Top 10 Best NFL Stadiums
Ranking the best football stadiums is no straightforward task. Most stadiums have hosted some memorable games over the years. However, we are searching for the most consistent venues to watch an excellent football game. That means we are looking at the facilities, locations, and transport links when making our decision.
As well as looking at the numbers, we have seen this topic discussed on several social media websites. The overall online consensus fascinated us, especially given the intense rivalries between certain teams. To make our list as accurate as possible, we have accounted for what the fans said on various forums. Now that you know how we choose our top ten, it’s time to see what are the best NFL stadiums in America.
10. Acrisure Stadium - Pittsburgh Steelers
Starting any list with the Steelers means we are off to a strong start. The newly named Acrisure Stadium replaced the iconic Heinz Field in 2022. Although the name has changed, a lot of iconic games have taken place in Pittsburgh over the years. The stadium has a capacity of 68,400, which is around average when compared to the rest of the NFL.
The Stadium is in the heart of Pittsburgh, next door to one of the best ballparks in America, PNC Park. It is also situated on the Ohio River, allowing for some magnificent views of the downtown skyline. Acrisure Stadium pays homage to Pittsburgh’s history as it used over 12,000 tons of steel in its construction. If you are looking to sample the best NFL stadiums in America, the home of the Steelers is a great place to start.
- Opening Date: August 18, 2001
- Capacity: 68,400
- Stadium Type: Open-Air
- Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass
9. Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis Colts
Colts fans will be pleased to see the Lucas Oil Stadium get some recognition. There are only five stadiums in the entire NFL with retractable roofs, a big talking point nowadays. Lucas Oil Stadium is one of the smallest in the entire league, with only 63,000 seats on game day.
The stadium is near downtown Indianapolis and has a unique design. The red bricks and bright limestone give the appearance of an early 20th-century warehouse. It might not be the most spectacular building on our list, but it does not lack character. Plus, given the noise made by the locals, all it will take is one trip to Indiana, and you will see why Lucas Oil Stadium makes it onto our list.
Without Peyton, there would be no Lucas Oil Stadium. This team would be playing in L.A. right now.
- Tony Dungy
- Opening Date: August 16, 2008
- Capacity: 63,000 - 70,000
- Stadium Type: Retractable Roof
- Surface: Shaw Sports Momentum Pro (Artificial Turf)
8. Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City Chiefs
If we were creating a list just on the noise made by home fans, then the Kansas City Chiefs would reign supreme. After all, they hold the record for the loudest crowd noise at a sporting event and we ranked them fifth on our list of the best NFL fan bases. However, there are many parts to a stadium. As impressive as the Arrowhead is, it’s a little too old to compete with the new era of multi-billion dollar venues.
The Arrowhead Stadium might be next door to one of the best MLB ballparks in America, Kauffman Stadium, but it is a little out of the way compared to most. Sure, there are a lot of parking spaces, which makes for an excellent tailgate community. But as far as transport goes, it’s a long way from Kansas City. The beauty of talking about sports is you could make an argument for the Chiefs belong at the top. But in our mind, the stadium itself only just cracks the top ten.
- Opening Date: August 12, 1972
- Capacity: 76,416
- Stadium Type: Open-Air
- Surface: NorthBridge Bermudagrass
7. Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta Falcons
Seeing as we have touched upon a new era of football stadiums, it is only fitting to mention the home of the Atlanta Falcons. The stadium cost an eye-watering $1.6 billion and opened on August 26, 2017. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a capacity of 71,000, they can extend up to 75,000. They set the record attendance level in 2022 for the Peach Bowl at 79,330.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium outshines a lot of the competition in the NFL. They can keep the roof open during light rain as they spared no expense in getting electronics rated for the outdoors. Speaking of electronics, the stadium has a ring-shaped halo of curved screens above the pitch. The humongous display is just one of many technical feats in the Falcons’ new home. Plus, the stadium is next door to the State Farm Arena, home of the Hawks. Also, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is in Downtown Atlanta, giving fans plenty of ways to commute.
- Opening Date: August 26, 2017
- Capacity: 71,000 - 75,000
- Stadium Type: Retractable Roof
- Surface: FieldTurf (Artificial Turf)
6. AT&T Stadium - Dallas Cowboys
Now we are at the hardest part of the list. All the facilities listed below are up there with the best in America. However, we need to order them somehow. Coming in at number six is the AT&T Stadium, otherwise known as “The Death Star”. It has a capacity of 80,000, which they can expand to over 105,000 for a big game such as the Super Bowl.
It is the third highest-capacity stadium in the NFL currently and we are firm believers in “the more the merrier”. Watching a game with a full house at the AT&T Stadium is one of those feelings you have to experience for yourself. They built the stadium in 2009, which cost around $1.3 billion, just under $1.8 billion in today’s money. You could certainly make an argument to get the Cowboys higher on this list, but they narrowly miss out on the top five best NFL stadiums.
- Opening Date: May 27, 2009
- Capacity: 80,000 - 105,000
- Stadium Type: Retractable Roof
- Surface: Hellas Matrix Turf (Artificial Turf)
5. Allegiant Stadium - Las Vegas Raiders
Controversy surrounds a lot of the teams in Vegas, but one thing no one can dispute is that the Allegiant Stadium is mighty impressive. The new home of the Raiders cost an extraordinary amount, just fewer than two billion dollars. That makes it the second most expensive stadium ever built. However, just because a stadium was expensive does not guarantee it is a great venue to watch football. The MetLife Stadium cost $1.7bn in 2010 and has a reputation for being a poor location for the NFL.
