30 Forgotten Stadiums Where the Crowd Never Came Back

7. Montreal's Olympic Stadium - A Towering White Elephant

Montreal's Olympic Stadium, constructed for the 1976 Summer Olympics, is often cited as a cautionary tale of Olympic overspending. Nicknamed "The Big O," it was plagued by construction delays and cost overruns, leaving the city with a massive debt. Despite its architectural uniqueness, the stadium struggled to find a permanent tenant post-Olympics, with several sports teams coming and going. Today, it stands as a towering white elephant, used occasionally for events but largely underutilized. The story of Montreal's Olympic Stadium underscores the financial risks associated with hosting mega-events and the long-term implications for host cities.