The NFL has some amazing stadiums for fans to enjoy, but which are the best and most spectacular places to watch some football games?
Let’s take a look at some of the best stadiums in the US and what makes them unique.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
Opened in 2017, the home of the Atlanta Falcons has received positive reviews from fans from the very first day. It should not be confused with the Mercedes Benz Superdome in Louisiana, that has hosted 7 Super Bowls, including the 2002 one, when Tom Brady won his first Super Bowl (read more about it here edge.twinspires.com/nfl/when-did-tom-brady-win-his-first-super-bowl/).
This one, despite having the same branding, is located in Atlanta and has a retractable roof. The food and the facilities are some of the highlights often mentioned by spectators who have enjoyed a game here. Even some light rain doesn’t stop the roof from being opened, as it’s been described as essentially being an outdoor stadium at heart.
The clever design means that you get a great view from anywhere in the stadium, while Super Bowl LIII was the first held here, in 2019. A cost of $1.6 billion has been mentioned for this stadium, which sounds a lot more reasonable when we consider the cost of similar stadiums built more recently.
SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California
The host of the Super Bowl LVI in 2022, SoFi Stadium is reported to be the most expensive sporting venue ever built. This is the new home of the LA Chargers and the LA Rams, who share the 70,000-capacity stadium that has state of the art technology including the giant video board suspended over the field.
One of the stand-out features of this venue is that it’s part of an overall complex that includes a pedestrian plaza and a giant performance center with capacity for 6,000 spectators. Everything about SoFi has been designed to give football fans a fantastic day out with no hassles.
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey
This huge stadium in New Jersey is shared by the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, this stadium is about five miles to the west of New York City. It was opened in 2001, replacing the Giants Stadium.
It cost about $1.6 billion to build and was the most expensive American sports stadium at the time, although it’s now been overtaken in that respect by SoFi Stadium among others. The official capacity is 82,500 and it has been packed to the rafters for events such as Super Bowl XLVIII and the 122nd Army Navy Game.
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
The Dallas Cowboys play their home NFL games in this incredible stadium in Arlington. It was opened in 2009 and became the biggest football stadium in the league at that time, with an 80,000 capacity that can be increased to 100,000 if needed.
The iconic retractable roof and the giant scoreboard that several players have hit with punts are among the most noteworthy parts of this stadium. As well as the Cowboys games, the Cotton Bowl Classic and the Big 12 Championship Game are played here, while music concerts and other sporting events are held in the stadium.
U.S. Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, Minnesota the U.S. Bank Stadium where the Minnesota Vikings play was opened in 2016 and has a clever design that bucks the trend for retractable roofs in the NFL. While most other teams in the league were adding retractable roofs that stay close during the winter months, the Vikings wanted a stadium that could be opened to the elements whenever suitable.
The solution is a clever translucent roof with huge pivoting doors. It lets a lot of natural sunlight in and also gives fans a wonderful view of Minneapolis during games. The overall effect is of a hugely atmospheric place for football games and was the setting for Super Bowl LII, which the Philadelphia Eagles won.