The Pancho Arena, home to Hungarian top flight side Puskas Akademia FC, is one of the most unique – and beautiful – locations in world football.
Located outside Hungary's capital Budapest, the 3,816-seater stadium was designed by famous Hungarian architect Imre Makovetz, who wanted to give fans a design like no other in sport.
During the build, primary building materials like slate and timber that blended in with the environment was key, while the slate roof alone took a total of seven months to complete. But it was worth it.
As you can see in pictures included in this article, the 130,000-square-foot masterpiece uses fan vaults that spread like tree branches, with glulam columns rooted into concrete piers to complete the look.
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The design has been praised by many, including stadiumdb.com, who provide a great line in their review.
They wrote: "The wood-lined curved interior to the stand gives spectators the feeling that they are attending a Sunday church service, not a football match."
The arena is also named after arguably Hungary’s greatest ever player, Ferenc Puskas, who was nicknamed 'Pancho' at Real Madrid.
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"If you thought a modern, breathtaking design automatically means steel and glass, hop on over to the Hungarian village of Felcsut," stadiumdb.com's review continues after listed it among the top three most beautiful stadiums in the world.
"Local team Puskás Akadémia FC has the honour of playing in the remarkable Pancho Arena."
You can see a two minute video of the magnificent structure below.
In terms of their competition when it comes to the world's most aesthetically pleasing stadiums, we have a couple of contenders.
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The Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey is the largest football stadium in Mexico (51,000), and was completed in time for C.F. Monterrey's 70th anniversary.
It has a grass surface, suites, a club-themed restaurant, a club lounge, and high-end interior. And then there's the view.
Another unique spectacle is The Floating Stadium in Singapore, with its internal drainage system, cabling structures and lightning rods, although retrieving the ball when it has gone out play is tricky.
Thoughts on the Pancho Arena? Is it the most beautiful stadium in world football or can you think of another?
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Let us know in the comments
Topics: Football
Jack Kenmare