Luton, Pendikspor & Co. - Europe’s smallest first division stadiums from England to Turkey

The smallest stadiums in the European top tiers often belong to newly-promoted teams. This is also the case in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Süper Lig, Croatian SuperSport HNL, and Serbian Super liga Srbije this summer. The dimensions of these grounds are similarly small in relation to the competition, as are the squad values of the clubs based there. From 1,200 to 15,039 seats – Transfermarkt introduces the smallest stadium from each of Europe’s top 25 first divisions.

In the richest league in the world, the first Premier League match in Luton Town’s history will not take place as planned on August 19. At Luton’s request, the match against fellow promoted side Burnley at Kenilworth Road, by far the smallest venue in the English Premier League, will be postponed due to construction work. The 10,226-capacity stadium, which is surrounded by residential buildings, was already the smallest ground in the English second tier in the previous season.

The number of tickets available will hardly change after the renovation for the Premier League. Only the media area and other minor details will have to be adapted – according to regulations, 5,000 seats are enough to compete in England’s top tier.

The three smallest stadiums in the Danish Superliga also have room for 10,000 fans: Lyngby Stadion, Viborg Stadion and Silkeborg’s JYSK Park. The smallest German Bundesliga ground, with a capacity of 15,000, is in Heidenheim, where fans in the Voith Arena will see first division football for the first time on August 26 against Hoffenheim. On their way to the German top flight, Heidenheim played in front of a sellout crowd three times and the average attendance was 11,106 fans in 2022/23.

The stadium of Istanbul club Pendikspor, who were promoted from the Turkish third division to the Süper Lig in the past two seasons, is even smaller. Currently under renovation, Pendik Stadı has 2,500 seats, making it one of the smallest top tier grounds in Europe. However, the club want to increase that number to between 10,000 and 12,000 and will play their first two home games at the stadium of second-division club Ümraniyespor, which can host 3,513 fans. This season, eight of the 20 Süper Lig clubs are based in Istanbul.

Things are even more homely at Serbian newly-promoted side Zeleznicar Pančevo, whose SC Mladost Pančevo is sold out at 1,200 spectators. The last home game before promotion was visited by 500 local fans – the town of Pancevo has a population of around 90,000. The club, founded in 1947, will thus play in the smallest stadium in Europe’s 25 most valuable top tiers in 2023/24.