It’s been a long six months since the Chiefs’ victory in Super Bowl 57. But here we are: We’re finally getting back to football season.
In the coming days and weeks, fans will be filing into stadiums across the NFL. And while NFL stadiums may not have the character we see in ballparks throughout baseball, they’re all unique in their own way.
Between the staff members at For The Win, we were able to offer first-hand experiences for all 30 NFL stadiums and ranked them with the admittedly subjective criteria of general atmosphere, design, location, amenities, food, character and — of course — the stadium itself. They’re all key factors in the overall game-day experience. Each ranking will be marked with its respective author.
The 2023 season is here. Let’s get ready.
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30
FedEx Field - Washington Commanders
Look, there’s no way around this. FedEx Field is awful. It’s literally falling apart. Remember when a railing gave way back in January of 2022 and sent a handful of Philly fans tumbling at the feet of Jalen Hurts? Or when that pipe burst in the fall of 2021 and sent questionable water all over fans? Yeah. Not only will the stadium actively work against you, you need to drive or train an annoying distance and either walk a further annoying distance or sit in hours of traffic to experience a team that hasn’t made it out of the Wild Card round since 2005. At least tickets are $70 each!
– Caroline Darney
29
Soldier Field - Chicago Bears
Soldier Field is a bizarre mix of past and present, like if Laura Ingalls Wilder had married a cyborg. The reverence for the history of the field means there’s limited leg room and entryways, leading to long wait times to see whichever underwhelming quarterback happens to be getting sacked that day. The present-day additions make the whole thing feel a little like Cincinnati, which, huh.
– Christian D’Andrea
28
TIAA Bank Field - Jacksonville Jaguars
TIAA Bank Field is a football stadium! So, there’s that. The location isn’t horrible, it has all the amenities you would want, including pizza, popcorn and hotdogs. Football!
– Caroline Darney
27
Caesars Superdome - New Orleans Saints
The Superdome was an architectural marvel when it first opened, but that was almost 50 years ago. It’s a dump now and no amount of renovation can make it nice (though they are trying). On the other hand, it has one of the best game-day atmospheres in the league, and the walkable location in the French Quarter makes for a fun experience. But man, the stadium is so bad. I can’t emphasize that enough.
– Andrew Joseph
26
Nissan Stadium - Tennessee Titans
Your Madden create-a-franchise stadium, come to life. It’s not memorable in any way, but the pedestrian bridge from downtown is a nice touch.
– Christian D’Andrea
25
Highmark Stadium - Buffalo Bills
“Garbage stadium surrounded by garbage fans.” – a visiting Patriots fan (who is not me, but whom I contacted for this ranking). This is a good thing for the city of Buffalo. Highmark is a relatively intimate NFL stadium with limited amenities but a tremendous tailgating scene that provides the attraction the on-field product failed to bring for so many years. A new stadium is on the way, though.
– Christian D’Andrea
24
Bank of America Stadium - Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium is well-located in Charlotte (we love a walkable stadium) and has all the amenities you’d want for a football game. They have the “self-serve” beverage and snack locations (you just grab the drinks you want out of the cooler and take them to cashiers to check out) which speeds things up, and they have the tall boy black cherry White Claws so, yeah.
– Caroline Darney
23
Raymond James Stadium - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Some venues go a little overboard with their decor, but seriously, why wouldn’t you want a pirate ship in the middle of your stadium? However, when you have that, the end zone seating options are a little limited, but it’s a fine stadium. The food is decent (especially when the Outback Bowl was in town, RIP), the outdoor weather is often lovely and the atmosphere is cool.
– Michelle Martinelli
22
MetLife Stadium - New York Giants and Jets
It doesn’t have the prestige and history of the other top stadiums on this list. It’s a bit cookie-cutter in design (although thank goodness for bigger concourses than its predecessor!), and the food isn’t anything special. But it’s fairly new, and that means it’s got some modern amenities. And feral cats.
– Charles Curtis
21
Empower Field at Mile High - Denver Broncos
It’s a stadium that is absolutely starting to show its age (and catches on fire more often than an NFL stadium should). And while it can use modern updates to compete with the newer stadiums in the league, it does have a great location going for it — surrounded (beyond the parking lots) by bars, breweries, restaurants and a Denny’s. Also, the Denver sunsets are spectacular.
– Andrew Joseph
20
Paycor Stadium - Cincinnati Bengals
It’s one of the more underrated stadiums in the NFL with a location right on the river and close enough to bars and restaurants (and Great American Ball Park) if you’re not into the traditional tailgating scene. Plus, you’re close to Kentucky where the bourbon is excellent. Since Joe Burrow’s arrival to Cincy, Paycor Stadium’s atmosphere has also been top notch.
