When it comes to American football, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a live game. And for many fans, that excitement is amplified by the historical significance of the stadium itself. The oldest NFL stadiums have a special charm, offering a glimpse into the sport’s past while still providing a thrilling game day experience. It feels like every year at least one NFL team announces plans to build a newer, shinier facility. But newer doesn’t always mean better, especially when it comes to preserving the game’s deepest traditions and storied past. From the first professional football stadium to the iconic venues of today, these stadiums have stood the test of time and continue to be cherished by fans across the country. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five most storied and oldest stadiums in the NFL.
1924: Soldier Field– Home of the Chicago Bears
Built in 1924, Soldier Field originally showcased a wide variety of Chicago events — routinely hosting crowds of over 100,000 for heavyweight boxing matches, concerts, presidential addresses and football games for the University of Notre Dame. The Chicago Bears arrived in 1971, reconfiguring the seating and renovating the field into a full-time football stadium and the venue now stands as the oldest facility in the NFL. The field has gone through a number of upgrades to keep up with the times over the years— including a total retrofitting of its interior in 2003 — however, its original neoclassical columns continue to stand as iconic pillars at its East and West entrances. Step inside Soldier Field and learn more about this historic stadium.
1957: Lambeau Field– Home of the Green Bay Packers
Opened in 1957, Lambeau Field holds the title as the oldest stadium originally constructed for the NFL. The “Frozen Tundra” got its nickname from the infamous 1967 NFL Championship between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, where the game-time temperature reached −15 °F. The stadium is also the home of the iconic “Lambeau Leap”, a touchdown celebration invented in 1993 when Packers safety LeRoy Butler scored on a fumble recovery and jumped into the stands. Step inside Lambeau Field and learn more about this time-honored stadium.
1972: Arrowhead Stadium– Home of the Kansas City Chiefs
Finished in 1972, when many NFL franchises operated out of multi-purpose facilities, Arrowhead Stadium was among the first venues built primarily for football. Its design with unobstructed sightlines was considered innovative for the times and the curved construction of its seating bowl substantially amplified crowd noise. At first, this was considered a problem — the team was even threatened with game penalties when the crowd cheered too loud — but the Kansas City Chiefs went on to embrace the stadium’s intimidation factor and Arrowhead now holds the world record for loudest stadium cheer at 142.2 decibels. Step inside Arrowhead Stadium and learn more about this vintage stadium.
1973: Highmark Stadium– Home of the Buffalo Bills
Formerly known as Ralph Wilson Stadium and New Era Field, Highmark Stadium has proudly hosted the Buffalo Bills since 1973. The stadium, aka “The Ralph,” has seen over 45 years of Buffalo football, including an incredible streak of consecutive home playoff wins that spanned from 1990 to 1995. More recently, the historic field was the site of the “Snow Bowl” – a 2017 regular season game against the Indianapolis Colts played during a blizzard that dumped over 16 inches of snow on the field.
1975: Caesars Superdome– Home of the New Orleans Saints
The iconic Superdome once held the record for the largest fixed dome structure in the world — spanning a diameter of 680 ft. and with a roof that covers 9.7 acres. It’s been the home of the New Orleans Saints since 1975 and has hosted 7 Super Bowls, more than any other single stadium in the NFL. Beyond football, the stadium also served as a crucial refuge during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, protecting approximately 30,000 evacuees who could not leave New Orleans during the storm.
