Ranking worst to best stadiums in NFL (2024)
While they aren't as cool as the Colosseum, NFL stadiums do come a close second. Check out the worst to best stadiums in the league.
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The NFL is arguably the favorite of the major league sports in the United States. Football has more action than baseball and basketball, which makes it more appealing to the fans. There is drama during each play, and games can be won at the final minute as well, which makes for a thrilling watch.
With the matches being a treat to watch, the tickets are sold out within minutes of opening up. The experience of standing in the stadium and seeing the superstars right in front of your eyes and battling it out makes you feel like a Roman sitting in the Colosseum, watching the gladiators fight for glory.
Stadiums of NFL teams are among the best in the world and boost a capacity of 70,000 – 80,000 on average. While they aren’t as cool as the Colosseum, NFL stadiums do come a close second. Let’s check all the 30 stadiums in the NFL from worst to best.
30. FedEx Field – Washington Commanders
FedEx Field previously known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium is home to the Washington Commanders. This stadium was built back in 1997 with a construction cost of $250.5 million. Originally, the FedEx Field had a seating capacity of 91,000 but was reduced to 67,617 as of 2022.
This is the worst stadium in the league because getting in and out of it is a hassle that no fan wants to endure. The stadium doesn’t stand out with unique features and the extravagant food prices made it even more difficult for fans to enjoy coming here.
Additionally, the Commanders aren’t a great team and remain pretty much at the bottom of the pool year in and year out. So, naturally, fans don’t visit the stadium that often making FedEx Field the worst stadium in the NFL.
29. MetLife Stadium – New York Giants and New York Jets
Home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, the MetLife Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the league with 82,500 seating capacity. This stadium in the financial capital of the world was built with a construction cost of $1.6 billion. However, the stadium doesn’t reflect its price tag as it is a simple open-air stadium.
MetLife Stadium is at the bottom of the top because while housing the Jets and the Giants, it also houses rats making it difficult for fans to come out and watch the games.
28. TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville Jaguars
TIAA Bank Field is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and houses the Jacksonville Jaguars. The stadium opened in 1995 and was built on a $121 million budget. The stadium can accommodate 82,000 football fans. TIAA Bank Field hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.
This stadium has a very expensive pool in which fans can watch the games. TIAA Bank Field also has a designated dog area which doesn’t make sense, to be honest. TIAA Bank Field doesn’t boast a retractable roof or a big ultra HD screen making it stay down below in the list of the best stadiums in the league.
27. Paycor Stadium – Cincinnati Bengals
Paycor Stadium is the home ground of the Cincinnati Bengals. It was originally known as the Paul Brown Stadium named after Bengals’ founder Paul Brown. The stadium was built with a construction cost of $455 million in 2000.
This stadium is considered to be amongst the worst stadiums because the team hasn’t had any success in the league. Since the team has been in the NFL, it hasn’t won a single Super Bowl and has made it to the big game only four times and suffered losses in each of them. It is an outdoor stadium that doesn’t add to the allure and can house only 65,000 people.
26. Nissan Stadium – Tennessee Titans
Nissan Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. This stadium is home to the Tennessee Titans and was opened in 1999 with a budget of $290 million.
This stadium looks like it’s falling apart and bears a striking resemblance to nothing but a green field with two goalposts. Nissan Stadium can house 69,500 people at max.
25. Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Dolphins
In recent years, the Miami Dolphins have attempted to become a Super Bowl threat in the AFC. Despite finding middling success, their stadium does not have the best reputation.
Hard Rock Stadium is one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL. Home to the Miami Dolphins, it was built in 1987 with a $117 million budget. This stadium has hosted six Super Bowls – XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII, XLI, XLIV, and LIV.
24. Highmark Stadium – Buffalo Bills
Highmark Stadium is home to the Buffalo Bills and is one of the oldest stadiums in the league. It was opened in 1973 on a $22 million budget and has a 72,000 capacity.
The weather makes it difficult for people to watch the games and for players to play in the snow. Highmark Stadium has become a relic and hosting games in harsh conditions is becoming too difficult. That’s why it is at the bottom of the pool.
23. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland Browns
FirstEnergy Stadium is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and is home to the Cleveland Browns. This stadium can’t attract the crowds to fill its seats because to put it bluntly, the Browns haven’t been a great team in recent years. They have their moments, but those come rarely.
The stadium had a construction cost of $283 million and opened for games in 1999. The capacity of FirstEnergy Stadium is 68,000, but not that much of a crowd is seen at the stadium.
22. Levi’s Stadium – San Francisco 49ers
Home to the San Francisco 49ers, Levi’s Stadium is fairly new in the league. It was opened in 2014 on a budget of $1.4 Billion. The stadium doesn’t reflect the cost that it took to build it.
Levi’s Stadium is an open stadium with no roofs to protect fans from the glaring sun. Additionally, the tickets are also too costly and the location of the stadium makes it difficult for fans since it’s far away from any major town.
