As the NFLâs 102nd season kicks off, we wanted to know if and why home-field advantage really exists. So we examined interesting features of 12 of the NFLâs most unique stadiums to see what sets them apart from the competition.
Now, letâs see the results:
- $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium ranks as worldâs most expensive sports venue
- Green Bay Packers fans face a 30 year wait for season tickets, the longest in the NFL
- Kansas Cityâs Arrowhead Stadium holds the Guinness World Record for loudest stadium
- Attending home games at Las Vegas Raidersâ Allegiant Stadium costs more than any other NFL venue
- Beast Quake: Seattle Seahawksâ 12th Man fan base registers magnitude-2 earthquake
- Rocky mountain high: Denver Broncos play at the league’s highest altitude
- Teams visiting New Englandâs Gillette Stadium face the NFL’s winningest squad at home
- Steelers sell over 1 million Terrible Towels at riverfront Heinz Field on the road to a Super Bowl win
- New Yorkâs MetLife stadium seats the most in the NFL
- Cincinnati Bengals offer fans the cheapest gameday experience in NFL
- Not so fun in the sun: With temperatures reaching over 90 degrees, Miami Dolphins play in leagueâs hottest stadium
- Dallas Cowboysâ AT&T Stadium sets record for NFL game attendance
$5.5 billion SoFi Stadium ranks as worldâs most expensive sports venue
With an eye-watering price tag of $5.5 billion, you could build 649 Lambeau Fields for the cost of one SoFi stadium when adjusted for inflation. Opening in 2020, the new shared home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams is the worldâs most expensive stadium â and itâs not even close. Second place goes to Las Vegasâ Allegiant Stadium which also opened in 2020, costing a mere $1.9 billion. Among a slew of outlandish features, SoFi Stadium sports an ovular, double-sided 4K HDR video board named âthe Oculus.â The first of its kind, this jumbotron weighs in at a staggering 2.2 million pounds with a colossal viewing area of 70,000 square feet.Â
A victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, SoFi stadium went without fans in the stands for the 2020 season. Still, its Rams finished the season 6-2 (.750) at home, including impressive wins over the Eagles and Patriots. Their stadium-mates, the Chargers, finished 2020 with a less stellar 4-4 (.500) home record. Both teams hope that young talent and a new stadium will help propel them back into the playoffs. When fans return to the stadium for the 2021 campaigns, theyâll enjoy the luxury of cheering for their favorite team in the most over-the-top sports venue on earth.
Green Bay packers fans face 30 year wait for season tickets, longest in NFL
Despite occupying one of the leagueâs largest stadiums, diehard Cheeseheads face the leagueâs longest wait to get their hands on season tickets. The hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field have a waiting list for season tickets thatâs filled with the names of over 137,000 eager fans. That means if you were to sign up today, it could be 30 years or more until you have the chance to buy your own season tickets.Â
Of course, having such a fiercely loyal fanbase does have its advantages. Despite often playing in temperatures well below freezing, the Packers boast one of the leagueâs best home records over the last decade. Since 2011, a home record of 61-17-2 (.705) ranks Green Bay among the leagueâs elite franchises. With future hall-of-famer Aaron Rodgers back under center, it seems likely the Pack can continue their winning ways in 2021 and beyond.
Kansas Cityâs Arrowhead Stadium holds the Guinness World Record for loudest stadium
No stadium in sports is more deafening than Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. In fact, Broncos quarterback John Elway once complained about the noise to a referee right in the middle of a game. Elway claimed the exuberant fans were too loud and that he couldnât call a play. The referee warned the crowd that if they didnât quiet down, Kansas City would be charged a timeout. To which the loyal fans responded by reigning boos even louder than before.Â
Since 2011, the Chiefs have laid claim to an impressive home record of 51-29 (.638) with seven playoff appearances. Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and veteran coach Andy Reid, Kansas City has enjoyed recent success both at home and on the road. In 2019, Mahomes led the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory since 1969. After signing a 10-year contract extension worth up to $503 million in 2020, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a second straight Super Bowl appearance.
Attending home games at Las Vegas Raidersâ Allegiant Stadium costs more than any other NFL venue
Brand new in 2020, Allegiant Stadium offers fans a unique gameday experience just steps from the famed Las Vegas Strip. But the glitz and glamour of Vegas come at a price. According to the Fan Cost Index, attending a game at the Raidersâ new home field will set a family of four back a whopping $783.86. This includes four tickets ($153.47), parking ($50), two draft beers ($13), two soft drinks ($6), four hotdogs ($7.50), and two team hats ($19.99).
