From Brisbane’s Gabbatoir to Kolkata's Eden Gardens, the world’s most intimidating sports venues

Brisbane’s historic Gabba ground, scene of the first Ashes Test, is one of the world’s most intimidating stadiums. A look at other such sports venues.

There was blood at the Gabbatoir. Australia bossed England in the Ashes opener at Brisbane’s historic Gabba ground. It is not an easy ground to play in. A visiting team deals not just with its own nerves, but the hostility of the Australian team and the home crowd. That is why the gory sobriquet – Gabbatoir.

Sign up an indemnity agreement and walk along into some of the world’s intimidating sports venues.

Wanderers, Johannesburg
Home team: South Africa
Capacity: 34,000

It’s called the Bullring for a reason. Before Hashim Amla’s 100th Test early this year, played at the Wanderers, the Gauteng Cricket Board CEO Greg Fredericks said, “The Bullring is special because there is a very representative South African crowd assembling, a Rainbow Nation crowd.”

Moment of notoriety: Shane Warne and Andrew Hudson almost came to blows at The Wanderers in 1994.

Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Home teams: India, Kolkata Knight Riders
Capacity: 67,000

Eden’s history and partisan crowd can be daunting. At times, even Indians are not spared. After a chaotic one-dayer against South Africa in 2005, captain Rahul Dravid said of the crowd behaviour, “Fortunately, I wasn’t fielding on the boundary where apparently some of our players were abused.”

Moment of notoriety: The 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka was awarded to Lanka after some spectators started burning items in the stands.

Oracle Arena, Oakland
Home teams: Golden State Warriors
Capacity: 20,000 approx


(Image: AFP)

The home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors consistently tops lists of intimidating sports venues. It is not uncommon for the stands to be almost completely yellow, the team’s jersey colour. The fans also have a reputation for chanting “Warriors” or “MVP”, creating a thunderous war cry that nearly brings the roof down.

“I don’t know if it’s something about acoustics in there but it gets really loud in there,” Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said before a game at the venue.

Moment of notoriety: In 2016, a spectator fell over a railing in the stadium after an altercation with another member of the audience. The fall caused the man serious injuries.

San Siro Stadium, Milan,
Home teams: Italy, AC Milan, Inter Milan,
Capacity: 80,000


(Image: Reuters)

The former England midfielder Paul Scholes wrote in his memoir, “The San Siro can be a very intimidating venue with its towering stands and the red-hot passion of nearly 80,000 fans.”