Ranking NFL stadiums 2023: Best and worst stadiums in NFL

By Matt Johnson

·Updated: September 29, 2023

RANKING NFL STADIUMS: We have seen a wave of new stadiums built in recent years and will welcome two new architectural masterpieces this season. The question is, which NFL stadiums are the best in the NFL?

The 2020 NFL season was unlike anything before. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many NFL stadiums prevented fans from attending games early in the regular season. As the year unfolded, with the NFL losing billions of dollars in stadium revenue, teams started welcoming a smaller number of fans back into their buildings.

Fortunately, fans returned to NFL stadiums in 2021 and the sellouts displayed everyone’s excitement for football. With everyone filling out the seats, everyone also got to step inside SoFi Stadium and Allegiant Stadium. Needless to say, the reviews justify the hype.

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Let’s dive into our 2023 NFL stadium rankings.

30. FedEx Field – Washington Commanders

WHY IT’S BOTTOM OF OUR NFL STADIUM RANKINGS: We’re not exactly sure why any person would go to FedEx Field, unless they want to torture themselves and waste money. Even getting to this place is an incredible hassle, with fans forced to sit through ridiculous traffic just to get inside and then experience the same frustrations when leaving in the third quarter. The experience of getting to FedEx Field is miserable, tickets and food are ridiculously expensive and the stadium itself looks bad.

As if things couldn’t get worse at FedEx Field, Week 1 got off to a roaring start. A sewage pipe burst on fans early in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. That about sums up the experience of going to this stadium. If that all wasn’t bad enough, the team itself is bad again. Never come to this stadium, save yourself.

If the experiences at FedEx Field weren’t bad enough, now the safety of fans is at risk. The railing collapse thankfully didn’t hurt anyone this time, but it seriously endangered those who crashed to the ground. Jalen Hurts is right, things need to change at FedEx Field with both the NFL and Commanders owner Daniel Snyder responsible.

Fortunately, we might be approaching the end of a stain on the NFL’s image. With Daniel Snyder selling the team, change is imminent. When a new owner lands the Commanders, the very next priority will be a new stadium. Once Snyder is out of the picture, there will be government support for building a new stadium. If Jeff Bezos buys the team, Washington could eventually be home to one of the best NFL stadiums.

29. MetLife Stadium – New York Giants and New York Jets

MetLife Stadium is the largest stadium in the NFL. So at least it has that going for it. Feral cats might be the only living things that love MetLife Stadium. Home to 300-plus cats, the New York Giants and New York Jets also share this building. It’s a journey just for fans to make it out to New Jersey. Once they get inside, after forking out hundreds of dollars, they see a dull stadium without substance. Sadly, since it was built in 2007 and cost nearly $2 billion, MetLife Stadium is sticking around for decades, no doubt towards the bottom of this NFL stadium rankings.

MetLife Stadium capacity: 82,500

At least the jets and Giants are now competitive teams. While we still wouldn’t put this relic anywhere near the top-20 of our NFL stadium rankings, the on-field improvements from both teams at least make it a better experience for fans.

28. TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville Jaguars (Previous: 27)

The stadium has gone through plenty of names since it opened in 1995 and this one might not stick for long. Everyone knows about the pool and a designated dog area, which is great for those with money or a dog. For everyone else, it’s just not a great experience. Given how much this team loves playing in London, the negative sentiment toward the stadium seems to be shared by many.

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Thankfully, fans can at least enjoy going to TIAA Bank Field because of Trevor Lawrence. He is the face of the franchise and seems to be emerging as an NFL MVP. Combine that with Travis Etienne and a well-coached team, maybe this isn’t going to be of the worst NFL stadiums next season.

27. Paycor Stadium – Cincinnati Bengals

Formerly known as Paul Brown Stadium, Paycor Stadium is the cheapest football stadium in the NFL. It’s perfectly fitting for the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. There are some nice things about this place, like the view of downtown, but it has a lot of faults. Notably, fans are made to feel like they’re on an aircraft carrier by having to go up and down levels to move across the stadium. Unfortunately, this place will likely be around for another 20 years. While the star talent inside the building helps, removing the nostalgia of the iconic name is a bigger negative in our NFL stadium rankings.

26. Nissan Stadium – Tennessee Titans (Previously: 20)

The example of an average, aging stadium in a perfect environment. It’s a wonderful place for visiting fans on a Sunday, but Nissan Stadium gets boring fast for those who see it multiple times each season. If ranked off location alone, this would be a top-10 spot in the NFL. Unfortunately, the stadium is falling apart quickly and becoming a safety hazard. The deteriorating conditions have everything to do with why Tennessee’s home plummets down our list of ranking NFL stadiums. Fortunately, a multi-billion dollar stadium is coming. If it’s anything like the structures built across the country, you can safely bet on the home of the Titans eventually cracking the top-15 in our NFL stadium rankings.

25. Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Dolphins (Previously: 25)

Renovations in recent years keep this spot from being lower in our ranking NFL stadiums. While it is a frequent host of the Super Bowl, that can be largely credited to the location. Hard Rock Stadium will stick around, especially thanks to its history. But Miami would love something modern and calls for it might happen with the Dolphins now a Super Bowl contender.

24. Highmark Stadium – Buffalo Bills (Previously: 26)

Credit to Bills Mafia for making the stadium entertaining. When you look at the videos of fans parting, it looks like a wonderful place to be. Blame that on the beer goggles, because this 46-year-old building is an aging dinosaur. The weather makes this place miserable and there’s nothing around it to make things better. Fans injected some life into this place when the Bills hosted a playoff game, but the city deserves a better stadium for the rapidly-improving team.

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Fortunately, that day is coming. The Bills are making plans for a new stadium in Orchard Park, with hope for its completion in the next five years. While there are threats of the team moving, we’re sure something gets done with Buffalo. Maybe in a few years, when rankings NFL stadiums in 2024, the new place is finished and higher. In the meantime, shoutout to the crew that cleans the endless port-a-potties.

23. FirstEnergy Stadium – Cleveland Browns

This stadium provides plenty of energy, especially when the Browns are watchable. But there isn’t much else going for this place. It’s located in a decent spot, but that also leads to chilling winds coming off Lake Erie. FirstEnergy Stadium would benefit from a few renovations and the fans deserve it with this team suddenly becoming an AFC power.

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If some upgrades are made, with the atmosphere this fan base creates, this place would rise up the NFL stadium rankings just as fast as the Browns climbed NFL power rankings. If the Browns aren’t contending for the playoffs in 2023, this stadium will turn on the coaching staff and Deshaun Watson quickly.

22. Raymond James Stadium – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have a pirate ship that everyone loves, after that there isn’t a whole lot to like about Raymond James Stadium. It can be pricey, even more so now that Tom Brady is in town, and the food options inside aren’t particularly attractive.

Much like some other stadiums on this list, it’s also not located downtown and the surrounding area isn’t loaded with dining options. Let’s hope the Super Bowl revenue leads to some better upgrades, but we aren’t seeing it yet.

With Tom Brady leaving the Buccaneers in 2023, it’s safe to say fans might not be as excited for a trip to a stadium that receives way too much hype.

21. Levi’s Stadium – San Francisco 49ers

It’s inexcusable that a stadium that opened just a few years ago is this mediocre. Of course, it doesn’t help that they built it in Santa Clara to make the travel experience worse for fans. Did we mention that they spent over $1 billion on this place and failed to protect fans from the glaring sun? If you can look past the inconvenient location, the sun in your eyes and the costly tickets, everything else is really nice.

20. Bank of America Stadium – Carolina Panthers

NFL Stadium Rankings, top 20: BoA isn’t one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL, but it would greatly benefit from being demolished. It’s an old-school structure and the team has kept it in decent condition through minor upgrades, but it’s time for this place to go. Fortunately with owner David Tepper in charge, we expect something revolutionary by 2026.

19. Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh Steelers (Previously: 16)

Does a stadium name change influence our NFL stadium rankings? Yes, yes it does. The brand ‘Heinz Field’ added something to this place, even if it only started in 2001. Suddenly, that feeling is gone with the Steelers taking the money to call this place Acrisure Stadium. The organization deserves mockery and if the new money doesn’t mean renovations, this place could drop even further in our 2023 NFL stadium rankings.

18. Gillette Stadium – New England Patriots

The dynasty effect is responsible for Gillette’s reputation. It meets the very definition of generic and the traffic around the stadium is a living nightmare. Fans are saved by the team, because the places inside and around the stadium fall far short of what you’d expect from this team.

17. Soldier Field – Chicago Bears

Soldier Field is the smallest stadium in the NFL and oldest stadium in the NFL. Everyone loves the history and the experience from the seat is great, but that’s where this wonderful feeling ends. Between the headaches caused by finding a bathroom, getting out of the parking lot and moving around, it’s not great. Simply put, given Soldier Field’s reputation, it’s one of the most overrated stadiums in sports.

But all titans of history fall. Chicago is making progress, though it’s slow, towards building a new stadium. While some fans will miss the piece of NFL history, change is necessary.

