Top 20 Most Expensive Stadiums in the World

Discover the 20 most expensive stadiums in the world as of 2024. This elite group includes many unexpected locations, and this time, to reach the top 20, the construction cost (adjusted to 2024 US dollar value) had to exceed $1 billion!

Introduction to the 20 most expensive stadiums in the world:

This ranking covers the year 2024. It includes a few surprises, such as the dominance of American and Asian stadiums. The most expensive venues are located across four continents, with Europe being in the minority! Here they are:

  1. SoFi Stadium 70 247, $4.243 billion, Construction: 2016–2020

    Inglewood, California, USA | The stadium in Inglewood wins this ranking hands down. Its most impressive features are the iconic roof and record-breaking usable area. The most surprising fact? Each seat in the stadium is worth nearly $60,000!
  2. The Big O 66 308, $4.198 billion, Construction: 1973–1976

    Montreal, Canada | Olympic Stadium caused issues from the start, with debt repayments taking as long as 30 years. As early as 2006, maintenance costs had risen tenfold, mainly due to the impressive but failure-prone roof. If built today, construction costs alone would exceed $4 billion.
  3. Allegiant Stadium 65 000, $2.483 billion, Construction: 2017–2020

    Las Vegas, USA | The name “Giant” and the Las Vegas location left no illusions—it was never going to be cheap. Initially estimated at $1.9 billion, the pandemic drove costs up by an additional $130 million. Pocket change!
  4. Wembley Stadium 90 000, $2.428 billion, Construction: 2003–2007

    London, England | At the time of its opening, England’s national stadium was the most expensive in the world! Initially, its cost was projected to be half as much, but reality quickly disproved those plans. Since its 2007 debut, Wembley has hosted three Champions League finals and the Olympic Games.
  5. Metlife Stadium 82 500, $2.301 billion, Construction: 2007–2010

    East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | After 2.5 years of construction, the largest NFL stadium was completed in New Jersey and became the most expensive sports venue of 2010. Unlike many other American football stadiums, the New Meadowlands lacks a roof, limiting the types of events it can host.
  6. Yankee Stadium 49 642, $2.192 billion, Construction: 2006–2009

    New York, New York, USA | The sixth most expensive stadium in the world sparked considerable controversy. Despite the enormous cost, the Yankees baseball team only covered part of the expenses, benefiting from tax exemptions. The venue also hosts matches for New York City FC.
  7. Mercedes-Benz Stadium 71 000, $2.047 billion, Construction: 2014–2017

    Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Home to both United FC and the Falcons, the stadium’s most distinctive feature is its eight-panel retractable roof. The venue has hosted events including the Super Bowl and basketball games.
  8. Singapore National Stadium 55 000, $1.873 billion, Construction: 2010–2014

    Singapore, Singapore | Despite the country’s small size, Singapore’s national stadium was built with grand ambition. Towering above the pitch is the world’s largest dome roof. Each spectator enjoys personalized comfort—ventilation systems built into the seats provide individual cooling. True luxury!
  9. Seoul Olympic Stadium 65 599, $1.786 billion, Construction: 1977–1984

    Seoul, South Korea | Built for the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympics, the semi-roofed design features elegant curves inspired by Joseon-era white porcelain—and a stunning construction cost.
  10. Levi’s Stadium 68 500, $1.682 billion, Construction: 2012–2014

    Santa Clara, California, USA | The city funded much of this Californian stadium's construction. High costs were driven by lavish amenities, including 800 retail points, and the use of cutting-edge eco-friendly solutions.
  11. AT&T Stadium 80 000, $1.681 billion, Construction: 2006–2009

    Arlington, Texas, USA | Iconic arched trusses and a massive elliptical dome define AT&T Stadium. The investment cost nearly doubled, and loan repayments are expected to finish only by 2034.
  12. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 62 850, $1.620 billion, Construction: 2015–2019

    London, England | From the start, the plan was not just to repay the stadium but to profit from it. In addition to football match revenue, income comes from stadium tours, a skywalk attraction, a karting track, and hosting rugby, NFL, boxing, and concerts.
  13. Kai Tak Stadium 50 000, $1.544 billion, Construction: 2019–2025

    Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Built on the site of the former airport, Hong Kong’s new stadium is part of one of Asia’s most ambitious sports complexes, valued at over $4 billion. The stadium features a retractable roof and elegant design, forming the centerpiece of a new sports park.
  14. U.S. Bank Stadium 66 202, $1.475 billion, Construction: 2013–2016

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | It may look like an indoor arena from the outside, but that’s just an illusion. This fully enclosed stadium was designed for extreme winter conditions. Its construction, funded through taxes, sparked widespread criticism and controversy.
  15. Optus Stadium 60 000, $1.466 billion, Construction: 2014–2017

    Perth, Australia | One of the most modern stadiums in Australia and the country’s third largest. This world-class multipurpose venue was designed for Australian football, cricket, and soccer. Built with a “fans first” philosophy—and certainly a “money second” one as well.
  16. King Fahd Sports City 68 752, $1.408 billion, Construction: 1982–1986

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | The third oldest stadium in the ranking is home to three football clubs and the Saudi national team. For decades, its massive roof was the world’s largest stadium canopy.
  17. Accor Stadium 83 500, $1.299 billion, Construction: 1996–1999

    Sydney, Australia | Stadium Australia still holds attendance records from the 2000 Olympics and rugby matches. In 2023, it hosted the Women’s World Cup final, but the venue lacks a permanent tenant. Was it a worthwhile investment, or money down the drain?
  18. Estadio Santiago Bernabéu 78 297, $1.230 billion (2019–2025 expansion)

    Madrid, Spain | One of the world’s most iconic stadiums, Santiago Bernabéu’s renovation became one of the most expensive upgrades in history. Nearly all costs were covered by Real Madrid’s revenues from 2024 alone!
  19. Emirates Stadium 60 704, $1.190 billion, Construction: 2004–2006

    London, England | The Emirates Stadium is often cited as a benchmark for generating matchday revenue. With consistently high attendance, an expansion to 80,000 seats is being considered. Will a bigger capacity boost its ranking?
  20. London Stadium 62 500, $1.077 billion, Construction: 2007–2011

    London, England | Originally built for the 2012 Olympics, London Stadium was later repurposed—at a final cost three times the initial estimate. A hefty price tag for a venue that wasn’t even originally meant for football.

Rules behind the list

  1. This ranking includes stadiums from StadiumDB.com, for which construction or renovation costs were available. This list is not definitive—there may be more expensive venues whose costs have not been disclosed.
  2. The value of the dollar changes over time, meaning $1,000 in 1990 is not the same as $1,000 in 2020. In some cases, the difference may be threefold. All prices in this ranking were adjusted to reflect the 2024 dollar value. Conversion rates from the year of construction were used to fairly evaluate older venues despite different financial realities.
  3. Please note that the data is estimated and rounded, so more detailed calculations may yield slightly different results.
  4. For stadium complexes where the value was not disclosed, 40% of the total investment was counted toward the stadium itself.