Stadiums

As the Premier League began its 2022-23 season to much fanfare on Friday evening in London, an Arsenal banner flying over Selhurst Park reminded fans of the darker side of top-level sports. 

Arsenal defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 in the opening match of the Premier League season on Friday. As the match began, a plane carrying a large banner flew over the stadium, calling for rapists to be kicked off the pitch.

The Premier League kicks off this weekend as Crystal Palace hosts Arsenal at Selhurst Park, a modest yet perfect example of what soccer stadiums should and can be. With so many teams, and especially the giants, boasting opulent cathedrals of sport, it's only necessary to determine which are the biggest for the 2022-23 season.

LONDON - Thousands of England soccer fans dressed in red and white were descending on London's Wembley Stadium on Sunday for the final of the Women's Euro 2022 tournament that has gripped the country this summer.

Ahead of the sold-out final against Germany, fans including many young girls were dressed in the kit of England's Lionesses, while a helicopter provided television footage of the team's coach making its way to the stadium.

Juventus and FC Barcelona squared off in Dallas on Wednesday night for another preseason friendly. The teams displayed their attacking prowess for 90 minutes with the spoils ultimately shared finishing 2-2, but Weston McKennie, a Dallas-area native, was strangely kept on the bench.

Are they just not gonna play McKennie in Texas?

— Matt Cocco (@MattCocco) July 27, 2022

It looks increasingly likely that the NFL's Chicago Bears will leave Soldier Field for a new stadium in Arlington Park, but that hasn't stopped the city and Mayor Lori Lightfoot from unveiling plans for a massive renovation to the 98-year-old facility and the 57-acre Museum Campus it sits on (home to the Shed Aquarium and Field Museum).

EA Sports has just announced that Juventus will be returning to FIFA 23 following a three-year hiatus from the series. 

The video game company released a video on social media in conjunction with Juventus celebrating the return of Italy's most successful club. The video features narration from Juventus legend Claudio Marchisio and scenes from both in-game and real life.

Processions across the Midwest came to a rest at Wisconsin’s most hallowed ground on Saturday night. Fans of Germany’s Bayern Munich and England’s Manchester City packed into Lambeau Field to watch the first-ever soccer match played at the home of the Green Bay Packers.

As thousands of spectators arrived, streams of fans in sky blue and bright red paraded through the small town with the behemoth that is Lambeau Field lying in their sights. For many who see soccer as their religion, this was about to be their evening service. 

The first Erling Haaland Manchester City goal came in 12 minutes. The Norwegian superstar made his debut for his new club during a friendly at Lambeau Field vs. Bayern Munich.

The crowd would make plenty of extra noise anytime he was on the ball and the over 81,000 fans in attendance collectively lost it when he scored the opener.

First Erling Haaland Manchester City Goal

ERLING HAALAND DEBUT GOAL!