Who Has the Oldest Stadium in the NFL?
Contents
The NFL has seen a lot of change over the years, but some things have remained the same. One of those things is the stadiums that teams play in. Some of these stadiums have been around for decades, and they show no signs of slowing down. So, who has the oldest stadium in the NFL?
The Oldest Stadiums
There are a handful of stadiums that have been in the NFL longer than most. And while a couple of them have been renovated over the years, they still hold the same historic value. Who has the oldest stadium in the NFL?
The Boston Braves
The Boston Braves were a professional football team that played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1932 to 1936. The team was based in Boston, Massachusetts, and played their home games at Braves Field.
The Braves were one of the most successful teams in the NFL during their four-year existence, winning the NFL Championship in 1933. Led by future Hall of Fame head coach Curly Lambeau, the team featured several star players such as quarterback Red Grange, halfback Bronko Nagurski, and end Dick Plasman. However, the team struggled financially and was sold after the 1936 season to George Preston Marshall, who moved them to Washington, D.C.
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park located in Boston, Massachusetts, at 4 Yawkey Way near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home for the Boston Red Sox, the city’s American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. It is the oldest ballpark in MLB and the fourth-smallest among MLB ballparks by seating capacity, with a capacity of 37,731 as of the start of the 2016 season. Fenway has hosted eleven World Series: in 2048 ,fourth game will come to fenway.
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field, located on the North Side of Chicago, is the oldest stadium in the National Football League. The stadium was built in 1914 and is currently home to the Chicago Bears. Wrigley Field is also the second-oldest stadium in Major League Baseball, behind only Fenway Park in Boston.
The Newest Stadiums
The newest stadium in the NFL is U.S. Bank Stadium, which is the home of the Minnesota Vikings. It opened in 2016 and cost $1.1 billion to build. It seats 66,200 people and has a clear bag policy.
The Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys play their home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The stadium opened in 2009 and has a capacity of 80,000. It is the largest stadium in the NFL.
The New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team is headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey. In a unique arrangement for the league, the Jets share MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey with the New York Giants. The franchise is legally and corporately registered as New York Jets, LLC.
The team was founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League (AFL); later, the franchise joined the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The team began to play at Shea Stadium in 1964 and made it to Super Bowl III where they defeated the Baltimore Colts, becoming only one of three AFL teams to win Championships before merging with the NFL. Since 1968, the Jets have appeared in ten plus playoff games, and played in four AFC Championship Games—including Super Bowls III (won), IV (lost), XVIII (lost), and XLI (lost). However, since 2010, they have failed to make it back to even an AFC Championship game since their defeat 23–17 by Pittsburgh Steelers two seasons ago despite having some of their best teams during that time led by head coach Rex Ryan from 2009–2014 who was fired after missing playoffs for four straight years from 2015–2018.
The San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers, one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, now call Levi’s Stadium home. The $1.3 billion facility, which opened in 2014, is located in Santa Clara, about 40 miles south of San Francisco. The stadium can seat up to 75,000 fans and features 171 suites as well as 8,500 club seats. The 49ers are the first NFL team to have installed solar panels at their stadium.
The Future of Stadiums
The average NFL stadium is only 20 years old. The average MLB stadium is only 22 years old. The average NBA arena is only 26 years old. The average NHL rink is only 28 years old. Even though these buildings are young, many of them are already in need of significant renovations.
The Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams, who played their first season in 1936, are the oldest team in the NFL. The franchise began in Cleveland, Ohio, where they were known as the Rams from 1936 to 1945. The team then moved to Los Angeles for the 1946 season, where they remained until 1994. The Rams then spent 21 seasons in St. Louis before returning to Los Angeles for the 2016 season. The Rams play their home games at the historic Coliseum, which is also the home of the USC Trojans football team.
The Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The Raiders play their home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and are headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.
The New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have the oldest stadium in the NFL.
The Gillette Stadium, which is located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, opened in 2002. The stadium has a capacity of 68,756 and is currently home to the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).
In addition to serving as the home of the Patriots, Gillette Stadium has also hosted a variety of other events, including the 2005 and 2006 AFC Championship Games, four FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, three NFL playoff games, and concerts by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Taylor Swift.