What NFL Stadiums Have Retractable Roofs?

With the Super Bowl coming up, we thought it would be a good time to answer a question we get a lot: what NFL stadiums have retractable roofs?

NFL Stadiums with Retractable Roofs

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. As of 2020, there are 32 teams in the NFL, and all but one of them have either a retractable dome or a retractable roof. Here are all the NFL stadiums with a retractable roof.

Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts and opened on August 16, 2008. The stadium was constructed to allow a retractable roof panel to slide across the open air stadium when weather conditions are ideal for an outdoor game or when fans desire an open-air experience.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a retractable roof stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It serves as the home stadium of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The stadium is owned by the state government of Georgia, through the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, and operated by AMB Group, the parent company of the Falcons and Atlanta United.

State Farm Stadium

State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, is one of 12 NFL stadiums with a retractable roof. The others are Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Falcons), NRG Stadium (Houston Texans), Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts), Globe Life Park in Arlington (Dallas Cowboys), US Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings), Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers), TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville Jaguars), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins), CenturyLink Field (Seattle Seahawks) and Ford Field (Detroit Lions).

Advantages of Retractable Roofs

Retractable roofs offer many advantages over traditional fixed roofs. They can provide protection from the elements while still allowing fans to enjoy the outdoors. Retractable roofs also allow for more natural light to enter the stadium, which can save on energy costs. And, they can be opened or closed in a matter of minutes, which gives stadiums the flexibility to hold events in any kind of weather.

Weather Protection

When severe weather hits, retractable roofs can protect fans and athletes alike from the elements. This is especially important in locations that are prone to extreme weather conditions, like hurricanes. Retractable roofs can also be helpful in cases of light rain or snow, as they can keep the playing field dry and ready for action.

Improved Air Quality

One primary advantage of retractable roofs is that they significantly improve air quality within the stadium. This is extremely important for the players, who need to be able to breathe easily while running around on the field. In addition, fans also benefit from being able to breathe better air while watching the game.

Enhanced Game Experience

A retractable roof can provide an enhanced game day experience for both fans and players. For fans, a retractable roof can offer protection from the elements, while still providing an outdoor feel and experience. For players, a retractable roof can provide protection from the heat, cold, and weather elements that can impact play.

Disadvantages of Retractable Roofs

Though retractable roofs were designed to be a game-changer for weather-related delays and postponements, they come with a few disadvantages. For one, they’re expensive to construct and maintain. In addition, they can be noisy when they’re open and close, and they can affect the quality of the playing surface. Let’s take a closer look at the disadvantages of retractable roofs.

High Construction and Maintenance Costs

Retractable roofs are very costly to construct. They are also expensive to maintain. For example, the roof of Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, cost $290 million to build. The roof of Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, cost $248 million. The cost of construction for a retractable roof is about double that of a fixed roof.

In addition to the high initial construction costs, retractable roofs also require significant ongoing maintenance costs. The fabric panels that make up the roof are susceptible to damage from wind, rain, snow, and debris. These fabric panels must be regularly inspected and repaired or replaced as necessary. The moving parts of the roof (tracks, motors, etc.) also require regular maintenance and repairs.

Complex Engineering

A retractable roof is a multi-panel roof that slides open and closed, typically using electromechanical systems. The panels can be made of a variety of materials, including glass, metal, and fabric.

Retractable roofs are very popular in sports stadiums because they allow the venue to be used for both indoor and outdoor events. They also offer protection from the weather for spectators and athletes alike.

However, retractable roofs come with a number of disadvantages. They are very complex engineering feats, which can make them expensive to build and maintain. In addition, they can be difficult to operate, and if something goes wrong, it can be costly to repair.

Limited Availability

One disadvantage of retractable roofs is that they are not widely available. As of 2019, there are only eight retractable-roof stadiums in the NFL. This means that most fans will not have the opportunity to experience a game in this type of stadium.

Another disadvantage of retractable roofs is that they can be expensive to build and maintain. This is because the roof must be able to open and close without leaking, and this requires a complex system of hydraulics or mechanics. In addition, the roof must be strong enough to withstand high winds when it is closed.