Top NFL Stadium
If you’ve only been watching NFL games from the comfort of your couch, you’re the audience the league is hoping to woo to the stadium. Franchise owners are looking to put more cheeks in seats as they invest big time in amenities and experiences that are meant to impress. Check out these eight NFL stadiums with some of the coolest fan features:
Venue: Mercedes Benz Stadium
Team: Atlanta Falcons
They may not have gone all the way in 2016, but their new stadium is sure to bring in more fans than ever. The $1.5 billion venue features retractable roof petals that open like a camera shutter, a five-story-tall, 360-degree HD video halo board, and a falcon bird sculpture, the latter two being the world’s largest. And even the smaller details are fan-centric, from a re-engineered gate entry experience ensuring fans get into the building in five minutes or less, improved wi-fi for better in-stadium connections, and the 61,000 square-foot “Front Porch” outdoor fan plaza featuring live entertainment, food and beverages before, during and after the game.
Venue: US Bank Stadium
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Aside from the practical luxury of transit that brings fans directly into the stadium, avoiding more time in the brisk Minnesota weather, fans will appreciate new indoor experiences in the 10,000 square-foot “Viking Voyage” interactive space located on the Upper Club level. Free to and accessible to all ages, activities put fans “on the field” with a virtual pass and catch experience, three-cone drill running and even testing how fans measure up against a tackling sled.
Venue: AT&T Stadium
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Fans who appreciate a meticulously curated art collection will want to leave some extra time to tour the concourses at AT&T Stadium. Owner Jerry Jones not only personally selected the art that adorns much of the interior of the stadium, but he commissioned many of the pieces himself. Art enthusiasts and sports fans alike will enjoy the diversity of the museum-quality pieces, whether meandering this impressive venue with the aid of the Dallas Cowboys Art Collection app or signing up for a guided tour.
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Venue: TIAA Bank Field
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
In true Florida fashion, this stadium offers one of the best outdoor party spaces in the league. Aptly dubbed the “Party Zone”, this area was transformed during a 2014 renovation, which included the removal of thousands of seats in the north end zone to make room for two wading pools, cabanas, food and beverage service and 55,000 square feet of HD video screens, all with fantastic views of the field. The addition of an amphitheater adjacent to the stadium will bring more opportunity for events and artist performances in what the Jaguars’ organization hopes will become an iconic entertainment facility for downtown Jacksonville.
Venue: Levi’s Stadium
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Situated in the biggest tech hub in the country, Levi’s Stadium wasted no time in stepping up their tech game as they prepped to host Super Bowl 50. The addition of over 100 new Wi-Fi access points and 60 distributed antennas allows fans faster internet access and better cellular coverage throughout the stadium. And the introduction of the Levi’s Stadium mobile app gives fans the ability order, pay and opt for “in-seat delivery” of food and beverage. Not to mention the app’s wayfinding feature that helps fans navigate to any point of interest in the stadium, including their seat, and shares information about line wait times to plan concession and restroom trips at the best moments.
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium
Team: Miami Dolphins
Upgrades to this stadium has Dolphins fans living large in the new living room style seating experiences that were part of a multi-million facility upgrade in 2016. The “72 Club” takes premium seating to the next level, offering members their own private arrival lane to the stadium, option to valet their car, and VIP parking spaces. And that’s all before you get to your seat. The wider, double-padded seats have 11 inches more legroom with exclusive field level access, and in-seat service. Fans who upgrade to the club’s “living room boxes” on the 35-yard line have their own private screens to watch replays and highlights, not to mention even bigger, more comfortable seats. And those who aren’t will to pay a premium can still enjoy a cooler seat under the new state-of-the-art open air canopy that shades 92 percent of spectators.
Venue: State Farm Stadium
Team: Arizona Cardinals
While it’s not something fans will likely notice during an event, this innovative stadium features the first retractable natural grass playing surface in North America. The field is contained in a single 40-inch deep tray measuring 234 feet wide and 403 feet long, and rolls out, traveling the 740 feet inside or out of the stadium in less in than an hour at the push of a button. It allows sporting events to be played on natural grass indoors while providing access to the stadium floor for events and getting the maximum amount of sunshine and nourishment when parked outside in the desert sun.
Venue: SoFi Stadium
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Scheduled to open in 2020, this 298-acre sports and entertainment complex that is the future home of the Rams and Chargers, will not only feature a near 80,000-seat stadium, but also a 300-room hotel, 6,000 square-foot performance venue, and retail, office and residential space. With a footprint larger than the original Disneyland Park and the world’s largest price tag for a stadium complex, expectations are high in anticipation of the opening of this SoCal mega-venue.
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