Photo of the playing field at Levi's Stadium. Home of the San Francisco 49ers. 

Image Credit: PeakDill - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

There are no NFL stadiums that seat less than 60,000 people in terms of capacity. However, there are none that seat more than 90,000 people. In college football, 15 venues boast a larger capacity than Metlife Stadium, the NFL's largest stadium (home of the New York Jets and New York Giants). Why such a difference in size? 

Many more people have ties to college football programs (boosters, parents, students, alumni). Additionally, most college football stadiums have bleacher seating as opposed to the individual seating you will find in NFL stadiums. As a result, more people can cram into a row with very little room for comfort. Bigger certainly doesn't always mean better. Our staff has compiled a list of the ten largest NFL stadiums out there. Some boast winning teams, some boast traditional losers. Regardless, these immaculate structures help create the ultimate fan experience for football fans.

 

10. Green Bay Packers - Lambeau Field.  73,128.

Photo of the playing field at Lambeau Field. Home of the Green Bay Packers.

Image Credit: Phil Roeder (CC BY 2.0)

Not only is Lambeau Field the oldest stadium in the NFL but it is also the most historic. Hey, you can play in an old venue and not have accomplished anything. Formerly City Stadium, the NFL's smallest city (Green Bay) transforms into a chaotic world of football fanfare on 8 Sundays each year. Not quiet as high as Mile High Stadium, Lambeau Field sits 640 feet above sea level. Only Fenway Park and Wrigley Field have been occupied by a professional franchise longer than Lambeau Field. If you are a Packers fan and have never been to Lambeau, well... I guess you really aren't a Packers fan.

 

 

 

9. Cleveland Browns - FirstEnergy Stadium.  73,200.

Photo of the playing field at FirstEnergy Stadium. Home of the Cleveland Browns.

Image Credit: Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0)

Located on the edge of downtown Cleveland with plenty of dining options, FirstEnergy Stadium was erected to resemble the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The stadium still boasts the infamous Dawg Pound in the south endzone; a string of bleacher sections. Obviously, not a ton of history here compared to other NFL stadiums but to Browns fans, it's home. If you're a fan of the visiting team, know that FirstEnergy Stadium is one of the most hostile stadiums in the NFL

 

8. Carolina Panthers - Bank of America Stadium.  73,778.

Photo of the playing field at Bank of America Stadium. Home of the Carolina Panthers.

Image Credit: Jason AG (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Charlotte, North Carolina is considered the number two city for banking in the United States. Hence, you have Bank of America Stadium. Formerly Ericcson Stadium, the venue has been the lone home to the Carolina Panthers since their inception into the NFL in 1996. Although only 15 years old, it is the 11th oldest NFL stadium. Like many other NFL stadiums, it has been kept in excellent condition with a number of renovations and face-lifts. With North Carolina's mild winters, Charlotte is an excellent place to watch professional football no matter the month of the year.

 

7. Miami Dolphins - Hard Rock Stadium.  75,192.

Photo of the playing field at Hard Rock Stadium. Home of the Miami Dolphins.

Image Credit: Jim Larrison (CC BY 2.0)

Home to the Miami Dolphins since 1987, Hard Rock Stadium doesn't give the Dolphins much of a home field advantage despite it's large size. There are plenty of transplanted fans of other NFL franchises in Florida so not everyone roots for the hometown Dolphins. Five Super Bowls have been played here, only because the league tries to avoid inclement weather for the annual game at all costs. The naming rights for Hard Rock Stadium has been changed several times which is a cause for plenty of confusion among sports fans. The stadium recently completed a major and much needed renovation in 2015 which included new suites, new concessions, teal colored seats and new jumbo trons.

 

6. Denver Broncos - Mile High Stadium.  76,125.

Photo of the playing field at Empower Field at Mile High. Home of the Denver Broncos.

