A stadium should not only reflect the club that occupy it but also the local community that it encompasses. The name of a stadium is probably one of the most important aspects because it sets a tone for the fans and visiting teams. We at Sport.co.uk wanted to find some of the more amusing monikers that are more likely to have opposition in stitches than filled with trepidation.
10) Quicken Loans Arena (NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers)
More of a statement than a stadium name. This 20,562 capacity stadium has had a host of residents inside her over the years. The reason for the rather quick turnover of tenants is unknown, but nicknaming it ‘The Q’ probably doesn’t help.
9) Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (MLS’s Colorado Rapids)
The beauty of this stadium name is its deception. Rival MLS teams go thinking that they will be indulging in a bit of retail therapy when in actual fact they have come to play a hard game of football.
8) Easy Credit Stadium (German Bundesliga’s FC Nuremberg)
In deepest, darkest Bavaria dwells the Bundesliga that is simply known as ‘Der Club’. Where, coincidently, you can consolidate all your loans into one easily payable lump sum. A fine example of German efficiency, you go watch the game and at half time you can quickly reduce your monthly outgoings in order to improve your finances.
7) Minute Maid Park (MLB’s Houston Astros)
Opposition are always wary of getting squeezed and squashed at The Juice Box. It would not surprise me if the Astros were paid in gallons of fruit juice to have to put up with this dubious stadium name.
6) Jobing.com Arena (NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes)
Sounds more like a mucky porn site than a venue for sport. This stadium seems to have attempted to combine the two favourite male past times.
5) Heinz Field (NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers)
What can only be described as advertising gone wrong. The image that springs to my mind is of a group of beefy American football players getting indiscriminately smeared with an assortment of condiments while frolicking in a blossoming meadow.
4) Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium (Austrian Bundesliga’s SK Sturm Graz)
The Governor of California’s crowning glory was probably in 1997 when his hometown of Graz honoured its most celebrated son by naming their stadium after him. However, Sturm Graz renamed their stadium the UPC Arena in 2005, but, it is common knowledge that he’ll be back.
3) Kuntz Stadium (WPSL’s FC Indiana)
Home to the Indiana women’s soccer team, lovingly known as the Lionesses, or if you have an aversion to them, the... (Clue is in the stadium name)
2) Gaylord Entertainment Center (NHL’s Nashville Predators)
The team wanted a stadium name that was fabulous and instilled pride whenever it was uttered. I don’t think this is what they had in mind. The owner was forced to rename the stadium the Sonnet Center as the crowds that came were certainly not there for the ice hockey.
1) Wankdorf Stadium (Swiss Super League’s Young Boys)
As if having a dodgy team name is not enough, the club managed to add insult to injury by christening their stadium the Wankdorf. The construction of the stadium prompted the two best headlines on ESPN Soccernet: “Young Boys Wankdorf erection woe” and “Young Boys Wankdorf erection relief”.