Most people think that around 130 to 135 decibels is the point where noise starts to hurt your hearing. So, what would we call someone who knowingly pays a lot of money to listen to that kind of noise for a long time?
The stadiums with the most noise in the world, measured by peak decibel levels, are:
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO, USA) – Holds the world record for the loudest stadium noise at 142.2 decibels, recorded in 2014 during an NFL game. This is louder than a jet engine and is known for its intense fan atmosphere.
- CenturyLink Field (Seattle, WA, USA) – Home of the Seattle Seahawks, reached 137.6 decibels in 2013. The stadium’s design amplifies crowd noise, making it one of the loudest in the world.
- Husky Stadium (Seattle, WA, USA) – Recorded 133.6 decibels in 1992, known for passionate college football fans.
- Memorial Stadium (Clemson, SC, USA) – Hit 132.8 decibels in 2007, another college football venue famous for loud crowds.
- Vodafone Park BJK Stadium (Istanbul, Turkey) – Reached 132 decibels in 2009, known for its vibrant soccer atmosphere.
- Türk Telekom Stadium (Istanbul, Turkey) – Recorded 131 decibels in 2011, once held the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd roar. The passionate Galatasaray fans create an intimidating environment.
Other notably loud stadiums include:
- Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina, USA) – Known for intense college football noise4.
- Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain) – Large soccer stadium with a passionate fanbase that creates a loud atmosphere.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, USA) – Known for high noise levels during NFL and soccer matches.
- FNB Stadium (Johannesburg, South Africa) – One of the loudest soccer stadiums globally due to fan energy.
- Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, USA) – Designed to trap sound and amplify crowd noise.
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid, Spain) – Historic soccer stadium with a strong fan atmosphere.
- Anfield (Liverpool, UK) – Famous for its electrifying crowd and chants, especially on European nights.
- Signal Iduna Park (Borussia Dortmund, Germany) – Known for the “Yellow Wall,” a massive standing terrace that amplifies noise.
These stadiums are known not only for their size but also for architectural features and fan passion that amplify noise to extreme levels, sometimes reaching or exceeding 130 decibels, which can be harmful to hearing without protection.
Everyone knows them as sports fans, and the more noise they make, the better their team is generally doing.
There is no one country, sport, or type of sports fan that has the loudest venues in the world. They cover the whole world, and when there’s a home game, they’re sure to break your eardrums. Here are some of the most noisy sports grounds from all over the world.
Minute Maid Park
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Houston Astros |
| Location | 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Opening Date | April 7, 2000 |
| Seating Capacity | Approximately 41,168 (varied slightly over years; around 41,000 since 2017) |
| Field Surface | Natural grass (Platinum TE Paspalum from Georgia) |
| Field Dimensions | Left Field: 315 ft Center Field: 409 ft (deepest in MLB) Right Field: 326 ft |
| Wall Heights | Left Field: 19-21 ft Center Field: 9-10 ft Right Field: 7 ft |
| Special Features | Retractable roof with translucent panels allowing natural light and skyline views |
| Crawford Boxes (left field seats at 315 ft, hitter-friendly) | |
| Tal’s Hill (30-degree incline in deep center field, removed after 2016) | |
| 125-foot tall flagpole in center field, in play | |
| Train station theme reflecting adjacent historic Union Station | |
| Seating Breakdown | Club seats: ~5,000+ Luxury suites: 63 Various seating sections including Diamond Club, Dugout, Field Boxes, Terrace Deck, Upper Deck, Outfield Deck |
| Total Size | Approx. 1.26 million sq. ft. (28.97 acres gross) |
| Architect | Populous (formerly HOK Sport) |
| Construction Cost | $250 million |
| Ownership | Harris County – Houston Sports Authority |
| Notable History | Originally named Enron Field (2000-2002), then Astros Field briefly, renamed Minute Maid Park in 2002 |
| Site incorporates historic Union Station building | |
| Hosted longest MLB game at the time in 2005 (18 innings) | |
| Additional Info | Extensive sound system with nearly 1,400 speaker cabinets throughout stadium |
| Retractable roof allows air conditioning and weather control |
Bottom line: I don’t like giving the Houston Astros credit for anything, especially for winning two World Series in the last six years, but you can’t deny how crazy Minute Maid Park gets when they play there. It’s crazy, and no list of the world’s loudest venues would be complete without this one.
It’s important to note that Minute Maid Park replaced the Astrodome, which was one of the most famous stadiums of all time. I would also put the Astrodome near the top of any list of the best stadiums ever.