Image Credit: Craig Hawkins (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Formerly Invesco Field at Mile High, the surrounding area makes Sports Authority Field one of the most scenic NFL stadiums out there. The rolling Rocky Mountains in the distance are absolutely beautiful. The stadium is considered to be in a prime location in the city of Denver with easy access both to and from your destination (sits along Interstate 25). The best means of transportation to the stadium would be the RTD light rail station which sits adjacent to the venue. Sports Authority Field cannot match the old Mile High in terms of history and reputation but this place is well on it's way.

 

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Arrowhead Stadium.  76,416.

Photo of the playing field at Arrowhead Stadium. Home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Image Credit: EliskC-Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, has continuously been touted as the loudest stadium in the NFL. If you have seen the Chiefs play on television, you cannot help but to note the sea of red jerseys from top to bottom. Arrowhead sits right next door to Kauffman Stadium, home of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals. Both neighboring venues underwent renovations beginning in 2007 to help improve the structure and appearance.  If you plan on attending a Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium in the future, be sure to make time for tailgating. Tailgating is done nicely in Kansas City and the smell of BBQ in the parking lots is mouth watering.

 

4. New Orleans Saints - The Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  76,468.

Photo of the playing field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Home of the New Orleans Saints.

Image Credit: Jaseman-Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

By 2013, this particular NFL stadium will have hosted 7 Super Bowls. And for good reason. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome is in the heart of downtown and is in close proximity to the French Quarter; the city's cultural hub. When an opposing team's fan base see the Saints on their schedule, best believe a trip to NOLA is in the works. The Saints organization does a lot for the city in terms of tourism. The stadium was also a place of refuge for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005 so the place isn' t lacking in character nor history.

 

3. Dallas Cowboys - AT&T Stadium.  80,000.

Photo of the playing field at AT&T Stadium. Home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Image Credit: Steve - Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Although AT&T Stadium is listed as the third largest stadium in the NFL, it can be occupied by more than 100,000 fans thanks to the party pass areas in the end zones. It is the Taj Mahal of NFL stadiums and while it may be considered a little over the top, that doesn't change the fact that it is a prime place for watching professional football. Speaking of over the top, would Jerry Jones have it any other way? Getting tickets to a Cowboys game here is expensive and you already knew that. The fan cost index of attending a Dallas Cowboys game is the highest in North American professional sports. But that only reflects demand, this organization has a large fan base. No matter where you sit in the venue, you won't miss a play with the over-sized scoreboard in center field that extends between both 20 yard lines.

 

2. Washington Redskins - FedEx Field.  82,000.

Photo of the playing field at Fedex Field. Home of the Washington Redskins.

Image Credit: Kevin Coles (CC BY 2.0)

Still a relatively new venue, Fedex Field has actually subtracted from it's capacity. Once standing at 91,000 seats, the upper ends of the upper deck were taken out to create a better fan experience. Not sure what their season ticket statistics looked like but I'm sure it led to some pissed off fans when they found out their tickets were being discontinued. Fedex Field offers plenty of parking but the location of the stadium is pretty poor way out in Landover, Maryland. Landover is a suburb of Washington, DC and is a 25 minute drive from downtown. On top of that, the product playing on the field hasn't done too well these last few years either.

 

1. New York Giants & New York Jets - Metlife Stadium.  82,570.

Photo of the playing field at Metlife Stadium. Home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Image Credit: Jim Larrison (CC BY 2.0)

The New York Giants and New York Jets were both in need of a new home and Metlife Stadium is state of the art. Located right next door to the old Giants Stadium, you could literally see how the new stadium dwarfed the old in construction photos. Metlife Stadium is extremely close to the city's transit systems and also offers plenty of parking. The main disadvantage to Metlife Stadium would be not only the cost of attending a game there but it's lack of identity. How could you personalize a stadium that's shared by two rival teams? The interior of this place is well... plain. The best feature maybe the four large jumbo screens in all four corners of the field. Home of the 2014 Super Bowl, there were many skeptics, including me, that didn't believe the Super Bowl should be played in cold conditions. The next three Super Bowls (2015, 2016, 2017) will be played in warm climates or indoor stadiums.

 

 

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