The Allegiant Stadium is in the middle of Las Vegas. It is one block over from Mandalay Bay and Luxor, which is south of the main strip. Besides an excellent location, the stadium is state-of-the-art. The concessions are incredibly modern and they certainly constructed the stadium with acoustics in mind. Plus, the venue has a fixed roof, so everyone is safe from the heat of the desert come game day. If you are a fan of football or architecture, the Raiders home in Vegas is one to see.
This is more spectacular than I even imagined. ... Everything is just so brilliant and you can feel the energy. From the art to the food to everybody that works here, it's just been a really great experience.
- Marie Osmond
- Opening Date: July 31, 2020
- Capacity: 65,000 - 71,835
- Stadium Type: Fixed Roof
- Surface: Bermuda Grass
4. SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles Chargers and Rams
Fourth on our list is the most expensive stadium ever built in the entire world. The stadium cost $5.5 billion, well over double the price of the new home of the Raiders. From the outside, the SoFi Stadium does not look like any other arena in America. Its unique design has certainly helped it reach the top spots of our list. Plus, the stadium has a capacity of 70,240 that they can expand to over 100,000 for major events.
The new home of the Chargers and Rams is excellently located. There are several transit links to get to and from the stadium, including dedicated shuttles. It is another arena with a large halo display overhanging the pitch. This display has over 80 million pixels and weighs more than 1,000 tons. They spared no expense with a 260-speaker audio system and over 50 5G wireless antennas. Given Los Angeles’ favorable climate, you would hope to see a grass field, but they opted for an artificial surface. Every NFL fan should visit the SoFi Stadium once in their lifetime, but it’s not the best in America.
- Opening Date: September 8, 2020
- Capacity: 70,240 - 100,240
- Stadium Type: Fixed Roof
- Surface: Matrix Turf (Artificial Turf)
3. U.S. Bank Stadium - Minnesota Vikings
Another stadium that cost over one billion dollars to construct is the U.S. Bank. Commonly referred to as "The Ship", the new home of the Vikings is indeed striking from afar. The modern design of the stadium is a sight to behold whether you are inside watching a game or walking past on game day.
The stadium has a fixed roof, which has its advantages and disadvantages. For starters, it means fewer delays and postponements due to weather. However, the Vikings lose some home advantage as the stadium shields the players from the cold. Some of the best football games occur in the worst conditions, so it’s a shame to see that aspect removed. However, the U.S. Bank Stadium is another fantastic venue for football fans, no matter what team you support.
- Opening Date: July 22, 2016
- Capacity: 66,860 - 73,000
- Stadium Type: Fixed Roof
- Surface: Act Global Artificial Turf
2. Lumen Field - Seattle Seahawks
Everyone knows the Seahawks turn up on the game day, having broken the Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd noise at a sporting event twice. However, that record now belongs to the Arrowhead Stadium. To be fair, Lumen Field has a capacity of 68,740, eight thousand less than the 76,416 at the Arrowhead. We are not making excuses, it’s just important to know the numbers.
What makes Lumen Field Special? For starters, the design and location of the stadium allow fans fantastic views of the Seattle skyline. The stadium is next door to T-Mobile Park, one of the best baseball stadiums in America. Plus, Lumen Field is much closer to civilization compared to Arrowhead Stadium. That means you have much more options besides driving to the game. If you are ever in Seattle, make sure you get tickets to see a game at either Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park.
- Opening Date: July 28, 2002
- Capacity: 68,740 - 72,000
- Stadium Type: Open-Air
- Surface: FieldTurf Revolution 360 (Artificial Turf)
1. Lambeau Field - Green Bay Packers
The best NFL Stadium is Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. We have covered several brand-new stadiums, which offer fantastic viewing experiences for fans. However, you cannot replicate the feeling you get when you walk through history, and that is exactly what Lambeau Field is all about.
The stadium opened in 1957 and they renovated and expanded it several times over the past 60 years. Most recently, in 2023, costing just under half a billion dollars. It’s an important stadium for the NFL, as it was the first modern stadium built specifically for football. Before this, many did not believe NFL teams warranted an individual stadium, so they shared facilities with MLB teams or other franchises. Lambeau Field stands for more than just a good day at the game. It was critical for shaping the landscape of football today. If the NFL did not take steps away from shared facilities, football would not be what we know and love today.
There you have it. If you are looking for the best stadium in the NFL, it is the home of the Packers. Lambeau Field is iconic and the fans are a large part of the history. The cheeseheads will cheer loudly for the team, regardless of the performance. The fans have sold out every preseason, regular season, and playoff game since 1960 and the waiting list for a season ticket is over 140,000 people. There are few franchises in the NFL with support like Green Bay and that adds massively to the experience you will get at Lambeau Field.
- Opening Date: September 29, 1957
- Capacity: 81,441
- Stadium Type: Open-Air
- Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass with SIS Grass
Honorable Mentions
No list at Bet Station is complete without paying our respects to the honorable mentions. This list is full of stadiums we feel narrowly missed out on the top ten, but deserve some recognition as they are all fantastic places to watch football. Any of the stadiums listed below are a good place to start before heading to the locations in our top ten.
- Ford Field – Detroit Lions
- Caesars Superdome – New Orleans Saints
- NRG Stadium - Houston Texans
- Empower Field at Mile High – Denver Broncos
- Levi’s Stadium - San Francisco 49ers
