it needs to be big enough to accommodate a decent crowd. This is because at the end of the day, it's the crowd and their cheering that makes a game exhilarating.

Here are the top five largest hockey stadiums in the world right now.

5. Hellnikon Olympic Hockey Centre (15,000 spectators)

Considered to be one of the most famous hockey centres in the world, it is located at the Hellnikon Olympic Complex in Athens, Greece. It consists of two hockey fields. The stadium opened on August 11, 2004, shortly before the beginning of the Olympic Games.

It has hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics and also the 2004 Summer Paralympics. Initially, it could hold around 7,000 and 2,000 spectators in the larger and smaller stadiums respectively. After further expansion, it can now accommodate around 15,000 people. This makes it one of the largest hockey stadiums in the world.

4. Herndon Stadium (15,000 spectators)

Herndon Stadium is the famous venue which hosted the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It gets its name from African-American entrepreneur Alonzo Franklin Herdon. Built in 1948, it is the only two-sided stadium at the Atlanta University Centre.

The stadium was the native centre for the former Atlanta Beat women’s football club of the defunct WUSA league. With a field size of 68 yards wide and 110 yards long and a capacity of over 15,000, it is currently one of the largest hockey stadiums in the world. The former home of the USA men's and women's hockey team, the stadium now lies defunct.

3. Olympic Green Hockey Field (17,000 spectators)

This Olympic Green Hockey Field in China is one of the most beautiful stadiums. This hockey field had the honour of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Along with that, it has also hosted five-a-side and seven-a-side tournament at the Paralympics.

It covers about 12 hectares of land and holds a total of about 17,000 spectators. It serves as the home ground for China's men's and women's field hockey teams.

2. Riverbank Arena (20,000 spectators)

The Riverbank Arena is based at the Olympic Park in Hackney Wick, London.It is one of the most expensive stadiums with a budget of around €19m.

One of the largest hockey stadiums in the world, it has a total capacity of 20,000. It played host to the field hockey tournament at the 2012 London Olympics . The arena also hosted the Summer Paralympics in 2012. It is also the home venue for the Great Britain and England national hockey teams.

1. Weingart Stadium (22,000)

The Weingart Stadium was built with a whooping budget of $3.1m in the 1950's. Formerly known as the East Los Angeles College Stadium or ELAC Stadium, it was renamed after philanthropist Ben Weingart.

The Weingart Stadium saw the most extravagant expense in construction at the time. This California-based stadium can accommodate over 22,000 visitors. Moreover, it also hosted the 1984 Olympic field hockey tournament, where the US women's hockey team won a bronze. The Weingart Stadium has also featured in films like The Dark Knight Rises and Forrest Gump. It also serves as the home ground of the USA men's and women's hockey teams.

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