Forgotten Futures Explore Stadiums Built for Dreams That Never Arrived

6. Kaohsiung World Games Stadium (Taiwan) – The Solar-Powered Dream

When it was unveiled for the 2009 World Games, Kaohsiung’s Dragon Stadium was a futuristic marvel, celebrated for its bold sustainability initiative. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, its curved, dragon-like shape was not just visually striking—it was also functional. The stadium was one of the first in the world to be fully solar-powered, featuring an astounding 8,844 solar panels that could generate up to 1.14 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to power 80% of the surrounding neighborhood. But after the 2009 World Games ended, no major teams stepped up to use the stadium regularly. Kaohsiung lacked a top-tier football club, and the stadium’s large scale and maintenance costs made it impractical for smaller events. Instead of hosting world-class matches or inspiring a new wave of sustainable stadiums, it mostly sits empty, occasionally used for concerts and smaller sporting events. Opened: 2009 | Rarely Used After 2009 Games