Why U.S. College Stadiums Tower Over Europe | JQJO

The Athletic’s stadium rankings explain why U.S. college football venues dwarf most others: early 20th-century building booms, postwar southern expansion, and relentless competition for seats. Programs from Michigan to Tennessee prioritized capacity, while NFL teams pursued amenities and Europe faced land, cost and safety limits. The result: college stadiums account for eight of the world’s 10 largest. Visitors like actor Stephen Fry and Australia-born Georgia punter Brett Thorson marvel at the size and deafening noise, a spectacle echoed by writer George Somerville after visits to Alabama and LSU.