Largely a tourist destination, Las Vegas has never been a city to house a loyal sports fanbase. But the Raiders hoped to change that with their 2020 move from Oakland. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed those plans and the team was forced to play its inaugural Las Vegas season without fans in attendance. The storied Raiders franchise hopes to improve its 2-6 2020 home record when Raider Nation is finally allowed through doors.
Beast quake: Seattle Seahawksâ 12th Man fanbase registers magnitude-2 earthquake
Although no longer the record holder for loudest stadium, Seattleâs Lumen Field is so loud that it once caused a magnitude-2 earthquake to register on nearby equipment. In 2013, an official from Guinness World Records registered the crowd noise at an ear-shattering 137.6 decibels â a record at the time. The electric cheering from the Seattle faithful is enhanced by the stadiumâs unique design. A partial roof and well-positioned seating decks trap and amplify the crowd noise, then project it back onto the field.
The raucous crowds, however, are more than just a mere novelty. The 12s have actually given their Seahawks a measured advantage over visiting opponents. Throughout the years, visitors to Lumen Field have committed false-start and delay of game penalties at a rate among the highest anywhere in the league.
Despite a Super Bowl win in 2013 and appearance in 2014, the Seahawks have struggled in recent years. Even with winning records in the regular season, Seattle has exited early in the playoffs five of the last six seasons. Following a 2020 season without fans in attendance, the team hopes the 12s will return refreshed and ready to make some noise!
Rocky mountain high: Denver Broncos play at league’s highest altitude
We know that elite athletes often rely on high altitude training to take their stamina to the next level. Itâs proven that regular training at such high elevations causes the body to produce more red blood cells, which can lead to improved heart function, higher muscle performance, and shorter recovery times. So, does training in these conditions give the Denver Broncos an advantage when playing on their home turf?
When visiting a destination high above sea level, those of us who live back down here on earth will often notice a shortness of breath we wouldnât normally experience. But since the opening of Empower Field at Mile High in 2001, the Broncos have posted a home record of 101-59 (.631). While impressive, it doesnât reflect the massive advantage one might assume Denver would enjoy at home.Â
Questionable roster moves and changes in management have left the future of Broncos in a state of uncertainty. Weâll have to watch and see if coach Vic Fangio can turn around last seasonâs poor 5-11 (.313) record and lead the Broncos back to the postseason.Â
Teams visiting New England’s Gillette Stadium face the NFL’s winningest squad at home
Guests of Foxboroâs Gillette Stadium are welcomed by a 12-story high lighthouse commemorating the maritime heritage of the New England coast. But getting a seat in this football haven is no easy task. The hometown New England Patriots have sold out every home game since the stadium opened in 2002. If you are able to count yourself among the lucky few visiting fans to score tickets to a game at Gillette, be sure to bundle up. Depending on the time of year, you may find yourself exposed to the elements right in the middle of a New England winter. The cold, however, may work to the advantage of the home team.
Itâs no secret the Patriot Way has been a success. Bill Belichickâs New England Patriots have won a record six Super Bowls since the stadium opened. In the same time, theyâve amassed a league best 228-76 (.750) overall record and an even more impressive 126-26 (.829) resume at home. But with the departure of star quarterback Tom Brady at the end of the 2019 season, the Patriots finished 2020 an underwhelming 7-9 (.438). However, this season marks a fresh start for the boys from Boston. Under the tutelage of coach Belichick, rookie quarterback Mac Jones hopes to lead the Pats back to their former glory.
Steelers sell over 1 million Terrible Towels at riverfront Heinz Field on the road to a Super Bowl win
At the confluence of the mighty Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela rivers sits the home of the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Famous for its appearance in 2012âs The Dark Knight Rises, Heinz Field has been home to some of the most memorable football battles in NFL history. Faithful fans of the Steelers wave rally towels, dubbed âTerrible Towelsâ, above their heads to show support during crucial moments. On their way to a Super Bowl championship in 2005, the Steelers sold over 1 million towels in just one season.Â
And it does seem there could be a bit of magic in those yellow towels. Since 2011, the Steelers have finished 58-22 (.725) at home, ranking them fourth in the NFL. In the same time period, Pittsburgh can also claim a healthy 6 playoff appearances. The Steelers started 2020 an impressive 11-0, but finished slow and fell in the first round of the playoffs. Veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger is in the Twilight of his career, but has still shown glimpses of the Super Bowl champion he is.
