Whether it is football, basketball, ski jumping or any other sport, stadiums are built for people. For thousands of supporters sharing the same passion, creating memories and experiencing moments they will remember forever. 

But what happens when the people disappear?

Empty terraces, overgrown pitches and silent stands. Places that were once filled with thousands of voices slowly become forgotten. Every stadium has its own story. Some are full of glory, others marked by difficult periods, but behind every ground there is a history of famous matches, unforgettable nights and generations of supporters who called that place home. 

Sadly, not every stadium survives the test of time. Some are left behind because of financial problems, others because of poor management, or simply relocation. 

Even defining an abandoned stadium is not that simple. Not all of these places are completely abandoned. Some still have a purpose, whether for youth teams, training sessions, athletics clubs, or other local activities. Maybe a better description for many of them would simply be forgotten grounds. They are not always empty, but they all have one thing in common: they are no longer what they used to be. 

What makes abandoned grounds so interesting is not only the stadium itself, but the story behind it. Why was it built? How did thousands of people once fill these stands? What happens when everything changes?

One of the best examples is Stadion Za Lužankami in Brno. A 50,000-capacity stadium that has been abandoned for more than 20 years. It still holds all ten of the highest attendance records in Czech league history, while during Brno’s most successful seasons their crowds regularly exceeded those of all top-flight Prague clubs combined. We visited it twice and covered the full story in Photo Curva Vol.3. 

Another incredible example we explored was in Armenia. An even bigger stadium, where crowds of 70,000 people once gathered. Back in the 1970s, Hrazdan Stadium was home to the golden era of Armenian football, hosting major European Cup nights with Ararat Yerevan. Decades later, attempts were made to keep the stadium alive, including the installation of new seats in 2008. However, no official match has been played there since 2016.

Where Families Bond

But we are definitely not the only ones fascinated by abandoned grounds. Mario from the Instagram profile @Manzicalcio shares the same passion. His fascination goes beyond empty concrete and old terraces.

“I’ve always loved history, so visiting these places and imagining what they were like at their peak is something really special to me. Stadiums are about far more than just football. They’re places where families bond, where communities come together, and where people escape from everyday life for 90 minutes.” And that is probably the reason why abandoned grounds attract so many people. 

His journey into abandoned grounds started in Debrecen and continued at the abandoned Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. “That video really took off, and since then I’ve continued documenting abandoned football grounds. It’s now become the most successful series on my page.”

Eastern European Paradise

What is especially interesting is that almost every country has a hidden gem waiting somewhere. Just last month, we travelled around Georgia and discovered two incredible old-school stadiums in Tkibuli and Chiatura. Absolutely no commercial purpose around the stadiums, just pure football.

Sometimes you are not even looking for one. You simply find something unbelievable, as was the case when we stumbled upon a giant 55,000-capacity stadium in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 

Stadium Turned Into Cemetery

The most unique story we found was definitely in Porto Alegre, not far from the abandoned Olímpico, the former home of Gremio. Hidden there is the old Estadio da Montanha, once the home of Cruzeiro de Porto Alegre, a club that today plays in the third tier of Brazilian football. Until this point, nothing unusual. Another old stadium left behind. But the story took a completely different turn when the land was sold to a cemetery company. During the construction of the new cemetery, demolishing the north stand proved too expensive, so part of the old terrace was simply left standing

Everyone has their favourite forgotten stadium. For us, it will probably always be Za Lužakami in Brno. For Mario, another Czech stadium stands out: “My favourite ground I’ve visited so far is Stadion Evžena Rošickeho. What makes it so special is that it’s still almost completely intact yet simply been left untouched for the last four years. It’s a proper old-school stadium with loads of character, but because the pitch, terraces and stands have all been left to deteriorate, it almost feels post-apocalyptic.”

Abandoned stadiums are not something football should celebrate. These places were built for people. The best possible outcome is always to see them renovated and brought back to life. That should be done without erasing their identity and history.

But there is something special about old grounds. Every stadium had its own character. Different stands, unusual designs, strange shapes and sometimes just incredible floodlights towering above the pitch. Unfortunately, new stadiums are rarely built like that anymore. Modern arenas are becoming more and more similar.

Of course, a new stadium outside the city with thousands of parking spaces is practical and comfortable. But too often, something gets lost along the way. The soul.