21. Bank of America Stadium – Carolina Panthers
Bank of America is a run-of-the-mill stadium of the Carolina Panthers. It doesn’t have any extraordinary features, which make it a unique place to watch football. Still, it’s in decent condition thanks to the minor upgrades done from time to time.
The stadium was built in 1996 with a construction cost of $248 million. The highest record crowd at Bank of America Stadium was on September 9, 2018. 74,532 fans of the Panthers and Cowboys sat as they watched the home team smash the visitors and win 16-8.
20. Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium, or Heinz Field as it is commonly known, is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Acrisure Stadium was built in 2001, and $281 million went into it.
What made this stadium one of the most loved in the league was its name – Heinz Field. The organization had to give away the naming rights to make renovations which didn’t turn out to be as good as planned.
19. Gillette Stadium – New England Patriots
Every NFL fan worth his or her salt knows this stadium. Gillette Stadium has earned its reputation mainly because of the dynasty the New England Patriots created by winning six Super Bowls in the 2000s.
Gillette Stadium is just like any other stadium in the league. It is an outdoor stadium, and fans only visited it to watch Tom Brady and Co. make those patented comebacks. The traffic in and around this place makes it difficult for fans to make those long trips to Foxboro, Massachusetts. That’s why this iconic Patriots stadium is so low on the list.
18. Soldier Field – Chicago Bears
Soldier Field holds the distinction of being both – the oldest and the smallest stadium in the NFL. Home to the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field was opened in 1924 with a cost of $13 million! This iconic stadium can house only 62,000 fans.
This stadium is filled with a rich history of not just sports but also revolutions. Soldier Field hosted huge rallies with speeches from Amelia Earhart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. However, the stadium is now losing its significance, and the city of Chicago is slowly making progress to build a new stadium. Despite being an iconic stadium, Soldier Field has never hosted a Super Bowl.
17. M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home to the Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium has been around since 1998. This stadium has an intoxicating atmosphere once you enter.
It feels like someone has been transported into another dimension to watch teams battle each other to win a ball game in the home of the Ravens.
16. Ford Field – Detroit Lions
Ford Field is located in downtown Detroit which makes it worth the while for fans as they can enjoy food at various top-notch restaurants after the game.
Detroit Lions are the home team of this beautiful stadium that was built in 2002. The stadium is owned by automobile giant Ford Motor Company along with the franchise.
15. Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field, also known as The Linc, is home to the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s an amazing stadium with great food and an even greater ambiance. It was built in 2003 with a construction cost of $512 million. It has a maximum capacity of 72,000.
Other than football, Lincoln Financial Field is also used for concerts, stand-up comedy shows, and other events. It captures the spirit of Philadelphia perfectly and every NFL fan should watch a game at this stadium at least once in their life.
14. Caesars Superdome – New Orleans Saints
Caesars Superdome is home to the New Orleans Saints. This iconic stadium is one of the most beloved ones in the league for its rich history with the team and the place. It is among the oldest stadiums in the NFL, having opened in 1975.
Caesars Superdome used to be filled at its maximum occupancy of 77,000 when Drew Brees used to be the quarterback of the Saints. This stadium remains one of the best and is set to suffer huge degradation in the coming years. Caesars Superdome will host Super Bowl LIX in 2025.
13. Empower Field at Mile High – Denver Broncos
Empower Field at Mile High is the home ground of the Denver Broncos. This stadium is a fan favorite for its amazing food and the view of the Rocky Mountains, which makes it a unique experience to watch football games.
Often known as Mile High, this stadium remains one of the best not just for football games but also for other events. In 2008, Barack Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the 2008 Democratic National Convention at this stadium. This stadium is also infamous for catching fire occasionally for some weird reason.
12. SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers
Once you step into the SoFi Stadium you can feel the shift in the air because this stadium is one of the most beautiful ones ever built. Home to the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, SoFi Stadium sees a religious crowd every week.
It was built in 2020 with a budget of around $6 billion, making it the most expensive stadium ever built in the NFL. Just a year after it opened, SoFi Stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI, where its home team – the Rams won against the Bengals.
11. Lambeau Field – Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field is home to the Green Bay Packers, and it has one of the best fanbases in the NFL. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lambeau Field was built in 1957, making it one of the oldest stadiums in the league.
It is an iconic stadium but sadly hasn’t hosted a Super Bowl in its 65 years of history because of the harsh weather conditions. Winters get chilly here, and it snows during games, which is a different experience altogether.
10. Lumen Field-Seattle Seahawks
Home to the Seattle Seahawks, the Lumen Field was built in 2002. The Lumen Field is a multipurpose stadium and is the home field of the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL, the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), and the OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The capacity for NFL games is around 68,740, with a maximum capacity of 72,000 people. The Lumen Field also hosts various concerts, boat shows, theater shows, and food tastings occasionally. The stadium construction cost was $430 million and is owned by a private-public partnership. The Lumen Field is notoriously known for being the loudest stadium in the NFL, which plays well in the favor of the Seahawks during games.
