In the NFL, stadiums are critical to a franchise’s viability. Don’t believe it? Go ask the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams, who are all pining to move to Los Angeles because of crappy stadium situations.
Then there are other teams which have the advantage of a beautiful new stadium or an iconic old one. Here are the top 10 stadiums in the NFL, based off their heritage, glitz and historic value:
10. Gillette Stadium
Let’s be honest, the New England Patriots are practically unbeatable in this venue. It has been the home of three Super Bowl champions, a pretty astonishing feat since it only opened in 2002. Gillette is a no-frills, quality stadium in the small town of Foxboro.
9. Lucas Oil Stadium
While the history aspect is not there yet, Lucas Oil is one of the more beautiful stadiums in the league. It’s hard not to love a retractable dome and the big windows at the one end of the building. Even when the roof is closed, the sunlight pouring in makes it feel like an outdoor venue. Very nicely done.
8. M&T Bank Stadium
The city of Baltimore has a love affair going with its Ravens, and this stadium has been home to some incredible memories. While most of the Ravens playoff wins have come on the road, M&T has still enjoyed two championship teams and a host of primetime contests. It also houses some of the most underrated fans in sports.
7. Heinz Field
The actual field is always a mess, getting churned up and turning brown. While players likely hate that aspect of the stadium, I’m a sucker for that old-time feel. Heinz Field just fits Pittsburgh so well, from being an outdoor venue to having so much open steel. It’s a great place to see a football game.
6. Superdome
This was once considered a revolutionary building, right along with the Astrodome. The Superdome has been host to a bevy of Super Bowls, most recently Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. On the outside, there is nothing special about the stadium, but it holds so much history and nostalgia.
5. Soldier Field
Chicago is a city big on tradition, and Soldier Field oozes it. The Bears haven been in the same building since the 1970’s, minus a couple of years while the old girl was being given a facelift. Solider Field does not have bells and whistles, but that is part of the charm.
4. CenturyLink Field
When you watch a game in Seattle, it has a different feel to it. The stadium has a fairly open end on one side with a roof that covers most of the fans yet leaves the field exposes. The design is brilliant and helps to keep the sound in, creating a raucous atmosphere.
3. Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead opened in 1972 and unlike most cookie-cutter, dual-purpose stadiums of the day, is a masterpiece. The building fans out at the top, making it seem even more massive than the 80,000-seat monster than it is. Despite Seattle’s acoustic advantages, no stadium is louder than this beauty in Kansas City.
2. Lambeau Field
There is not a stadium in the NFL that can match the history of Lambeau. The American landmark has seen everything from the glory days of Bart Starr and Vince Lombradi to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Additionally, can anybody complain when there is a snowy game played here? Perfection.
1. AT&T Stadium
This venue does not need history. Owner Jerry Jones went all in with this building, erecting the largest stadium in league history. The maximum seating capacity for football is 105,121, making it a desirable Super Bowl location now and the future. Above all else, it is the absolute picture of luxury and class.
