Abstract

Since their original creation in Great Britain in the XIX century, stadia have been one of the public facilities that have better reflected the political, economic, social, cultural and sporting principles of each historical period as well as the main features of the places where they have been located. To provide a better understanding of the origin, development and meanings associated to what different authors describe as the new (fourth) generation of ‘post-modern’ stadia, this paper, grounded in a multidisciplinary bibliography, starts with an analysis of some of the main values and meanings that have flourished in relationship with the world of modern stadia and arenas. It is followed by the study of how global and local transformations have an influence on the new generation of post-modern stadia and the new identities created around these buildings in western countries (such as cathedrals of consumption, tourist attractions or leisure centres). Transformations that have flourished in the last two decades, not without some criticism from specific groups who are afraid of the loss of traditional values linked to modern stadia.