What makes a truly great NFL stadium? Is it the atmosphere, charm, historical relevance, or visual appeal? Or is it a combination of all four, plus some additional factors? Ranking the best NFL stadiums of all time is no easy task, especially with modern, technologically advanced venues making it easy to dismiss older facilities.
Nevertheless, we came up with a top 10, plus five honorable mentions.
10 Best NFL Stadiums of All Time
Honorable mentions: Cleveland Municipal Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Highmark Stadium, Veterans Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium
10) Caesars Superdome (New Orleans Saints)
Arguably the best all-around Super Bowl setting, the Superdome has seen numerous memorable moments for the Saints and the NFL. However, few, if any, top the Saints’ first game back in the stadium after Hurricane Katrina.
Opened in 1975, the Superdome undeniably is showing its age, but it still provides one of the best home atmospheres in the NFL.
9) Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers)
I first covered a game at Acrisure Stadium — formerly Heinz Field — in 2022, and I left the Patriots-Steelers matchup believing it was one of the coolest sporting venues I’d ever seen. My return in 2023, which included an in-person viewing of “Renegade,” further solidified my fondness for the stadium.
From the downtown Pittsburgh setting to the yellow seats to the Terrible Towels, Acrisure Stadium is a must-see for football fans.
8) Lumen Field (Seattle Seahawks)
Lumen Field might offer the best views in the NFL. While at a Seahawks game, you can see Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, the Seattle skyline, and Mount Rainier. It’s just awesome. And the stadium, which opened in 2002, hardly feels 22 years old.
The cherry on top: Seahawks fans, who create the famous home-field advantage known as “The 12th Man.”
7) Astrodome (Houston Oilers)
The world’s first indoor, air-conditioned stadium, the Astrodome was named the “Eighth Wonder of the World” when it opened in 1965. The Astrodome’s second year of operation saw the installation of the first artificial playing surface, now known as Astroturf.
So, yeah, this place made a ton of history. During its 40-year run, the Astrodome hosted everything from Houston Oilers and Houston Astros games to the famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match to Evel Knievel events.
The Astrodome, now vacant, still stands today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
6) Mile High Stadium (Denver Broncos)
We’re talking about the original, not Empower Field at Mile High, which opened in 2001. The latter is a great stadium in its own right, but the first Mile High was a classic.
Famous for its raucous atmosphere and altitude-driven home-field advantage, Mile High hosted Broncos games from 1960 until its demolition in 2001. In its place is a parking lot for the current stadium (womp womp).
5) Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)
This stadium was difficult to rank. On the one hand, it’s a historic venue that opened in 1924 and still hosts Bears games today. On the other hand, it’s in such bad shape that the Bears are developing plans for a replacement.
With all that said, Soldier Field is iconic. We challenge you to watch a Bears-Packers game in Chicago and not feel something.
4) Orange Bowl (Miami Dolphins)
The Orange Bowl was light on visual appeal but heavy on vibes and nostalgia.
Open from 1937 to 2008, the stadium hosted Dolphins games from 1966 through 1986. Of course, the Orange Bowl hosted many other events, including five Super Bowls and 16 College Football National Championship games. Located in the Little Havana neighborhood, the Orange Bowl offered a game-day experience like no other football stadium.
3) U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings)
The newest facility on this list, U.S. Bank Stadium also is unquestionably the nicest.
A state-of-the-art venue from top to bottom, the Vikings’ home facility has been the gold standard for modern NFL stadiums since it opened in 2016. The translucent roof offers a look unique from other dome stadiums, and downtown Minneapolis can be seen out of one end zone.
U.S. Bank Stadium is incredibly impressive and should be on every fan’s bucket list.
2) Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs)
It’s technically called GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, but let’s just go with what everyone calls it: Arrowhead. Opened in 1972, Arrowhead is the longtime home of the Chiefs. It’s steeped in nostalgia and has aged far better than other old stadiums. You wouldn’t even know it’s 50 years old.
But Arrowhead is all about the crowd. It holds the record for the loudest stadium in the world and provides arguably the best home-field advantage in football.
1) Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
Does it live up to the hype? Yes, and then some.
After covering two games at Lambeau, plus a pair of joint practices, I can confidently say it’s the coolest professional sports stadium in the United States. At worst, it’s tied with Fenway Park, which is similar in many ways.
Sitting in Lambeau Field just feels different and defies description. Lacking a true upper deck, Lambeau is simultaneously intimate and overwhelming. You definitely feel the close-knit community vibe from start to finish.
But it’s not just about the in-seat experience. Lambeau’s concourse is packed with great, local food, and the shopping/dining district that flanks the stadium is tasteful and welcoming in a way that similar areas, like Patriot Place at Gillette Stadium, can’t match. If you love football, you need to watch a game in Green Bay.
Lambeau Field has hosted Packers games since 1957, and here’s hoping it never closes.