ABSTRACT
Stadia have a role in helping to create a vibrant image for a town or city, and at their best can be used as part of the tourism infrastructure and appeal of a city. The actual events in the stadium attract tourists but also these landmark buildings themselves can act as magnets and draw visitors to them. In addition the emergence of the sports visitor attractions, museums and halls of fame in the stadium are increasing its market appeal. A good example is Barcelona’s Noucamp Stadium which attracts a huge number of visitors each year. The success of the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield, with its blue roof and exciting shapes, had a major impact on the city itself. Similarly the Toronto Skydome has clearly become part of the image of that city. Images of these venues appear in tourist brochures as an attraction of the city or town. Television coverage of major events such as the World Cup in football or rugby and the Olympic Games have brought images of dramatic and often aesthetically memorable stadia into the living rooms of millions of people. The tourism impact of such coverage for a city is immense.