16. M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore Ravens

When you step inside M&T Bank Stadium on game day, the atmosphere can be intoxicating. The stadium is on the old side, but the team also spent $120 million on renovations in 2019. Fans can enjoy the experience once they get inside and there are some nice places to explore outside M&T Bank.

15. Ford Field – Detroit Lions

If you can take advantage of a great downtown scene, it needs to be done. Fortunately, the Lions are in the heart of the city and conveniently located next to Comerica Park and some great dining options. Ford Field might even rank higher by midway through the 2023 NFL season if Detroit contends in the NFC North and provides its fans with a reason to go wild.

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14. NRG Stadium – Houston Texans

It’s starting to get expensive to watch a game at NRG Stadium, but there are some nice aspects about this place as it nears it enters its 18th season. There are plenty of places to eat at following a game, it’s a spacious environment and you’ve got the big screens to look up at. It’s a shame a nice NFL stadium is being wasted by a terrible organization.

13. Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia Eagles

As long as you’re not Santa Claus, “The Linc” is a wonderful place to enjoy an NFL game. Opened in 2003, Lincoln Financial Field represents the city of Philadelphia perfectly. While it might not be one of the most beautiful places on earth, the food is excellent, the ambiance is classic and the fans make it a tremendous experience.

12. Caesars Superdome – New Orleans Saints

RANKING NFL STADIUMS TOP-12: The Superdome will always be an iconic symbol in New Orleans, both for its history with the team and the city itself. While it’s on the older site, having first opened in 1975, the fans and the dome create an experience unlike anyplace else. There are definitely some tight spots and the concourses could vastly benefit from an upgrade. Fortunately, a $450 million renovation is coming. Once the improvements are made, if the Saints are good, this could grace the top-five in our NFL stadium rankings. But it felt very weird to not see Drew Brees playing here anymore.

11. Empower Field at Mile High – Denver Broncos

We’re going to start with the food, because Empower Field at Mile High delivers the kind of options and tastes fans dream of for a great experience. Of course, seeing the Rocky Mountains in the distance adds another layer of beauty that makes this place jump out. If you’re an NFL fan looking for a unique and relaxing experience, this is a place to visit. Just don’t visit in the offseason since this place seems to catch fire when no one is around.

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10. State Farm Stadium – Arizona Cardinals

NFL STADIUM RANKINGS – 10 best NFL stadiums: Since opening, State Farm Stadium has hosted two Super Bowls and will welcome Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Putting a stadium in the Arizona heat can lead to a miserable experience for fans, but this place does a great job of keeping everything cool. It’s not as in the middle of nowhere as it was before, with new restaurants opening around it, but it would have been perfect if this structure was closer to downtown. Fortunately, the experience and amenities inside make up for what’s outside.

9. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City Chiefs

Arrowhead Stadium is the loudest NFL stadium and perhaps one of the hardest stadiums in the United States for opponents to play in. A classic built for the fan’s experience, it still caters to everyone nearly 50 years later. Frankly, a huge part of what makes Arrowhead Stadium wonderful is the tailgating. From the aromas in the air to the hospitality from the fans, everyone needs to come here at least once. Once you step inside, be prepared for a raucous environment that will shake the ground beneath you and create lasting memories.

8. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis Colts (Previously: 7)

This might be one of the most underrated stadiums in sports. If you want to know why the NFL Combine is held in Indianapolis each year, it’s because Lucas Oil Stadium delivers the perfect experience. In the heart of downtown, restaurants nearby, space to walk around, convenient parking, an outstanding tailgating experience and everything inside is beautiful. There’s nothing else you could ask for, except better quarterback play. One day that will come, one day.

7. Lumen Field – Seattle Seahawks (Previously: 5)

The 12th Man is what Lumen Field, formerly known as CenturyLink Field, is most known for and it’s understandable. Being a part of that unmatched atmosphere makes you feel like you’re a part of something, namely causing headaches for the opposing team. There are other aspects to love, though, like the wealth of food options, the available public transportation and incredible views from every seat in the house.

6. SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers (Previously: 8)

SoFi Stadium is the most expensive NFL stadium ever and the most expensive stadium in American sports. With fans welcomed in, the beauty of SoFi Stadium can finally be appreciated. Los Angeles isn’t known for having the most devoted fans to their regional teams, but that won’t stop NFL fan bases from coming out to admire this beauty. The cabanas, a field-level club behind the end zones, are a treat for those who can afford it. But even for the average fan, this is a must-see arena. We also must give Stan Kroenke some credit, he covered the costs of the most expensive stadium in NFL history.

