You don't have to visit FedEx Field or even be a Washington Commanders fan to know that FedEx Field is the worst NFL stadium in the league. It's so bad that it's become a meme. The stadium is falling apart, and in January 2022, cameras caught it happening live. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was walking to the locker room and, along the way, he stopped to offer some high-fives to some fans in the stands. The railing between them fell, and the fans tumbled onto the field, nearly crushing Hurts in the process. Before that, fans filmed sewage pouring into the stands.
As if that's not enough, fans don't like going to FedEx Field for other reasons too, such as the ridiculous traffic surrounding the stadium, the overpriced food, expensive parking, and the fact that many seats don't offer a great view of the action of the field. Throw in the fact that the team hasn't been that great in recent years and the controversy surrounding the team's name change, and it's fitting that fans just aren't that into FedEx Field. It's not unusual to see the stands somewhat empty during a home game.
Formerly Paul Brown Stadium, Paycor Stadium opened in 2000 in Cincinnati, and it offers some great views of the city skyline, but the positive notes end there for the most part. The word "cheap" is often used when talking about going to a Bengals game as in you can usually find cheap food and parking, which is good, but often the word is associated with the stadium features themselves as well as the overall atmosphere. Fans say the stadium needs updating and an uptick in excitement.
To be fair, up until 2021, the Bengals hadn't been giving fans much to get excited about in recent years, but tried-and-true supporters want to show their love for the team. It's kind of hard to do when you can't hear the music being played during a game and there isn't much going on to pump up the crowd.
MetLife Stadium, built in 2010, is home to the New York Giants and the New York Jets...and hundreds of feral cats. One even ran onto the field during a game in 2019. It's the biggest stadium in the NFL, which is great, but size alone doesn't do it any favors with fans.
First, it's expensive. Fans say food and beverages are overpriced, and the prices for parking are well-known for being some of the highest in the NFL. But even beyond all that, MetLife Stadium is just kind of unattractive. Across the web, you'll find fans describing it with words like "gray" and "drab" and one even said it's like hanging out on the inside of a dull radiator.
The Buffalo Bills have been playing some great football in recent years and if players like franchise quarterback Josh Allen have anything to do with it, they'll keep that up for years to come. They're also slated to get a new stadium sometime before 2030 but, in the meantime, fans are stuck with Highmark Stadium, which has been described as a "dinosaur." It was built in the 1970s, and it has the look and amenities to prove it.
Few things have been upgraded in the decades since. Not to mention, traffic around the stadium is a nightmare when there's a home game. The worst part of all of it is that Buffalo can get pretty darn cold during football season, and fans often find themselves sitting in single-digit temperatures for hours on end.
We hated to put both of Ohio's NFL stadiums on the list, but if you want an excellent football experience in the Buckeye State, you'll probably have to head out to a college game. FirstEnergy Stadium is home to the Cleveland Browns, and while the Browns do have a great fan base, the stadium itself, which was built in 1999, is just sort of lackluster. It doesn't offer much in the way of excitement unless you count the fans' energy.
Considering the most exciting thing that's ever happened in the stadium is that the team broke a 19-game losing streak, it takes a lot to bring energy to a home game. The 2022 season will be even worse due to the whole Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield debacles. Throw in the fact that most games are extremely cold, thanks to the wind coming in off Lake Erie, and it's just easier to stay home and watch the Browns lose on TV.
Raymond James Stadium recently hosted a Super Bowl, and it's home to Tom Brady these days, so it's hard to imagine that it's not such a great place, but it has to go on the list. Sure, it has a 103-foot pirate ship. But that's about all it has. One of fans' biggest complaints about Raymond James is the location.
It doesn't sit right on Tampa Bay or even in the heart of the city of Tampa — it's right next to Tampa International Airport. That means traffic is troublesome, and there isn't a lot to do in the area. Parking is hard to come by, food is expensive, and customer service is lacking. During football season, those Sunday Florida afternoons can be hot and humid.
Nissan Stadium, home to the Tennessee Titans, does have some things going for it. Its location, for example, is outstanding. Step outside, and cross a bridge, and you're in the heart of Nashville's live music scene. But step away from all that glitz and glamor, and you don't have much to work with. The stadium was built in 1999, and fans say it's kind of falling apart.
It's in desperate need of some repairs and upgrades that don't seem to be happening. There's not much of a tailgating scene, and the atmosphere inside the stadium is kind of boring. Throw in the fact that it's one of the more expensive stadiums to visit, and you understand why Nissan made the list.