New York’s MetLife Stadium seats most in NFL
The home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets isnât in New York at all. Itâs just across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Part of the historic Meadowlands Sports Complex, Giants and Jets fans flock to MetLife Stadium every Sunday during football season. But itâs not only football fans who fill these seats. MetLife played host to Super Bowl XLVII and has multiple WrestleManias on its resume. But seating the most fans in the NFL doesnât necessarily equal success.Â
Neither the Jets, nor the Giants have enjoyed winning records at home since the opening of MetLife Stadium in 2010. The Jets have posted a home record of 42-46 (.477) and the Giants 41-47 (.466). Despite poor showings at home in the regular season since the opening of the stadium, the Giants have enjoyed moments of success including a Super Bowl win at the end of the 2011 season behind MVP Eli Manning. Unfortunately for fans, questionable draft choices and recent changes in leadership have left the future success of New Yorkâs football teams in doubt.
Cincinnati Bengals offer fans cheapest gameday experience in NFL
Families looking to attend an NFL game on a budget should look no further than Cincinnatiâs Paul Brown Stadium. According to the Fan Cost Index, a family of four can attend a game at the home of the Bengals for a league low $424.28. This includes four tickets ($79.37), parking ($10.82), two draft beers ($5), two soft drinks ($6), four hotdogs ($5.50), and two team hats ($19.99). Thatâs a bit more than half the price it would cost at the leagueâs most expensive venue.
However, there is some bad news for budget-conscious fans. In the case of the Bengals, the old adage âYou get what you pay forâ holds true. Although the team has achieved a winning home record of 44-34-2 (.563) since 2011, their last playoff win was way back in 1991. A mid-season injury to quarterback Joe Burrow left the Bengalsâ 2020 season in shambles. Weâll see if he can return to his previous form when he makes his debut in the season opener against the Vikings
Not so fun in the sun: with temperatures reaching over 90 degrees, Miami Dolphins play in the league’s hottest stadium
When most of us think of Miami, we imagine sun, sand, and a cold drink in our hand. We donât picture running around a football field in full gear. But thatâs exactly what the Miami Dolphins do starting each July at training camp and continuing throughout the season. Miamiâs Hard Rock Stadium measures as the hottest in the league and the home team has figured out a clever advantage. Although the Dolphins will never admit it, Hard Rock Stadium was designed to keep things a bit more comfortable for the home team. The positioning of the team sidelines is such that the Dolphins are under the shade for daytime games, while the visiting team is subject to the oppressive Florida sun.Â
Being adjusted to the heat and humidity of south Florida hasnât given the Dolphins the statistical advantage one might assume. Since 2011, the Fins are just 44-36 (.550) at home with their last playoff win coming in 2000. The Dolphins turned around a lackluster 2019 season record of 5-11 (.313) in 2020 with a much improved 10-6 (.625) showing. With first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa taking the snaps, it looks like the Dolphins may have a bright future ahead.
Dallas Cowboysâ AT&T Stadium sets record for NFL game attendance
The long-time vision of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally came to fruition with the 2009 opening of AT&T Stadium. With seating for 80,000, the stadium features additional standing room for an additional 25,000 fans. This unique setup allowed the Cowboys to set the NFL record for attendance at a regular season game with 105,121 fans in the stadium during a 2009 game against the New York Giants. Jerry World, as itâs nicknamed, also features an HDTV screen which was the largest on earth at the time of its installation in 2009.Â
Unfortunately for Americaâs Team, having over 100,000 fans in attendance each week hasnât led to success on the field. Since the inaugural 2009 season at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys have posted a modest home record of 53-43 (.552) with just two playoff wins. As talented players like Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot grow older, many argue owner Jerry Jones, 78, should leave the daily operation of the team to a younger general manager with a new vision. However, Jones remains the teamâs owner, president, and general manager.
So what do you think?Â
Does a multi-billion dollar stadium intimidate the visiting team? Does playing at home in front of the leagueâs biggest crowd give you an edge? Or does practicing an entire mile above sea level mean you can outplay your opponent? Weâll all have to watch and see as the NFLâs 102nd season plays on. Until then, you can make your bets at the best online gambling sites or check out our US gambling statistics.Â
