Ranking the 20 Premier League Stadiums for the 2012-13 Season

The Premier League boasts some of the most beautiful and dynamic stadiums.

But when ranking the stadiums, there are many factors to consider. Structure and revenue aside, the club's performance and the character of their fan base are important to the atmosphere of each individual stadium.

Each stadium offers a unique and exciting experience to its fans while also serving as a home to its club.

Of course, some stadiums rank higher than others in providing the best experiences in the top facilities.

Here's a list of how the 20 Premier League Stadiums rank for the 2012-2013 season.

1. Old Trafford, Manchester United

The Holy Grail of stadiums in the Premier League, Old Trafford is the mega arena.

Manchester United plays for a crowd of over 75,000 spectators in the second largest stadium in England. The grass pitch is highly acclaimed for hosting matches for the World Cup, UEFA Euro and UEFA Champions League Final.

The success of the Red Devils have helped create the enormous stadium. Stretford End is the stand set aside for the club’s most diehard fans (which seems like all of them).

The Red Devils play on the grass pitch while some of the rowdiest fans in England belt out cheers and chants. Man U lays claim to perhaps the largest fan base in the Premier League.

Rest assured, no matter which match you attend, you can hear and feel their devotion when you’re in Old Trafford.

2. Etihad Stadium, Manchester City

Etihad stadium, also known as City of Manchester Stadium (CoMS) is the fifth largest in the Premier League and holds a seating capacity over 47,000.

The widely renowned stadium has held bids for past Olympic games and hosted the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. The structure of the steel stadium towers over the pitch below.

Fans can see every bit of the action from two to three tiers of seating in the stands. Manchester City has no problem filling seats as season tickets are usually always sold out and they are looking to expand capacity.

The club is one of the wealthiest out there right now. Revenue aside, Manchester City’s fans make Etihad Stadium what it is.

The powerhouse team thrives under the lights and cheers of some of the Premier League’s most rambunctious fans.

3. Anfield, Liverpool

Anfield has one of the larger seating capacities compared to the other stadiums in the Premier League, but it is in no way the largest of them all.

And Liverpool fans are known to show that size does not matter.

Anfield’s atmosphere and fan presence are unrivaled and no ground has more history or character. Anfield exudes pride for the Reds as is displayed by the “This is Anfield” sign hanging above the stairs that lead down to the field.

The heart and soul is located in “the Kop” end of the stadium. The most energetic and heated fans can usually be found in the Kop as the red half of Merseyside bands together for their home team.

When attending matches at Anfield, Liverpool fans are assured that they’ll never walk alone.

4. Stamford Bridge, Chelsea

Stamford Bridge has been home to The Blues since 1877 and the team has seen the stadium change many times since then.

Chelsea is one of the top teams in the Premier League and they have as many rivals as they have fans. The club is widely popular and highly envied. The atmosphere in Stamford Bridge is always intense and boisterous as fans are often found on their feet and out of their seats instead of in them.

Stamford Bridge holds over 41,000 spectators and is the eighth largest stadium in the Premier League. The three-tiered West Stand is Stamford’s claim to fame. It is the first grandiose view of the stadium for fans as they enter the gates for a match.

With a clear cover, electronic screens, a full row of floodlights and “Chelsea” spelled out in the ground-level seating, walking into Stamford Bridge is a football fan’s dream.

5. St. James' Park, Newcastle United

St. James’ Park is one of the largest stadiums due largely in part to Newcastle United's incredibly committed fan base.

St. James’ Park lays claim to seating some of the most passionate fans and features some of the most heated matches.

The stadium structure is a tower of interwoven steel and will gain much popularity as one of the football arenas for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Newcastle United has some of the most loyal fans, as the Magpies hold one of the highest attendance rates in the league. Fans can always be heard singing their devotion to the team throughout the stands at St. James' Park.

6. Emirates Stadium, Arsenal

Also known as Ashburton Grove, Emirates Stadium is the third-largest football arena in England. And appropriately, Arsenal F.C. is No. 3 in the Premier League.

The stadium is widespread and gigantic, seating a crowd of over 60,000. Emirates Stadium is the most spirited stadium in the entire league.

Every inch of the arena exudes the club’s motto and image. There is so much Arsenal pride covering the stadium that even the opposing team’s fans find themselves awestruck in the sea of red.

Various murals and The Gunners trademark red, ignite fans to enter the world of Arsenal.

This is where players and fans live and breathe Arsenal football.

7. Goodison Park, Everton

Goodison Park is everything you’d want in a stadium.

With a sizable seating capacity of about 40,000 fans and a beautiful grass pitch, it is the ideal stadium in the Premier League.

So it is appropriate then that Goodison has hosted the largest number of league games and is home to one of the top clubs.

Everton F.C. has seen much success at their home stadium and brings in some of the highest attendances of any other stadium in the country.

The Blue half of the Merseyside is one of the most fanatical and raucous groups in the league.

8. Craven Cottage, Fulham

A cottage by name, Fulham’s stadium is as cozy as it sounds.

The modest 25,000 capacity stadium is located on the bank of the River Thames and has been home to Fulham F.C. since 1896.

The Cottagers have one of the most dynamic fan bases in the league and have no problem filling the stadium. The only change would be to expand, which Craven Cottage plans to do in the near future.

Perhaps the stadium’s most endearing feature is Putney End which is open to “friendly opposition." Fans from both sides sit together and enjoy the match in this section thanks to Fulham’s promotion of friendly competition.