Built in 1987, Miami's Hard Rock Stadium is considered something of a landmark these days, but it's not a landmark Dolphins fans love to visit. Sure, it hosts many Super Bowls, and it's received a few upgrades in recent years but that's just not enough to drive fans to home games. Driving is probably the number one reason why fans don't go.
First, the stadium isn't even located in Miami. It's located in the city of Miami Gardens, which is about 15 miles north of Miami. There isn't much to do around the area, and even if there was, traffic will probably prevent you from doing it. Dolphins fans are notoriously late to games because traffic can be such a nightmare. Throw in that hot, humid South Florida weather, and it's best to stay home and watch the game from your air-conditioned house.
For some reason, Florida NFL teams just can't get their stadiums right, and Jacksonville's TIAA Bank Field is a great example of this. We'll start with the good stuff. The stadium sits on the St. Johns River, which means you get a nice view from the area. There's also a swimming pool inside where fans can pay to watch games from the water. That's about all we can come up with.
Fans say the stadium leaks when it rains, and the walkways are poorly designed. The vendor areas are often crowded due to poor planning, and one of the parking lots is said to be built on contaminated land from an old industrial incident. It doesn't help that the Jaguars haven't done much on the field to draw some fan spirit in recent years.
Levi's Stadium is one of the newer stadiums on the list, as it was built in 2014. Unfortunately, 49ers fans weren't impressed then, and haven't been ever since. The home to the San Francisco 49ers isn't in San Francisco — it's in Santa Clara. Fans didn't like that nor did they like the traffic that came with the move to the new city. The stadium has been described as having a "corporate" look with no character, history, or charm.
The worst part is the sun. The way the stadium is built, the sun shines right down on many of the seats, making them hot to the touch and blinding spectators at certain parts of the day. It seems like someone didn't properly think this through.
Located in Uptown Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium, which is home to the Carolina Panthers, isn't that old, but fans say it's one of the most dated stadiums in the league. It was built in 1996 and has since undergone several upgrades, but that hasn't helped it gain much favorability.
The stadium lacks amenities or anything to make it stand out. It could be the generic stadium used to film a movie or TV show from any decade in the 20th century. The tailgating scene is barely there, and it seems like construction is always going on around the stadium, so fans often have to park a good distance away and walk to the game.
Heinz Field opened in Pittsburgh in 2001, although you'd think it's been around longer. The team, the fans, and the overall atmosphere have turned it into one of the most exciting places to catch an NFL game. The location offers gorgeous views of the Ohio River, and you can't beat the sight of fans waving those yellow towels. So, what's the problem?
Well, in 2022, Heinz Field was renamed Acrisure Stadium. Fans weren't happy with the change, and some even went as far as to say it will impact the atmosphere. Beyond that, traffic can be quite difficult in that area of Pittsburgh, and going to a game is just plain expensive, from the price of a ticket to the price of parking to the price of a cold beer. Fans also say the stadium is in desperate need of some upgrades. If you aren't a fan of the home team, coming to the stadium can be an even bigger issue because Steelers fans have been voted one of the most hostile groups in the NFL.
The New England Patriots have been one of the most explosive teams of the 21st century, so you would think they'd have an exciting stadium to match. You'd be wrong. For a team that represents an entire region of the country, you'd think the stadium wouldn't be located in a remote area like Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is about 22 miles outside of Boston. That alone can make traffic a nightmare. Fans have complained of it taking hours just to get out of the parking lot after a game.
The other issue at Gillette is the price. Even though Tom Brady is gone, and New England is no longer an automatic playoff contender, it's thought to be the most expensive stadium to visit. Finally, Patriots fans have a reputation for being fairly rude to anyone who isn't a homer.
M&T Bank Stadium is somewhere in the middle of the road when it comes to NFL stadiums. It's not awful, but it's not great. The main reason for that is its urban location. Traffic and parking can be terrible to contend with on game day. Fans have complained of waiting for long periods of time for parking and never finding a space.
For a while, fans also thought the stadium felt dated, but in recent years, improvements like LED lights and elevators have been added to bring it into the 21st century.
Soldier Field is the oldest NFL stadium — it was initially built in 1924, although as you can imagine it's undergone many changes since then. It's also the smallest stadium in the NFL. That's great if you like history and tradition, but the actual game-day experience isn't quite so appealing unless you like to wait.
You'll wait to find a parking space, wait in long lines for food and beverages, and wait quite a while to get through security. Another common complaint is that upgrades over the last couple of decades have taken away the stadium's unique charm.
