With plans being developed for a new stadium for AFC Bournemouth, we're taking a salivating look at what the future might have in store for our club. We've scoured the world for what we feel are best stadia with a capacity broadly within the club's stated range - around 20,000, give or take a few. We're going to talk about what we like about them, what features we think can be incorporated into a new stadium for us - and where they could be improved. A new entry in the top 10 will be published every few days until we've completed our countdown - and then we'll collate it all into one post for posterity. On the northern edge of the eastern Hungarian city of Debrecen, sits the Great Forest Nature reserve. The thousand hectare forest, voted the most beautiful in Hungary helps make the city of Debrecen the leafiest city in the country. In between the woods and the city streets is a park hosting the Debrecen zoo, aquarium, hotels, athletic tracks and the striking Nagyerdei Stadium - or Great Forest Stadium. Situated on the same site as the previous 12,000 capacity stadium the new arena opened in 2014 and has a capacity of 20,340 - around the size proposed for a new AFC Bournemouth stadium. Designed by architect Péter Bordás, the asymmetric stadium is wrapped with a membrane which is stretched across diagonal ridges to create a stunning facade. The ridges part at one end, creating space for light to reach offices and hospitality suites. The soft curves of the stadium allow it to sit pleasingly in this area of natural beauty without detracting from its leafy surroundings. An elevated walkway reached by sweeping ramps provide access to the stands. Inside the stadium, the Western stand is taller and larger than the East which creates a pleasing asymmetery and prevents the stadium from being a simple bowl internally as it swings around as a single tier through all four sides and corners. The seating is modern, clean and spacious with ample room to the seats in front. The stands behind each goal are divided in half - one half seated, the other blocks of rail seats offering the choice of safe standing in a singing area. Our preference is strongly for full banks of safe standing behind the goal but for those less convinced by this it does illustrate how safe standing areas and seating can sit side by side. Hospitality features include 23 boxes, 150 square meter conference room, 800 square meter, 750 cover restaurant as well as two function rooms able to cater for more than 200 people. The stadium complex also features 7000 square meters of commercially exploitable space with a gym, supporters pub, cafe, shop and museum and 1500 square meter entertainment venue. The Great Forest stadium is so close to wonderful. It walks the borderline of the 'soulless bowl', and the asymmetry just keeps it in on the right side of that line, although it is still a little too uniform inside to push for the top places in our list. The corners do break up the continual flow of seats somewhat but it is perhaps a bit too close to being a lopsided St Mary's still. A split tier in the west stand, steeper rake behind the goals maybe with full standing areas and it would have that bit more punch and more character.. but it remains a beautiful ground in a beautiful setting and we'd be more than happy to watch our football here every week. What we like ✅ Asymmetrical design of stands ✅ Beautiful location ✅ Stunning stadium facade What we'd change ❎ Full safe standing section behind the goals ❎ Increase the rake of the stands to keep all fans closer to the action ❎ The design doesn't appear to offer opportunities for expansion beyond the current capacity ❎ Split tiers in the larger stand to provide more texture and integrate more pricing options9. Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary
