Do Any NFL Teams Share a Stadium?
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There are a few stadiums that are home to more than one NFL team. Do any of these teams share a stadium?
There have been a few examples of NFL teams sharing stadiums throughout the league’s history. The most recent example is the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, who share SoFi Stadium. Other examples include the New York Jets and New York Giants, who share MetLife Stadium, and the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, who share Levi’s Stadium.
New York Jets and New York Giants (1984-2009)
In 1984, Giants Stadium opened in East Rutherford, New Jersey as the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets. The Jets had previously been playing at Shea Stadium, which they shared with the MLB’s New York Mets. The move to Giants Stadium allowed both teams to have their own locker rooms and separate practice facilities. The stadium was originally designed with a natural grass surface, but it was replaced with AstroTurf in 1986.
In 2002, the two teams decided to jointly build a new stadium in East Rutherford. Both teams would share the stadium, which would be named MetLife Stadium after the insurance company that purchased the naming rights. The new stadium opened in 2010 and is currently the only NFL stadium that is shared by two teams.
Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders (1982-1994)
The Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Raiders both played in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from 1982 to 1994.
The Rams moved to Anaheim Stadium in 1995, while the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995. In 2016, the Rams moved back to Los Angeles, where they currently share the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with the UCLA Bruins football team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins (1970-1979)
In the 1970s, the NFL experienced a boom in popularity. Teams were being added and existing teams were moving to larger markets. The league was also expanding its reach by holding games in international locations such as Mexico City and London. To keep up with the demand, teams began sharing stadiums. The most notable examples are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, who shared Miami’s Orange Bowl from 1970 to 1979.
The arrangement made sense for both teams. The Buccaneers were a new expansion team and didn’t have their own stadium. The Dolphins were an AFL team that had just merged with the NFL and needed a larger stadium to accommodate the increased number of fans.
The arrangement worked well for both teams. The Dolphins got a larger stadium and the Buccaneers got a place to play. However, the partnership ended when the Buccaneers moved into their own stadium in Tampa in 1976.
The Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both call SoFi Stadium home. This $5 billion venue opened in 2020 and can seat up to 70,240 fans. It is the most expensive stadium ever built and features a retractable roof and a 120-yard long bar.
San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders (2014-present)
In 2014, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders came to an agreement that would allow the Raiders to play at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California for the next two seasons while their new stadium in Las Vegas was being built.
This arrangement made Levi’s Stadium the first stadium in NFL history to be home to two different teams. The agreement was largely due to the fact that both teams’ old stadiums (the 49ers at Candlestick Park and the Raiders at Oakland Coliseum) were in dire need of repair and neither team could afford to build a new one on their own.
The arrangement worked out well for both teams and they even shared practice facilities during this time. In 2016, when the Raiders moved to their new stadium in Las Vegas, the 49ers remained at Levi’s Stadium.
New York Jets and New York Giants (2010-present)
The New York Jets and New York Giants both play their home games at MetLife Stadium, which is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium opened in 2010 and has a capacity of 82,500. Both teams share the stadium equally, and each has its own locker room, offices, and training facilities.
There are a few NFL teams who share stadiums, but it’s not as common as it is in other professional sports leagues. The most recent example is the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, who both moved to Los Angeles in 2016 and now share the StubHub Center. Before that, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders shared Oakland Coliseum.
Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2023)
In 2017, the Rams and the Chargers both moved to Los Angeles, California. The Rams played their first season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is also home to USC. The Chargers played their first season at StubHub Center in Carson, which is also home to Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy. In 2020, both teams are scheduled to move into a new shared stadium in Inglewood.
Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers (2017-2023)
From 2017 to 2019, the Oakland Raiders will share the StubHub Center in Carson, California with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers will have priority over stadium usage and Raiders’ home games that conflict with scheduled Chargers home games will be relocated, moved to an alternative location, or rescheduled. In 2020, the Raiders are set to move into a new stadium in Las Vegas.
