Though Europe boasts some of the most breathtaking and historic football grounds in the world, these stunning designs unfortunately never made the cut.
Grand stadiums have always blessed European football, whether it be the Theatre of Dreams Old Trafford, the Bernabeu, Camp Nou, or San Siro. And, in recent years, modern brilliance has also prevailed.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium now stands as the benchmark for new grounds in England, boasting over 60,000 seats, a retractable NFL field, and a microbrewery. However, there have been many projects that shared a similar magnificence, but, sadly, were not to be.
Mirror Football explores the European grounds, including a bizarre UFO design, that promised to be special, but unfortunately, never saw their ball get rolling.
Chelsea
With the two-time Champions League winners’ ground holding just over 40,000 spectators, expanding Stamford Bridge has been on Chelsea’s agenda for some time – and remains on it.
In 2012, former owner Roman Abramovich acted, submitting an offer to buy the then-derelict Battersea Power Station, situated on the south bank of the River Thames.
Alas, the Grade II listed site wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Blues, with Abramovich and Co outbid, and the stunning drawings that incorporated the building’s four iconic chimneys were left to be pondered as a dream.
However, a new Stamford Bridge design, drawn up by Swiss architecture firm Herzog and de Meuron, would come three years after their failed bid. Yet, now, with Abramovich in the club’s rearview mirror, plans have been on and off, though they remain in the pipeline, with a supposed option being an Earls Court relocation.
Liverpool
Another club aiming to close the gap on their rivals with larger grounds, Liverpool revealed plans in 2007 to build a brand new 60,000-seater stadium in the adjacent Stanley Park.
Then-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were keen on the idea, but Liverpool City Council were not and the plan was later scrapped.
However, this hasn’t stopped the Reds from hitting the 60,000-seater mark at Anfield, as their current stadium’s Anfield Road stand was expanded last season – adding 7,000 extra seats.
Everton
Much like their city rivals, Everton also put forward plans for a new stadium in the mid-to-late noughties: a 50,000-seater gem situated on Kings Dock.
Yet, the similarities between the Toffees and Reds continue, as said £150million plan – the club’s third attempt to relocate – was rejected by the government.
However, the rebuttals stopped in 2020 when Liverpool City Council approved Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock plan. In 2021, ground was broken, and this current season will be the club’s last season at Goodison Park as they move into their new 52,888-seater home for the 2025/26 campaign.
Another outrageous plan that was once proposed, and has ultimately been avoided, was an adjoined stadium for both Everton and Liverpool, situated in Stanley Park. This ‘Siamese stadium’ plan was put forward by a consortium back in 2010, and perhaps thankfully for both sets of fans, never got going.
Portsmouth
Herzog and de Meuron, who aided Chelsea’s initial designs, also put forward plans for Portsmouth’s 36,000 Portsea ground in 2007. The models projected a stunning waterside ground, but reality would be much less forgiving.
A £600million project that didn’t just involve the stadium was rebuked, and even when relocating to another area at Hornsea Island, due to the backdrop of the global financial crisis of 2008, Fratton Park would remain their home.
“The stadium on the docks was a fantastic design, really stunning,” former Portsmouth CEO Peter Storrie told The Athletic. “It would’ve been perfect.
“It was there on the waterfront. They put it up on the screen for us and it certainly had the wow factor. It would’ve been an iconic venue. One of the great stadiums if it had been built.“
Dinamo Zagreb
This volcano-shaped monstrosity never left Photoshop, and fans are likely glad that this ground, dubbed the Blue Volcano by the press, stays buried. The ‘cloud-covered’ eco-friendly stadium would have had a capacity of 55,000.
Barcelona
La Blaugrana began the expansion and modernisation of their iconic Camp Nou after the 2022/23 La Liga season. While it is expected to be complete by June 2026, boasting a total capacity of 105,000 and a new retractable roof, there was once a plan to relocate out at sea.
Linked by a bridge, a 150,000-seater mega-stadium was proposed before the club came to their eventual renovation – a project that would’ve taken the cake as the most ambitious but remarkable on the continent.
Bristol City
In 2007, the same year that Portsmouth attempted to get their new project up-and-running, Bristol City announced their proposal to replace Aston Gate with a 42,000-seater – to be constructed on an area of land in Ashton Vale.
Yet, their ground was also not to be. An application made by local residents recommended the area be registered as a town green, meaning that its future use was restricted, and it was unable to be developed.
The club therefore decided to scrap their plans, but went forward with a renovation of Ashton Gate in 2016. This increased the stadium’s capacity from 16,600 to 27,000.
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