– Andrew Joseph
19
Gillette Stadium - New England Patriots
It’s a very nice stadium with few bad seats and even fewer inexpensive ones. The Patriots leaned hard into making their Foxborough locale a full retail destination and the game-day experience suffers a bit as a result. There’s a certain amount of dissonance involved when you realize Tom Brady won six Super Bowls coming out of one tunnel, but that the field was reserved for UMass football games – despite the fact their campus is 93 miles away – for several Saturdays before the GOAT could take the field in the 2010s. It also underwent a renovation this offseason.
New moments.
New memories.
New board.NEW ENGLAND. pic.twitter.com/ytNrIBobOH
— Gillette Stadium (@GilletteStadium) August 4, 2023
– Christian D’Andrea
18
Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia Eagles
Though the Linc isn’t the most modern NFL stadium, it holds its charm for Eagles fans. Situated in the heart of the Philly Sports Complex, the tailgating scene feels reminiscent of a college experience, though the in-stadium beer is a bit pricy. Even still, the Linc is a fitting home for Eagles fans, who continuously pack in the stadium and make it one of the harshest road environments in the NFL.
– Mary Clarke
17
Cleveland Browns Stadium - Cleveland Browns
A stadium often overshadowed by the garbage heaps either on the field or in the front office above it. Newly named Cleveland Browns Stadium has a solid location, good sight lines, and relatively inexpensive amenities. For years it’s been a destination for visiting fans, who generally leave pleasantly surprised.
– Christian D’Andrea
16
M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore Ravens
As someone who grew up in Maryland, the nicest thing I can say about M&T Bank Stadium is that it is absolutely not FedEx Field. It’s a total upgrade from its nearest NFL neighbor. M&T is an extremely OK football stadium. Most of the views are good, parking is fine, and the tailgating experience is solid — especially if you pregame with some folks cooking up scrapple and serving Natty Bohs. If that’s not your thing, head inside the stadium (after you check out the Johnny Unitas statue) and hit up one of the two bars serving craft beer — Dogfish Head and Devils Backbone — and then grab a pit beef sandwich from The Pratt Street Hoagie. Settle in and remember to yell “Oh!” during the national anthem. You’re a Marylander now.
– Mitchell Northam
15
Levi’s Stadium - San Francisco 49ers
For what it was supposed to be — a $1.3 billion state-of-the-art facility — Levi’s Stadium is a bit of a dud. It could be mistaken for a parking structure, and whoever decided to build multiple levels of east-facing luxury suites (with windows!) must hate the fans seated behind the visiting bench. That glare is no joke on a sunny day.
– Andrew Joseph
14
NRG Stadium - Houston Texans
While the location isn’t ideal — surrounded by parking lots off a freeway with nothing to do nearby — NRG Stadium itself is a solid place to watch a football game. The retractable roof completely changes the atmosphere of the stadium when it’s open. The fans just haven’t had much to root for in recent years.
– Andrew Joseph
13
State Farm Stadium - Arizona Cardinals
On the outside, it’s one of the more outlandishly designed stadiums in the league. But once you walk inside, it’s almost a bit underwhelming how generic and stripped down the concourses are. You won’t find many fans who enjoy the long trips to Glendale, but they can put up with it for eight or nine days a year. The stadium is better known for hosting classic Super Bowls and college games than it is for anything related to the Cardinals. It’s a fine stadium, but there’s room for improvement with last season’s Super Bowl venue and its disastrous playing surface.
– Andrew Joseph
12
Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City Chiefs
As a stadium itself, Arrowhead is just OK. But the game-day experience is among the best in the league. Surrounded by nothing but parking lots, there’s little to do around the stadium besides tailgating. Which is awesome before games but leads to hour-plus traffic jams to exit Truman Sports Complex after games. The fans are LOUD and they love to remind you that they hold the Guinness World Record for loudest outdoor stadium. And they have plenty to cheer about these days. Overall, though, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Arrowhead. There aren’t many better places to spend an NFL Sunday.
– Andrew Joseph
11
Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Dolphins
Hard Rock Stadium feels a little underrated. The location is a little brutal as it sits kind of in the middle of nowhere, but the actual stadium experience isn’t bad. The club level upgrades are really nice, so if you can find a way up there, do it. If you’re hungry, you can grab a Shula Burger, which is branded “SHULA” across the bun.
– Caroline Darney
10
Ford Field - Detroit Lions
By far, Ford Field’s biggest asset is its roof because while some fan bases relish the idea of freezing in the winter during games at their outdoor venues, it’s so much better to watch the home team (lose) without battling frigid temperatures and sideways snowing. Beyond that, the food, particularly Slows Bar BQ, is fantastic, and the Bloody Marys are good and spicy. Plus, even when the Lions are rolling toward a three-win season, the ultra-dedicated fans inside remain consistently rowdy, and when an occasional Detroit touchdown is scored, the energy inside feels like it could blow that precious roof off.