Hampden Park
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Mount Florida, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55.825851° N, -4.253047° W |
| Opened | 31 October 1903 (current stadium) |
| Capacity | 51,866 |
| Primary Uses | Home of Scotland national football team and Queen’s Park F.C.; hosts Scottish Cup Final, concerts |
| Ownership | Scottish Football Association |
| Historic Significance | Oldest international football stadium in the world; iconic in football history |
| Record Attendance | 149,415 (Scotland vs England, 1937) – British record for any match |
| Major Events Hosted | 1960, 1976, 2002 UEFA Champions League/European Cup Finals; 2007 UEFA Cup Final; 2014 Commonwealth Games athletics; Olympic football in 2012 |
| Renovations | Multiple: 1914, 1927, 1937, 1945, 1961, 1968, 1975, 1981–86, 1991–94, 1999, 2014 |
| Notable Features | Scottish Football Museum and Hall of Fame; UEFA five-star status; famous for passionate crowds |
| Historic Matches | 1960 European Cup Final (Real Madrid 7–3 Eintracht Frankfurt, 127,621 attendance); Zidane’s volley in 2002 final |
| Other Uses | Pop concerts, athletics, other sporting events |
Additional Highlights
- Hampden Park is regarded as the “Home of Scottish Football” and has played a central role in the sport’s history in Scotland.
- The stadium was originally built near its current site in 1873, with the modern stadium opening in 1903.
- It has hosted some of football’s most memorable matches, including the 1960 European Cup Final, often cited as the greatest club game ever.
- Hampden Park’s record attendance of 149,415 in 1937 remains a British record for any football match.
- The stadium is also a major venue for concerts and athletics, including serving as the athletics stadium for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Bottom line: If you had a time machine and could go back to the loudest game ever played at Hampden Park, you would have to go back to 1937 and get tickets to a game between Scotland and England when a whopping 149,415 people showed up to the pitch. We think it was louder than the 115 decibels that Hampden Park reached during a match in 2018.
Since the field opened in 1903, Hampden Park has been the home of Queen’s Park F.C. Before that, the same club played at a nearby venue also called Hampden Park as early as 1873.
Allen Fieldhouse
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 1651 Naismith Drive, Lawrence, Kansas |
| Opened | March 1, 1955 |
| Seating Capacity | Originally 17,000 (1955); varied over years: – 15,200 (1964–83) – 15,800 (1986–94) – 16,300 (1994–2024) – 15,300 (2024–present) due to renovations |
| Named After | Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen, legendary KU basketball coach who coached for 39 years |
| Court Named After | James Naismith, KU’s first basketball coach and basketball’s inventor |
| Architect | Charles L. Marshall |
| Construction Cost | $2.5 million (1955) (~$29.3 million in 2024 dollars) |
| Physical Specs | Building size approx. 344 ft x 254 ft; sidewalls 60 ft high; roof peak 85 ft high |
| Home Teams | University of Kansas Jayhawks men’s and women’s basketball teams |
| Record Attendance | 17,228 (March 1, 1955, dedication game vs. Kansas State) |
| Notable Features | – Known as “The Phog” and “The Cathedral of Basketball” – Bronze statue of Phog Allen outside main entrance – Houses media relations, athletic offices, locker rooms, and practice facilities – DeBruce Center adjacent, housing original Naismith basketball rules document |
| Renovations & Upgrades | Renovated multiple times (1974-75, 1986, 1993, 1999, 2001, 2009, 2024) – 2009 expansion added basketball practice facility and other sports facilities – 2024 renovation added new center-hung videoboard, LED corner boards, improved concourses, more ADA seating, 1,100 new chairback seats, upgraded sound system, and enhanced fan amenities |
| Noise & Atmosphere | Known as one of the loudest college basketball arenas; Guinness World Record for loudest indoor crowd roar at 130.4 dB (2017) |
| Home Court Advantage | One of the best in college basketball with a historic winning record (e.g., 263–14 since 1994 at home) |
| Cultural & Historical Significance | Site of many historic games and events; deeply tied to KU basketball tradition and fan culture |
| Other Uses | Concerts and university events have been held here; notable performers include Elton John and Tina Turner |
Men’s basketball at the University of Kansas is the main focus.
Bottom line: This is one of the things I’ve added to the list that I can defend both from an objective and an emotional point of view. In 2017, when the crowd at Allen Fieldhouse reached 130.4 decibels, it was the biggest crowd ever at an indoor sports event. And from what I’ve heard in my living room and from watching games there for more than 30 years.
The Phog” is such a scary place to play that Kansas won every men’s basketball regular-season title from 2005 to 2018, and then again in 2020, 2022, and 2023. In 2022, Kansas won its second NCAA title under longtime head coach Bill Self. It’s the only basketball stadium on this list, and there’s a good reason for that.
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