Is there any particular article usage convention applied to the names of stadiums around the world? Where can I find more info on this? Can anyone make me a list of stadiums whose appellations always come with definite articles.
I'd like to know how speakers manage to automatically decide whether an article should be used or not in such situations.
Thanks for your help.
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
(1) Congratulations on your interesting project.
(2) The teacher has just told you: there is no one "rule." It seems to depend on
what the owner of the stadium wants to call it or on what the media (newspapers &
TV stations) decide to call it.
(3) Many times, the "the" is dropped as being unnecessary. Other times, it might
sound "funny" without the article.
(4) When you say "stadium," I am assuming that you are referring to any large
place where sports are played. Some stadiums are open to the sky; others have a
roof.
(5) Here in the Los Angeles area, we have many such places. Here is a partial
list (I am using zero article for them all):
Forum
Dodger Stadium
Staples Center
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Rose Bowl Stadium
Angel Stadium
(6) NOTES:
(a) I checked the sports section of my local newspaper. I am 99% confident that
Dodger Stadium is always used with zero article. You can add that to your list.
(b) I have heard something like: They are playing at Staples Center/ They are playing at the Staples Center.
(c) Here in Los Angeles, people usually say, "They are playing at the Coliseum."
It would sound strange to say "They are playing at Coliseum." I cannot explain the reason. I do not know how one would refer to its official name.
(d) I checked the Web, and I found that some sources refer to "the Rose Bowl
Stadium" and some use zero article.
(e) I think that Angel Stadium almost always has zero article.
(f) While doing research for this post, I discovered another sports place that I
had never heard of (I do not like sports). I read "[T[he U.S. plays Costa Rica in a friendly international at the Home Depot Center in Carson [a city near L.A.]." I would not be surprised if the "the" is eventually dropped.
(g) I am 99% confident that it is always "The Forum." Again, it would sound strange to say "The basketball game will be played at Forum."
(5) My most respectful suggestion:
(a) Go on the Web and check out each stadium that I named. You will soon get
an idea of what the majority of people call it.
(b) Thanks to the Web, you can read newspapers from many countries -- for free!
(i) If you read the sports section of the
Los Angeles Times, you will get an idea
of how it refers to stadiums.I checked two issues and found these American stadiums (I do not know what city they are in): "That deal included the team, Wrigley Field [Chicago?]"; "with a tribute wall at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center"; and "Somehow -- thankfully and mercifully -- the campus and Bryant-Denny Stadium were spared [from tornado damage]."
(ii) I hear that London has a dozen daily newspapers. Check them out.
(iii) And, of course, check out the website of the wonderful British Broadcasting Corporation. Besides very serious news, I think it also gives news about sports (or "sport" as our British friends say).
