By Nolan Cain//Co-Editor

If you are an avid sports fan, then you’ve no doubt been told to visit Fenway Park, Wembley Stadium or Lambeau Field. These places are legendary, and their place in history is unquestioned. While those places may take your breath away, we are not here to rehash the classics. We are here to talk about some of the most fascinating, outlandish and just plain funky sporting venues in the world. These places are something out of your imagination.

Omnilife Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico

My personal favorite stadium, Omnilife Stadium, is home to top-tier Mexican soccer team Chivas Guadalajara. It’s built inside a massive crater, so a fan feels as if he were entering a volcano as more than 45,000 lava-red seats stretch out in front of him. A light-weight roof covers the perimeter of the stadium, only enhancing the feel that you are deep inside the earth. Omnilife Stadium is renowned for its environmentally friendly design that uses rain water collection systems and new energy conservation techniques along with a parking lot that is beneath the crater walls. The stadium was completed in 2010. The first game saw Chivas host Manchester United, and Mexican superstar Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez scored the first goal for Chivas before switching sides at half in a symbolic move. A visit here is a must for any soccer fan and should be on any fanatic’s list, as the Chivas fans are nothing short of spectacular to match their amazing home.

ASB Glassfloor in Schloss Stein School, Germany

It is the court of the future. A combination of aluminum and glass, the court looks like an image straight out of a sci-fi movie. LED lights cover the floor and allow for changes in the size of the court, the direction of court or the type of sport in seconds. It can even keep score or show video if needed. The makers designed it to withstand the rigors of a variety of sports, allowing for maximum usability, and the court has graded out as more elastic than hardwood, while small dots on the floor provide traction. Placed in a school gym in Germany, the court has held up better than wood and the opportunities for its use are endless. From squash to badminton to basketball, the court is as flexible as it is innovative. A trip here to see what basketball might look like in 20 years is a must for any sports fanatic. It truly is a glimpse into the gymnasiums of tomorrow.

Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Course in Coober Pedy, Australia

If you think of any one color associated with golf, it is definitely going to be green. Not out here! At Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Course, it is just you and the desert. With not a blade of grass in sight, this Australian golf course is as fascinating as it is difficult. Players are expected to carry around a piece of artificial turf to play their ball off the fairway, and the greens (browns rather) need to be raked and scraped before you can attempt to putt your ball into the hole. A truly unique experience, this course may be the cheapest in the land at only $20 to play, but watch out for the rocks! A bad bounce could have you chasing your ball into the desert bushes. While it may not be the most maintained course in the world, it is definitely a one-of-kind experience for any golf enthusiast who can make it out to the remote, opal-mining capital of the world.

Burj Al Arab Hotel Helipad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Have you ever considered what it would be like to play tennis hundreds of feet off the ground? What about teeing off with a 700- foot drop in front of you? Well, I bring you the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. Claiming to be the “World’s Only 7-Star Hotel,” it has a helipad hanging off the top floor that has been used for a variety of sport-related stunts. Andre Agassi and Roger Federer had a friendly match there in 2005, and Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have both visited the platform to hit a few balls. While it is usually a standard helipad connected to one of the most expensive hotels in the world, you might be lucky enough to catch the next big stunt, as in 2013 when Formula 1 driver David Coulthard turned some donuts high above the city on the platform, which, much to the dismay of anybody who is afraid of heights, has no fence to keep you from falling onto the private man-made island below.

Janguito Malucelli Stadium in Curitiba, Brazil

This next venue is for environmentalists and sports fans alike. Home to fourth division Brazilian soccer side Corinthians Paranaense, Estádio Janguito Malucelli is a one-of-a-kind environmentally friendly stadium. Building next to a grassy hill and a forest park, the designers chose to forgo the use of concrete in favor of more green materials. With seats lodged into the hill and driftwood used to make everything from the stairs to the locker rooms, this stadium is a model for what a small team can do to attract some good publicity. The use of the natural land is a marvel to look at, and sports fans should salivate at the idea that recent renovations took the seating capacity up to 10,000.

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Ski Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The first indoor ski resort with a black diamond run, Ski Dubai is a testament to what money can buy. Located inside the gigantic Mall of the Emirates, the indoor snow park has five slopes, and an interactive snow area with everything from zip lines to tube slides, and penguins that are available for meet-and-greet on any given day. A must-do for snow sports enthusiasts who want to impress their friends.

Marina Bay Floating Stadium in Marian Bay, Singapore

It’s a soccer field that’s floating over water. With 30,000 seats overlooking the gated-in playing surface, Marina Bay claims one of the most fascinating fields in the world. Just don’t kick the ball too hard or it could end up floating in the Marina Reservoir. Make sure you time your visit right, because everything from soccer games to concerts are hosted on the world’s largest floating platform.

Sapporo Dome in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan

Imagine a world where baseball and soccer can be played inside the same stadium without the ridiculous seating or dirt field. Well let me introduce you to Sapporo Stadium in Japan. This stadium features an artificial turf field for baseball and a grass field that is wheeled in from outside for soccer. The transition is a joy to watch as the stands are lifted, removed or altered mechanically as the full size pitch edges its way in.