9. White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur

White Hart Lane is the home of Tottenham Hotspur, although it is unclear for how much longer it will remain the club’s stadium.

Regardless of the fact that the stadium only seats an audience of 36,230, it is a pretty sizable arena. Spurs fans cheer on their No. 4 team in this modest-sized stadium, but with the same fiery excitement present in the stadiums of the other top teams.

Spurs fans in White Hart Lane are known to get white hot during matches against powerhouse rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United.

While their stadium is nothing spectacular, the club provides the allure of White Hart Lane through their performance on the pitch.

10. Villa Park, Aston Villa

Villa Park is not only the home of The Villans, but also the home of the most unruly and boisterous fans.

So where is the best place to watch the match?

The Holte End is the most popular stand in Villa Park where rowdy and sometimes disorderly fans show their Aston Villa pride to fellow fans and opponents alike.

While bright and open on the inside, the outside of the stadium features a dull and stiff concrete and steel structure.

Villa Park has been the home ground of Aston Villa F.C. since 1897 and is one of the most exciting places to watch a match.

11. Britannia Stadium, Stoke City

The home of Stoke City is a monster of a stadium, while only holding around 27,000 fans.

With a large pitch and steep stands, fans are able to feel up close to the action on the field. The stadium is not UEFA eligible, however, and loses points on aesthetics because of the layout of the stands.

The four stand structures are separated and would look much better filled in at the corners.

Other than that, the stadium is clean and fairly standard with a very modern look.

12. Boleyn Ground, West Ham United

West Ham United F.C. resides in the castle that is Boleyn Ground located in Upton Park, London.

Upton Park is an urban location with many attractions surrounding the stadium.

On the inside, the stadium is a sight to see. The layout of the stadium is breathtaking with fully-covered stands in their home shade of claret, contrasted perfectly against the fresh green grass of the pitch.

With over 35,000 seating capacity, the Hammers play in an entertaining stadium that draws fairly large crowds. And the temperature seems to rise in the stands when local rivals Tottenham Hotspur pay a visit to Boleyn.

The atmosphere in Boleyn is created mostly by the West Ham United fans. Rivalries run deep at Boleyn Ground and fans are known to be fiercely loyal and always quick to heckle the opponent.

13. Carrow Road, Norwich City

Right on the water of the River Wensum, Carrow Road is a unique stadium.

After undergoing numerous construction projects, the stadium has become more modern. The field is now fitted with electronic scoreboards and screens surrounding the field.

And fans can enjoy the game right from the comfort of their rooms thanks to the Holiday Inn Hotel located in the corner between the Barclay and the Jarrold stands.

Not a bad place to watch a match, but the structure of the stadium itself is not a sight for sore eyes.

The harsh metal and dull gray tones makes this stadium one of the less exciting in the Premier League.

14. Stadium of Light, Sunderland

The Stadium of Light is simple and accommodating.

The Black Cats play for a crowd of over 49,000 fans.

The atmosphere is fun and exciting like most matches, but nothing compared to the magnitude of the league’s larger and more popular stadiums which leaves Sunderland's home ground at No. 14 on the list.

15. Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers

Loftus Road Stadium has the smallest seating capacity of about 18,000 people.

Which is a blessing and a curse.

The Blessing: Spectators are able to see the game and their favorite players up close on the pitch. The layout of the stands is tightly wrapped around the ground.

The Curse: revenue is nowhere near what the Queens Park Rangers are looking to achieve.

An intimate stadium does not mean less excitement, but there are definitely less fans to create the most ideal atmosphere comparable to a top-flight match.

16. The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion

Home to West Bromwich Albion F.C., the Hawthorns is also on the smaller side, seating only about 26,000 spectators.

Albion is entering their seventh season in the Premier League and has not yet seen the same popularity of the other teams in the league. Despite their small presence on and off the pitch, the club has had claim to the  best fans in the league in the past.

And when it comes down to the match, fans are unwavering and devoted to the Baggies.

Particularly when arch-rival Aston Villa comes to town, the Hawthorns seem a little louder and a little bigger than usual.

17. DW Stadium, Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic is housed in a fairly average stadium.

DW Stadium holds a smaller number of about 25,000 spectators and a grass pitch with four separate stands.

It is one of the structurally prettiest stadiums in the Premier League, using a combination of wood and steel.

But other than that, there's not much else to mention.

18. Liberty Stadium, Swansea City

The second-smallest stadium in the Premier League, Liberty Stadium stands as an all-white monument in Wales for Swansea City.

The club is a brand new addition to the Premier League as of 2011-2012 and should hopefully see a growth in their fan base.

The stadium sold out last season, as excitement has grown on the pitch and in the stands.

19. Madejski Stadium, Reading

Fairly new to the Premier League, Reading F.C. plays in an average sized stadium in Berkshire England.

The stadium displays a generic interior with blue stands surrounding the pitch.

Nowhere near the top ranked stadiums in the league, Madejski Stadium goes by this list barely noticed.

20. St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton

UEFA ranked St. Mary’s Stadium with four stars, but the 32,689 capacity arena rarely fills to its maximum.

The stadium has the standard four stands and two screens at each end.

Although it is highly ranked for its structure and pitch, nothing stands out too much about Southampton’s home ground, which fits the club’s reputation as newcomers of the Premier League.