Soccer season is right here, and followers all throughout america are clamoring to see how their favourite collegiate {and professional} groups will carry out this yr. Thousands and thousands of soccer followers are anticipated to point out as much as watch their favourite groups face off within the coming months, piling into huge stadiums that dot the map of america. Many of those soccer stadiums function landmarks of their respective cities and communities, with the biggest American soccer stadiums holding nicely over 100,000 followers.
A number of the most iconic moments in American sporting historical past have taken place in these recognizable stadiums, and new stadiums now typically price within the billions to assemble. Whereas there are many gargantuan stadiums throughout the nation, some stand out greater than others — from area.
Certainly, the Nationwide Aeronautics and Area Administration (NASA) decided that one of many United States’ most storied and recognizable soccer stadiums is the biggest soccer stadium seen from outer area. Whereas it isn’t precisely the biggest manmade structure visible from space (that title goes to another location in Europe), a sports activities stadium being observable from that top up remains to be fairly spectacular nonetheless.
NASA Spots The Superdome From Area
In February 2025, NASA decided that the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the biggest soccer stadium that’s seen from area, snapping surprisingly detailed pictures of the New Orleans space from area with the Superdome simply seen within the coronary heart of the town.
These photos had been taken simply days earlier than the Superdome hosted Tremendous Bowl LIX, wherein the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs by a rating of 40-22. Its shiny white roof permits astronauts to see this stadium from area, as in comparison with different stadiums, which could be reasonably onerous to identify as a consequence of their darker colours or lack of a roof.
Positioned within the coronary heart of New Orleans, a city with multiple nicknames such as the “Crescent City” and the “Big Easy,” the Superdome is an immediately recognizable indoor sports activities area that’s the dwelling of the New Orleans Saints.
In whole, the Superdome measures 273 ft excessive with a diameter of 680 ft. The roof itself has an space of 9.7 acres, making the Superdome one of many largest buildings in all of New Orleans and one of many largest fixed-dome buildings in human historical past. The Superdome’s huge measurement permits the stadium to carry over 76,000 spectators for soccer video games, with WrestleMania bringing in a report attendance of over 78,000 individuals in 2018.
Though the Superdome doesn’t presently supply guided excursions, company can entry the Superdome’s Plaza Stage to take images and soak within the majesty of this huge area. Given the stadium’s central place within the metropolis of New Orleans, driving or getting a experience to the Superdome is a cinch, however public buses additionally take individuals to the Superdome as nicely.
New Orleans’ Superdome is way more than a soccer stadium, with the Superdome serving because the host for high-profile occasions, together with conventions, different sporting occasions, and live shows. A number of the most notable musical acts that the Superdome has hosted embrace U2, the Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift on a number of events. The Superdome has additionally hosted eight Tremendous Bowls, typically thought to be the highest-profile sporting occasions in fashionable historical past.
Though the Superdome typically evokes revelrous recollections, it additionally reminds lots of a few of New Orleans’ most horrible and determined moments. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and different surrounding areas, with virtually 1,400 individuals dropping their lives as floodwaters drowned the town. In whole, Hurricane Katrina induced as a lot as $125 billion in injury, making it one of the crucial devastating storms in historical past.
As Hurricane Katrina plowed by the Huge Simple, 1000’s of individuals fled to the Superdome for refuge, with consultants predicting that as many as 25,000 to 30,000 individuals stayed contained in the constructing throughout Katrina. Though the Superdome sustained vital injury because of Hurricane Katrina, the venerable stadium remained largely intact, defending the large assortment of determined New Orleans residents lodged inside.
The Superdome’s resilience in the course of the devastating wrath of Hurricane Katrina gave the construction a good deeper and much more profound connection to the individuals of New Orleans, a few of whom could have died with out the safety of this iconic area.
How The Superdome Stacks Up To Different Arenas All through Historical past
In historic occasions, amphitheaters and stadiums served because the heartbeat of many societies, permitting individuals to carry out artistic endeavors or partake in mesmerizing feats of athletics for the individuals inside their group. This proved very important within the days earlier than the printing press, permitting individuals of all kinds of social courses to take part of their respective group tradition. Many of those historic amphitheaters and stadiums stay to today, serving as residing testimonies of the architectural prowess of many historic societies.
Historians agree that the stadium in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, which is definitely worth exploring, served as the primary recognized stadium in human historical past, holding as many as 45,000 individuals at its top, making it bigger than many outstanding fashionable arenas.
In Historic Rome, the long-lasting and immediately recognizable Colosseum held wherever from 50,000 to 60,000 individuals, with the Circus Maximus holding as many as 250,000 to 300,000 individuals. Because of this the New Orleans Superdome simply surpasses the capability of the Roman Colosseum, regardless of the Colosseum being typically thought to be essentially the most well-known public venue in human historical past.
Practically each massive Roman metropolis throughout its mighty empire featured a stadium of some type within the middle of the town, demonstrating the immense significance of those stadiums to the traditional Romans and Roman tradition. Equally, practically each American metropolis has a stadium or outstanding venue, generally a number of, which facilitates sporting occasions, musical acts, group occasions reminiscent of graduations, and conventions.
Though practically each notable city in america has a stadium or amphitheater of some type, few can rival the scale and legacy of New Orleans’ Superdome. This venue, which scientists and astronauts can see from area as a consequence of its huge, shiny white roof, has hosted a protracted listing of memorable live shows and sporting occasions.
Furthermore, even in New Orleans’ darkest hour, this stadium stood robust, defending tens of 1000’s of individuals inside as Hurricane Katrina destroyed the town. Few stadiums in human historical past can rival the New Orleans Superdome, a venue that actually belongs within the historical past books.
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