Built for Glory, Now Forgotten: 10 Stadiums That Were Only Used Once

They were meant to impress the world. Now they sit almost empty.
Billions were spent — but for what?

Here are 10 stadiums that were built or massively renovated for a single tournament or event, but have since fallen into disuse, are barely used, or were even dismantled.

1. Arena da Amazônia – Manaus, Brazil 🇧🇷

• Capacity: 44,300
• Built for: 2014 FIFA World Cup
• Status: A stunning jungle stadium with no major football team in the region. Rarely used, extremely costly to maintain, and almost always empty.

2. Stadium 974 – Doha, Qatar 🇶🇦

• Capacity: 40,000
• Built for: 2022 FIFA World Cup
• Status: It was said to be dismantled after the World Cup — the first temporary stadium in history. It was used only once and is now covered in dust.

3. Olympic Stadium – Athens, Greece 🇬🇷

• Capacity: 69,000
• Built for: 2004 Olympics
• Status: Hosted opening/closing ceremonies and athletics events. Since then, little use. Most Olympic venues in Athens are now overgrown or abandoned.

4. Education City Stadium – Al Rayyan, Qatar 🇶🇦

• Capacity: 40,000
• Built for: 2022 FIFA World Cup
• Status: Called the “Diamond in the Desert,” it was meant to be a hub for university and community use. Since the World Cup, it has seen minimal activity and has no club tenant.

5. Bird’s Nest Stadium – Beijing, China 🇨🇳

• Capacity: 80,000
• Built for: 2008 Summer Olympics
• Status: An architectural marvel that turned into a tourist site. No football club or athletic team plays there regularly.

6. Al Thumama Stadium – Doha, Qatar 🇶🇦

• Capacity: 40,000
• Built for: 2022 FIFA World Cup
• Status: Used for 8 World Cup matches. Future use is uncertain. Like many Qatar venues, it has no permanent tenant and sees minimal activity.

7. Estádio Municipal de Coimbra – Portugal 🇵🇹

• Capacity: 30,000
• Built for: UEFA Euro 2004
• Status: Now used by a lower-division club with tiny crowds. The stadium remains mostly empty.

8. Olympic Stadium – Montreal, Canada 🇨🇦

• Capacity: 56,000
• Built for: 1976 Olympics
• Status: No permanent tenant. Nicknamed “The Big Owe” due to massive cost overruns. Hosts occasional events but mostly sits empty.

9. Itaipava Arena Pernambuco – Recife, Brazil 🇧🇷

• Capacity: 46,000
• Built for: 2014 FIFA World Cup
• Status: No top-flight team uses it. Expensive to maintain, rarely full.

10. Arena das Dunas – Natal, Brazil 🇧🇷

• Capacity: 32,000
• Built for: 2014 FIFA World Cup
• Status: No big matches, no tenant, and rarely used. A stadium that looks beautiful but barely serves a purpose today.

Many of these stadiums are architectural gems that became ghosts shortly after their moment of fame. It’s a massive warning about what happens when short-term glory overshadows long-term planning.