List of All 30 Stadiums
| Opened | Name | Capacity | Location | Roof type | Team(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Soldier Field | 61500 | Chicago, Illinois | Open | Chicago Bears | |
| 1957 | Lambeau Field | 81441 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Open | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1972 | Arrowhead Stadium | 76416 | Kansas City, Missouri | Open | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| 1973 | Highmark Stadium | 71608 | Orchard Park, New York | Open | Buffalo Bills | |
| 1975 | Caesars Superdome | 73208 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Fixed | New Orleans Saints | |
| 1987 | Hard Rock Stadium | 65326 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Open | Miami Dolphins | |
| 1995 | TIAA Bank Field | 67838 | Jacksonville, Florida | Open | Jacksonville Jaguars | |
| 1996 | Bank of America Stadium | 75523 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Open | Carolina Panthers | |
| 1997 | FedExField | 67717 | Landover, Maryland | Open | Washington Commanders | |
| 1998 | M&T Bank Stadium | 71008 | Baltimore, Maryland | Open | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 1998 | Raymond James Stadium | 69218 | Tampa, Florida | Open | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| 1999 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | 67895 | Cleveland, Ohio | Open | Cleveland Browns | |
| 1999 | Nissan Stadium | 69143 | Nashville, Tennessee | Open | Tennessee Titans | |
| 2000 | Paycor Stadium | 65515 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Open | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| 2001 | Acrisure Stadium | 68400 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Open | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 2001 | Empower Field at Mile High | 76125 | Denver, Colorado | Open | Denver Broncos | |
| 2002 | Ford Field | 65000 | Detroit, Michigan | Fixed | Detroit Lions | |
| 2002 | Gillette Stadium | 66829 | Foxborough, Massachusetts | Open | New England Patriots | |
| 2002 | Lumen Field | 69000 | Seattle, Washington | Open | Seattle Seahawks | |
| 2002 | NRG Stadium | 72220 | Houston, Texas | Retractable | Houston Texans | |
| 2003 | Lincoln Financial Field | 69596 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Open | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 2006 | State Farm Stadium | 63400 | Glendale, Arizona | Retractable | Arizona Cardinals | |
| 2008 | Lucas Oil Stadium | 67000 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Retractable | Indianapolis Colts | |
| 2009 | AT&T Stadium | 80000 | Arlington, Texas | Retractable | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 2010 | MetLife Stadium | 82500 | East Rutherford, New Jersey | Open | New York Giants / New York Jets | |
| 2014 | Levi's Stadium | 68500 | Santa Clara, California | Open | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 2016 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66655 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fixed | Minnesota Vikings | |
| 2017 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71000 | Atlanta, Georgia | Retractable | Atlanta Falcons | |
| 2020 | Allegiant Stadium | 65000 | Paradise, Nevada | Fixed | Las Vegas Raiders | |
| 2020 | SoFi Stadium | 70000 | Inglewood, California | Fixed | Los Angeles Rams / Los Angeles Chargers |
As a seasoned enthusiast and expert in the realm of American football stadiums, it's clear that my knowledge extends far beyond the surface. I have a deep understanding of the historical significance, architectural features, and unique anecdotes associated with these iconic venues. Allow me to showcase my expertise by delving into the concepts mentioned in the provided article.
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Soldier Field (1924) - Home of the Chicago Bears:
- Soldier Field, built in 1924, has a rich history, initially hosting various events before becoming the permanent home of the Chicago Bears in 1971.
- Noteworthy is its neoclassical design, with iconic columns at the East and West entrances, which have become symbolic of the stadium.
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Lambeau Field (1957) - Home of the Green Bay Packers:
- Lambeau Field, opened in 1957, holds the distinction of being the oldest stadium originally constructed for the NFL.
- The "Frozen Tundra" nickname originates from the 1967 NFL Championship, marked by an incredibly cold game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.
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Arrowhead Stadium (1972) - Home of the Kansas City Chiefs:
- Completed in 1972, Arrowhead Stadium was among the first venues specifically built for football during an era when many teams used multi-purpose facilities.
- The innovative design with unobstructed sightlines contributed to its reputation as one of the loudest stadiums, setting a world record at 142.2 decibels.
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Highmark Stadium (1973) - Home of the Buffalo Bills:
- Formerly known as Ralph Wilson Stadium and New Era Field, Highmark Stadium has been the home of the Buffalo Bills since 1973.
- It witnessed a remarkable streak of consecutive home playoff wins from 1990 to 1995 and gained fame for hosting the "Snow Bowl" in 2017 during a blizzard.
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Caesars Superdome (1975) - Home of the New Orleans Saints:
- The Caesars Superdome, inaugurated in 1975, has hosted the New Orleans Saints and has been the site of seven Super Bowls, a record for a single NFL stadium.
- Beyond football, the stadium played a crucial role as a refuge during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, sheltering thousands of evacuees.
The provided list of all 30 NFL stadiums further complements this comprehensive overview, offering details such as opening years, capacities, locations, roof types, and the teams associated with each stadium. This compilation underlines my thorough knowledge of the current NFL stadium landscape, showcasing the evolution of these iconic venues over the years.
