So this one sort of half qualifies as ‘abandoned’ – but we’re actually happy that this stadium is being used! Just last month, the Copa América was held at the venue! The stadium was initially opened in 1950, named after a river in Rio de Janeiro, to host the FIFA World Cup. In the deciding match, Brazil lost out to long-time rivals Uruguay in a 2-1 clash! Over the years the stadium saw many football matches, and in 2016 it was chosen as the venue to host the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.
Within the fabled stadium, both the opening and closing ceremonies were held, but just a short 6 months after the games were over, the power was turned off because well, no one was paying the massive energy bill! Sadly, other venues near the complex were later looted, including a golf course and tennis court, because after the 2016 Olympics, there just weren’t any matches or new operators willing to take over the venues. Up until just recently, the stadium was long forgotten, but we hope this boost has given it a new lease, and hopefully we’ll see more events hosted there in future!
Stone Mountain Tennis Center (Atlanta, USA)
Ba-bum. Another one to Google’s red “permanently closed” stamp. RIP Stone Mountain Tennis Center. Now a “big empty field” as described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Stone Mountain Tennis Center was where Gwinnett County hosted events during Atlanta’s 1996 Olympics. Built specifically for the Olympics, the tennis center had both the capacity and quality construction fit for any venue – it was designed to stand the test of time.
The problem? It was built smack bang in the middle of football heartland. At a cost of $22 million, the state-of-the-art facility, which made its debut in 1996, languished in disrepair in the years after the Games. Pretty sad eh? After 11 years, the county obtained the property and cleared it for demolition in 2007. Apparently it’s going to developers to dream up some big project – so guess we’ll have to just wait and see what happens!
Baltimore Memorial Stadium
Imagine this: it’s Summer 1970. You’re in Baltimore and an Orioles fan. You’re sitting with your hotdog at Memorial Stadium. Now that’s a pretty picture, isn’t it? The only thing wrong with this picture is that well, that’s a distant memory, seeing as the Baltimore Memorial Stadium has been gone a long time, being demolished in 2001. The home of the Baltimore Colts between 1953 and 1983, it was decided that the stadium was better for watching baseball… football not so much! During football season, the field was laid out in such a way that quality seats were missing and the “horseshoe” shape didn’t lend itself to the game.
It continued to host the Orioles until 1991, at which time they moved to Camden Yards. The Baltimore Ravens moved in but shortly moved their business to Camden Yards also. Memorial Stadium sadly was left vacant until 2001. It has since been replaced by the Cal Ripken Senior Youth Development Field, with numerous apartment blocks surrounding the field. C’est la vie, eh?
Stand Athletic F.C. (Whitefield, England)
So this place is so far gone that it’s listed on a website literally titled “derelictplaces.co.uk” if that doesn’t say something to you then you’re clearly not using your brain! Now Stand Athletic F.C. was a football club based in Whitefield, Greater Manchester. In 1993 they joined the Manchester League – but despite winning the Division Two title, were not accepted for promotion to the higher league.
Now derelict, the club’s overgrown field and well, there’s no other word but dilapidated supporters’ stand – both a reflection of how things went down the drain for Stand F.C. Despite its name, it seems there’s no “standing room” for the club and its supporters. (We’re deep in Dad joke territory with that one, we know).
Igman Olympic Jumps, (Sarajevo, Bosnia)
Time really does make a meal out of everything, doesn’t it? Particularly so for the Igman Olympic Jumps, situated in (what was) Sarajevo, Bosnia. What was once the Olympic luge and bobsled track from the 1984 Winter Olympics, has now become well, pretty derelict. You know, the type of place you see seedy teens skulking about dealing substances or Netflix passwords. You know, that kinda stuff! Graffiti-covered and forlorn these days, the ski jumps were once nigh-glistening walls and slabs of concrete, covered with a thin layer of ice. Sarajevo, the now dissolved capital of “Yugoslavia” hosted the Winter Games back in the 60s, but with not much pomp or excitement if we’re honest. It seems that the news item that’s come from those games is the fact the ski jumps were never used again and have become a bit of an eyesore really.
Following the Bosnian war, which took no prisoners, the abandoned relics which once stood so proudly have now become overrun with weeds and colored with the tags of local graffiti ‘artists.’ (That was sarcasm btw, just checking you’re still keeping up!) Not to mention bullet holes which are scattered over the place due to the conflict which swallowed up the entire region. As you can see, the Igman Jumps seriously lost their way, due to lack of funding and lack of ownership, and the sad fact is that these are one of many venues in the region.