Amazing

Despite the best attempts of stadiums built in the late 80s and early 90s to suck the soul out of everything, we’ve now entered an arms race in super-stadium building brought forth by mega-wealthy owners bent on redefining arenas as both works of art and places of entertainment. Still, there’s nothing like some of the weirdest stadium features that’ve withstood the test of time, and we’re more than happy to add some of the latest eccentricities to the fold.

Here are 15 designs and features that immediately capture the eye.

Univision is celebrating a wildly successful month of Champions League broadcasts. The Spanish-language broadcaster set four U.S. television records in August, capped by record-breaking Champions League final TV ratings from Bayern Munich’s thrilling 1-0 win over PSG on Sunday.

CBS, meanwhile, is being given The18’s coveted participation ribbon, seeing as it has yet to release any sort of data on its Champions League final TV ratings. 

Jordyn Huitema is seeking Champions League glory in her first season with Paris Saint-Germain. The Canadian teen saw her boyfriend Alphonso Davies lift the trophy earlier in August. After Davies defeated Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and the rest of the PSG men, he will now be the club’s biggest fan in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Following the end of the 2018-19 Chelsea Football Club season, the Blues decided to sack Italian manager Maurizio Sarri and installed club legend Frank Lampard as boss, ... but what if they hadn’t? What if — buoyed by the arrival of Christian Pulisic — owner Roman Abramovich had turned to Gregg Berhalter and the USMNT instead?

The18 presents...

During the novel coronavirus pandemic, in which having fans in American stadiums is highly irresponsible given the federal government’s complete failure to control the spread of Covid-19, professional sports teams have turned to inventive ways to get fans involved. MLS and the NBA have used live video feeds of fans displayed in the background of the action. Many MLB teams have created cardboard cutouts of fans behind home plate. Some broadcasters have used computer-animated fans to fill the stadiums.

But nothing beats the Philadelphia Union’s plan.

As Alphonso Davies walked off the pitch after helping his team eviscerate Barcelona 8-2, the 19-year-old walked up to his childhood idol and asked for his jersey. He was rebuffed, probably the only time he’s failed to get what he wants in the 20 months since he left Canada for Bavaria.