28 Forgotten Stadium Grounds Around The World Left Abandoned

22. Stadio Flaminio – Rome, Italy

Built in 1959 and designed by renowned Italian architect Pier Luigi Nervi, Stadio Flaminio was intended to be a multi-purpose sports venue in the heart of Rome. With a capacity of 30,000, it served as the home ground for Italy's national rugby team for decades and also hosted football matches, concerts, and other large-scale events. Over the years, it witnessed historic Six Nations Rugby Championship matches and was once considered a vital part of Rome’s sporting infrastructure. However, Stadio Flaminio’s decline began in the early 2000s as newer, more modern venues like Stadio Olimpico took precedence. By 2011, safety concerns, lack of maintenance, and decreasing attendance led to its closure. Since then, the stadium has remained in a state of abandonment, with its once-lively stands now overgrown with weeds and its facilities in a dire state of disrepair. Various proposals have been made to renovate and repurpose the venue, including turning it into a training facility or a new home for SS Lazio, but none have come to fruition. The Italian government has debated investing in its restoration, but as of today, Stadio Flaminio remains an empty shell, its decaying concrete structure a stark contrast to its former glory.