9. AT&T Stadium-Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium belongs to the richest sports franchise in the world – the Dallas Cowboys, worth $8 billion. The stadium was built in Arlington, Texas, with a construction cost of $1.5 billion in 2009. It is widely known as Jerry World and The Death Star after owner Jerry Jones.
The AT&T Stadium has a maximum capacity of 105,000 people, is built with a retractable roof, and has one of the largest HD video boards in the world. Aside from hosting games for America’s Team, the stadium has also hosted the Big 12 Championship Game, Major League Soccer games, and WrestleMania 39 in addition to the NBA All-Star Game. The stadium is in consideration to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches as well.
8. Raymond James Stadium-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Raymond James Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Tampa, Florida. Home field to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this stadium has a maximum occupancy of 75,000. This stadium was constructed back in 1998 at $168.5 million and has hosted various equestrian events, soccer games, and monster truck rallies over the years.
The stadium has hosted Super Bowl XXXV, Super Bowl XLIII, and Super Bowl LV, which the Buccaneers won. Raymond James Stadium is known for its iconic pirate ship, which is a fan favorite among NFL fans. It remains one of the best stadiums in the league in 2023.
7. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium-Kansas City Chiefs
One of the most difficult fields at which to win games is the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is the home of the AFC powerhouse, Kansas City Chiefs. It was previously known only as Arrowhead Stadium, but GEHA was added to the name in 2021.
It is the sixth largest stadium in the NFL, with a sitting capacity of 76,416. The stadium was constructed back in 1972 with a construction cost of just $43 million. Built in the shape of an Arrowhead, the iconic stadium has never hosted a Super Bowl in its history!
6. Allegiant Stadium-Las Vegas Raiders
This dome-shaped stadium in Sin City is home to the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL, along with the University of Nevada, the Las Vegas Rebels College Football team, the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Vegas Kickoff Classic.
Allegiant Stadium completed its construction in 2020 and is the second most expensive stadium in the world, with a construction cost of $1.9 billion. The stadium at a time can hold 72,000 people at max. This stadium hosted the 2023 Pro Bowl and will host Super Bowl LVIII in 2024, proving to be one of the best stadiums in the league.
5. Lucas Oil Stadium-Indianapolis Colts
A multi-purpose stadium located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Lucas Oil Stadium is the home ground of the Indianapolis Colts since its construction in 2008. Built with a budget of $720 million, this stadium can house a maximum of 70,000 fans.
The Lucas Oil Stadium has retractable roofs, which take about 11 minutes to open and close and weigh about 2.5 million pounds. The stadium hosted Super Bowl XLI, with the home team facing the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, the Colts lost 29-13. This 1.8 million square feet stadium also hosted the 2023 NFL Combine because of its reputation as amongst the top 5 best stadiums in the NFL.
4. State Farm Stadium-Arizona Cardinals
Home to the Arizona Cardinals and the Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Glendale, Arizona. State Farm Stadium was opened in 2006, with a construction cost of $455 million. This grand stadium can house 73,000 football-crazy fans.
It was named ‘Event Site of the Year’ by Event Solutions Magazine in 2007 and Best NFL Facility in 2006 and 2007. This grand stadium hosted Super Bowl LVII, where the Chiefs beat the Eagles in a final-minute thriller to lift their third Super Bowl title.
3. NRG Stadium-Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have called the NRG Stadium their home ground since it opened in 2002. Formerly known as Reliant Stadium, it was constructed with a budget of $352 million.
NRG Stadium was the first stadium in the United States to have a retractable roof. One of the biggest stadiums in the NFL, the Texans’ home ground has a maximum capacity of 80,000. NFG Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl LI.
2. Mercedes-Benz Stadium-Atlanta Falcons
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer. A multi-purpose stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the biggest stadiums in the NFL, with a 75,000 maximum occupancy.
It was built with a construction cost of $1.6 billion in 2017. This work of art stadium hosted Super Bowl LIII, where the Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl title, cementing their dominance in the NFL. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium has hosted a load of events for football and soccer and has now made its way to the second-best stadium in the NFL in 2023.
1. U.S. Bank Stadium-Minnesota Vikings
The best stadium in the NFL in 2023 is the U.S. Bank Stadium. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this stadium is home to the Minnesota Vikings. This stadium was built with a construction cost of $1.061 billion in 2016 and can host up to 73,000 fans.
U.S. Bank Stadium hosted Super Bowl LII, where the Eagles defeated the Patriots in one of the most thriller games ever played to lift their maiden Lombardi Trophy. This stadium hosted the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships and ESPN’s X Games in 2017, among other major events. Despite being fairly new, the U.S. Bank Stadium has made its way to the top of the ladder.
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Yash Karandekar
(1023 Articles Published)