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Last Updated on November 8, 2022 by UDC Sports

People often use terms like stadium and arena interchangeably. After all—aren’t they both just big sports facilities?

And for that matter, what about terms like coliseum, field, dome, and park? Aren’t those all more or less just synonyms for “big sports facility?”

Well, not quite.

There are some important differences between these terms—and it doesn’t all have to do with the capacity or size of the construction project.

Here in the U.S., we have the massive Michigan Stadium with a capacity of over 107,000—but we also have the relatively small Paypal Park with a capacity of only 18,000

And then of course, we have all kinds of smaller stadiums at schools, colleges, and parks across the country. For example, Curtis Granderson Stadium at the University of Illinois has a capacity of just under 1,800—over ten times smaller than Paypal Park!

And then we have arguably the smallest “national stadium” in the world, Easter Island’s Hanga Roa Municipal Stadium, with a capacity of approximately 1,000 people. Many Americans wouldn’t recognize it as a stadium at all—it looks more like a soccer field down at your local high school. (Well, aside from the monolithic stone head that watches the game directly across the street from the stadium.)

As you can see, there’s quite a huge variation in seating capacity among the structures we refer to as “stadiums.” So the size of the construction isn’t the only thing that generally distinguishes a stadium from other sports facilities.

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Stadiums and Arenas

When it comes to understanding the differences between different types of sports facility structures, there are some key distinctions to keep in mind:

  • Stadiums consist of a field (or stage) that is either partially or entirely surrounded by a tiered structure for spectators to sit or stand and view the event.
  • The use of the term “stadium” or “arena” typically has the most to do with the sport(s) it’s designed to host. Typically, stadiums are designed and constructed for outdoor spectator sports such as football, baseball, or soccer. On the other hand, an arena is usually designed for sports such as basketball, ice hockey, indoor soccer/football, or tennis that take place on a smaller scale.
  • A stadium is typically an outdoor venue, while an arena is usually indoors.
  • Stadiums tend to be much larger than arenas and have much higher seating capacity, though this isn’t always the case. There are plenty of stadiums that are smaller than arenas.

It’s important to note that these terms aren’t always used consistently, especially across international borders. There are plenty of sports venues with “arena” in the name, like the Allianz Arena in Munich, that we might also describe as an “indoor stadium.”

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Domes, Coliseums, and Parks

Domes and coliseums are both types of stadiums. A dome is a stadium that was constructed with a roof or partial/retractable roof, while a coliseum generally refers to an oval or circular stadium with seating on all sides of the playing field. (Think of the most iconic stadium in Ancient Rome—the Colosseum—as the prototypical example.)

However, there are arenas that use the term “coliseum,” like the Greensboro Coliseum, and the term “dome,” like the Tacoma Dome. So again, these terms aren’t always applied in a consistent way across sports facility structures/venues. Many times, it’s simply based on what sounds better to the ear—”Tacoma Arena” just doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Tacoma Dome,” you know?

Even though domes are built to be enclosed like arenas, they have larger playing surfaces and seating capacities like those more commonly found in stadiums, so they are generally not referred to as arenas in North America.

“Park” is a general term for a sports facility that may also refer to a stadium, such as T-Mobile Park, Petco Park, and Fenway Park. In the U.S., the term “park” is most often used for baseball stadiums, but there are exceptions, like Geodis Park and Providence Park which are both soccer stadiums. (Geodis Park was formerly known as Nashville SC Stadium and Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium during the planning and construction, so you can see just how fluid these terms can be!)

Still confused? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Since there are so many different types of sports venues, and the terms are used so loosely, it can be tough to keep everything straight.

Hopefully this has helped clear things up just a bit, and given you a better understanding of the general differences between stadiums, arenas, and other types of sports facility structures.

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UDC Sports: Stadium Design & Construction Firm

Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert on sports facility terminology to build a great stadium, arena, or dome of your own—you just need the right team on your side. With decades of experience in designing and constructing stadiums, UDC Sports is ready to help you bring your vision to life.

Whether you’re looking to build a football stadium, a basketball arena, a baseball park, a soccer field, or anything in between, UDC can handle every step of the process from start to finish. Contact us today to get started—and we’ll help you take your sports facility project from concept to completion.

UDC Sports

UDC Sports is a premier provider of sports field and facility construction services with over 20 years of experience. We are experts in all aspects of sports facility construction, from site preparation to drainage to turf installation, regardless of the sport. We stay up-to-date with the latest industry standards and practices, and our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is unwavering, as evidenced by our 100% client satisfaction rating. With years of experience in product selection and project management, UDC Sports combines state-of-the-art construction materials and methods with a creative approach to turning client visions into reality. Whether you're building a 10,000 seat stadium or a backyard batting cage, we're here to make sure your vision is accomplished.