SoFi Stadium cost: $5.5 billion

5. Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas Raiders (Previously: 6)

NFL STADIUM RANKINGS – 5 BEST NFL STADIUMS: Built for $1.9 billion, one would certainly hope Allegiant Stadium delivered a tremendous fan experience. Even before people walked in for NFL games, the place drew glowing reviews for concerts. Fans experienced major traffic problems getting to the stadium, located in Paradise, but it’s worth it once you step inside. With 65,000 seats, the Wynn Field Club and an array of restaurants (BBQ Mexicana, Guy Fieri’s Tailgate Kitchen and Bar, Pizza Rock) and so much more, Allegiant Stadium needs to be on bucket lists.

4. Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta Falcons

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This place is simply a thing of beauty. It opened in 2017 and immediately became one of the best arenas in the country. While a few down years has led to the overall atmosphere taking a slight hit, everything about the stadium is incredible. The food and drinks are insanely cheap, the services inside are tremendous, the views from around MBS are breathtaking and the technology shows what the future holds.

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Sadly, one of our favorites when ranking NFL stadiums won’t have great football to offer in 202.3. The Falcons are rebuilding and they have one of the worst rosters in the league. Pick this venue if a great opponent is in town.

3. Lambeau Field – Green Bay Packers

RANKING NFL STADIUMS TOP-THREE: Downtown stadiums are preferred, but you’ve got to love that Lambeau Field basically is the town in Green Bay. The city revolves around this place and for good reason. If you’re visiting, you practically step into a time machine when you step through Lambeau Field’s gates and sit on the metal bleachers. Of course, it wouldn’t be Lambeau Field without the tailgating and the passionate fan base. If anyone ever suggested replacing Lambeau Field, they would never be allowed to visit Wisconsin again.

2. U.S. Bank Stadium – Minnesota Vikings

When you step into U.S. Bank Stadium, it feels like you’re jumping 10 years into the future. Creating a translucent roof could be setting the new trend for every future stadium, creating views that can’t be beat in big cities. This place was designed in breathtaking fashion, it keeps everyone comfortable no matter the weather outside, the food options are great and everything about the experience of this place is tremendous.

1. AT&T Stadium – Dallas Cowboys

RANKING NFL STADIUMS #1: A case could be made for either of the top four stadiums to claim the No. 1 spot, but we give the edge to the Cowboys. AT&T Stadium can often be flooded with visiting fans, showing out support for their teams and turning a road test into a home game. This building is already a decade old, but it still offers all the perks the new ones have. Of course, it has America’s Team and there’s just something different about watching football in Texas.

With the Dallas Cowboys now playing like one of the best teams in the NFL, this environment is even better. Playoff football returned to Dallas this past season. Sadly for football lovers in Texas, the Cowboys proved once again that their stadium is better than the team.

Let us know what you think of our NFL stadium rankings.

What’s the nicest stadium in the NFL?

AT&T Stadium is the nicest stadium in the NFL. Opened in 2009, AT&T Stadium cost $1.3 billion to build and boasts a stadium capacity of 80,000 with a max capacity of 105,000. Home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium will host the 2027 Super Bowl.

Which NFL team has the best facilities?

In the NFL Players Association report card, the Minnesota Vikings were graded as having the best facilities in the NFL. Minnesota received an A+ grade for its training room and locker room with an A-grade for its weight room.

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Who has the smallest NFL stadium?

Soldier Field is the smallest stadium in the NFL. Opened in 1924, Soldier Field has a stadium capacity of 61,500. There are ongoing efforts to build a new stadium for the Chicago Bears.

What are the 5 biggest NFL stadiums?

MetLife Stadium, Lambeau Field, AT&T Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium and Empower Field at Mile High are the largest NFL stadiums in 2023.

NFL stadium capacity — Biggest NFL stadiums

MetLife Stadium – 82,500 capacity – New York Giants & New York Jets
Lambeau Field – 81,441 capacity – Green Bay Packers
AT&T Stadium – 80,000 capacity – Dallas Cowboys
Arrowhead Stadium – 76,416 capacity – Kansas City Chiefs
Empower Field at Mile High – 76,125 capacity – Denver Broncos

Which NFL stadium holds the least fans?

Soldier Field has the smallest stadium capacity in the NFL at 61,500, being the only NFL team that can seat fewer than 63,000 people.

Which NFL stadium is the best?

AT&T Stadium is the best NFL stadium in 2023. What separates AT&T from other NFL stadiums is the lengths the Dallas Cowboys go to for it to be fan-friendly. From a contest held to bring one fan into the draft room on draft day to all of the special features inside Jerry World, AT&T Stadium is the best place for NFL fans.