– Michelle Martinelli
9
Acrisure Stadium - Pittsburgh Steelers
Between PNC Park and the formerly named Heinz Field, Pittsburgh does picturesque stadiums so well. While Acrisure Stadium has a new (and terrible) name, it should remain a stadium that has aged incredibly well in its 22 years. It’s a short walk to bars and restaurants, and the surrounding area is a sea of black and yellow on game days – making for a great atmosphere. It might lack some of the more luxurious amenities of the new stadiums, particularly in the concourses. But this is still a solid stadium.
– Andrew Joseph
8
Lumen Field - Seattle Seahawks
One of the best things about Lumen Field is the location. Close – like, very walkable – from downtown Seattle, Lumen is nestled by the water and also hosts MLS’s Seattle Sounders and NWSL’s Seattle Reign. It has a wonderful variety of local brews, and features food and beverage from Seattle originals like Ivar’s and Starbucks, as well as poke bowls, something called Sasquatch fries and chicken and biscuits. The game experience is electric with 72,000 “12s” cheering their support. Highly recommend a trip to not only Seattle, but Lumen as well.
– Caroline Darney
7
AT&T Stadium - Dallas Cowboys
Few arenas have ever made me feel as small as AT&T Stadium and that’s a compliment. Jerry Jones set out to build a modern coliseum and there’s no doubt he accomplished that goal. AT&T Stadium is one of the few NFL homes that will almost always inspire more awe than the teams playing in it, which is almost distracting.
– Blake Schuster
6
U.S. Bank Stadium - Minnesota Vikings
There’s no describing just how much of an upgrade U.S. Bank Stadium is over the 1970s shuttered airport aesthetic of the Metrodome. The glass ceiling makes the scope of the stadium appear truly enormous, but you never feel separated from the field itself. Plus, they have Grain Belt on tap – which is either a feature or a bug, depending on how you view the local lager.
– Christian D’Andrea
5
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis Colts
Simply put: It’s perfect. From a design that plays on the rich history of small town basketball gyms across Indiana, to an interior that found a way to to ensure every seat has an exceptional sightline, Lucas Oil Stadium is easily one of the best football stadiums you will find anywhere in the world. It’s no surprise why Indianapolis will remain in the running to host every Super Bowl and Final Four from now until they build a new home for the Indianapolis Colts.
– Blake Schuster
4
Allegiant Stadium - Las Vegas Raiders
This stadium is so nice, it’s almost silly. Sure, the Raiders don’t have much of an established fanbase in Las Vegas, and the games are a combination of tourist attraction, sporting event and social outing with $20 beers at the Wynn Field Club. But the nearly $2 billion stadium feels like a $2 billion stadium. Between the expansive concourses with marble floors, premium clubs around every corner and ridiculously comfortable seats, you can’t help but laugh about this team previously playing at Oakland Coliseum. Allegiant is a phenomenal stadium.
– Andrew Joseph
3
Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons found themselves in the strange position of building a stadium that is almost *too* nice. MBS is a great stadium. It’s unique, everything is new, the concession prices are fan friendly. But when it comes to amenities, there are so many great options that fans tend to spend time enjoying the stadium away from their seats (can you blame them? It’s the Falcons!). I know I wanted to walk around until I saw it all. That being said, the stadium is a world-class venue for both football and soccer. There’s a good reason major events are regularly held there.
– Andrew Joseph
2
SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles Chargers and Rams
SoFi Stadium is the exact kind of behemoth you’d expect from a $5.5 billion price tag, and it’s very nearly perfect. The sight lines are incredible, and there’s likely not a bad seat in the house. Plus, when it’s packed with 70,000-plus fans, it feels like you’re in this shiny football bubble where, briefly, nothing else exists.
As for the open-air feeling provided by the faux roof, former FTW editor Andy Nesbitt put it best: “Los Angeles pretty much always has great weather so it was brilliant to have have both ends of the stadium be open to allow the breezes to sweep through the stadium.” I’m sure that’s lovely and unique. I, however, can’t attest to that because my lone SoFi visit was for last season’s CFP national championship game during an unusually rainy L.A. winter, and I’m still perplexed about how, despite the roof, you can still get rained on while standing on the 50-yard line.
– Michelle Martinelli
1
Lambeau Field - Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field remains every bit the old school experience you want it to be, rising from the suburban grid of Green Bay to welcome NFL pilgrims to its hallowed grounds. Between the history of the Hall of Fame and the frigid aluminum bench seats that freeze your Leinenkugel’s in the can each December, it’s perfect roughneck football. Go Pack Go.
– Christian D’Andrea
