When did it change from Ground to stadium?

[Goring Gull]

I was brought up when where a team played was more often than not reffered to as a "ground" However more and more I here people say Stadium when did this start to change? Not a problem just interested in when it started chaning as most people my age lder mid - late thirties and older use ground but alot of 20 and younger stadium.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

Arena - now that IS irritating

 

[Hugh'sDad]

p

I was brought up when where a team played was more often than not reffered to as a "ground" However more and more I here people say Stadium when did this start to change? Not a problem just interested in when it started chaning as most people my age lder mid - late thirties and older use ground but alot of 20 and younger stadium.

Jeez, I used to watch football at "Parks"

 

[beorhthelm]

i'd venture it was when they changed from being a elaborate cow shed to an all surrounding auditorium. but then im sure some older sheds were called stadiums and they still call them grounds in cricket.

 

[horshamite]

We still have 'Ground Regulations' for stadiums.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Americanism?

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Back in the day, the only Stadium in English football I can think of was Wembley. Strangely though, I'm sure that many of the dog tracks were called stadiums.

 

[WATFORD zero]

When i grew up, we played in a ground and dogs ran around a stadium, both in Hove

*edit* beaten to it by thedonkeycentrehalf

 

[Prince Monolulu]

StadiA, it is stadiA

 

[8ace]

Back in the day, the only Stadium in English football I can think of was Wembley.

Highbury's official name was Arsenal Stadium - predates Wembley by 10 years.

 

[8ace]

Americanism?

 

[ThePompousPaladin]

Is it from the shape? Oval like, instead of a box.

Presumably it's from the roman or greek oval horse tracks.

 

[Dick Head]

StadiA, it is stadiA

Stadiums and stadia are both accepted plurals of the word stadium. Look it up in the dictionary before you come on these discussion fora thinking you know it all, we are not ancient Romans you know. Or do you have some kind of hidden agendums?

 

[studio150]

I would go with when naming rights came in, and the sponsor wanted to be associated with something that from a PR perspective gave a better impression. Until then stadium was probably only used where more than one sport was played/watched there.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I think all football grounds have always been Stadiums (Stadia) even if they were not called it - Villa Park for example is a Stadium, as was the Goldstone Ground.

I would suggest that most new grounds have had Stadium in their name because their owners have usually spent a huge amount of money they have not got building them, and it makes them sound posher.

The word comes from a Greek measure of length and is defined as a place with a field or stage partially or wholly surrounded by structures for spectators to sit or stand. According to Wiki anyway.

 

[Milton Keynes Seagull]

It all changed when players ceased to have names like Bert and Stan and have a smoke at half time, while the fans queued for lukewarm Bovril.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

StadiA, it is stadiA

Only in Latin or in Greek, where Stadia is the plural of Stadion. In English, the plural is Stadiums. The Greek and Latin words refer to a distance (one eighth of a Roman mile), not an enclosed arena, park or ground.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

Only in Latin or in Greek, where Stadia is the plural of Stadion. In English, the plural is Stadiums. The Greek and Latin words refer to a distance (one eighth of a Roman mile), not an enclosed arena, park or ground.

Phew. Thanks for that.

 

[Diablo]

My take...Football used to be played mostly at Grounds with stands/seats on sides and perhaps at ends. A stadium is what most have now.One building surrounding the pitch.

 

[GT49er]

I would say it was about the time when they put seats in - the whole ground, not just parts of it.