This article is devoted to the problem of studying the lawn as a functional and symbolic element of the sports and entertainment areas. The lawn becomes the main subject of cultural analysis in the history of sport architecture for the first time. The research observes the historical epochs when flora on the whole and the lawn in particular acted as factors in creating the sports and entertainment culture. Sport in ancient times, in the past ages, and in the present day used natural space and vegetation differently. The Antic sport always trampled the surface and did not use the lawn, but this controversial culture has a cult of the sacred grove. The transformation of this Celtic cult led to the appearance of the British lawn tradition. This development involves a surrounding green field for ball games by architectural structures, the selection of which is within the boundaries of the park. In the 20th century, there was the creation of the universal type of stadium where a green football field occupies the central place. Today, a sports lawn is an attribute of the sacred grove, and a wide park space spreads out for private use and becomes technically reproducible. As the result of the study, we are able to designate a large set of problems, the most important of which is the paradox of preserving the symbolic status of the lawn in its physical transformation.