NFL Stadiums by Capacity List: Biggest and Smallest Stadiums in Football

Jun 15 2023
5 min. read
Biggest NFL stadium capacity
Ben Chopping - 888sport Canada writer
By Ben Chopping

Since the mid-90s, football has been America’s top sport, blazing beyond what was then America’s favourite pastime, baseball. 

Surging in revenues from ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, and television rights, the NFL found itself needing bigger and better stadiums, which is why 24 of the league’s current 30 stadiums have opened since 1995. 

Now, looking at the list of NFL stadiums by capacity, it’s clear that football commands the biggest following in the US, with the seated capacity range being from a floor of 61,500 all the way up to a massive 82,500.

Below, you’ll find the full list of NFL stadiums by capacity, as well as a specific look at those with the biggest capacities, smallest capacities, and most seats for the different roof types.

List of NFL Stadiums by Capacity

This is the list ranking the NFL stadiums by capacity, from the monstrous home of two teams in East Rutherford to the much older and smaller venue in Chicago.

  1. MetLife Stadium, 82,500 (New York Giants and Jets)
  2. Lambeau Field, 81,441 (Green Bay Packers)
  3. AT&T Stadium, 80,000 (Dallas Cowboys)
  4. Arrowhead Stadium, 76,416 (Kansas City Chiefs)
  5. Empower Field at Mile High, 76,125 (Denver Broncos)
  6. Bank of America Stadium, 75,523 (Carolina Panthers)
  7. Caesars Superdome, 73,208 (New Orleans Saints)
  8. NRG Stadium, 72,220 (Houston Texans)
  9. Highmark Stadium, 71,608 (Buffalo Bills)
  10. M&T Bank Stadium, 71,608 (Baltimore Ravens)
  11. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 71,000 (Atlanta Falcons)
  12. SoFi Stadium, 70,000 (Los Angeles Chargers and Rams)
  13. Lincoln Financial Field, 69,595 (Philadelphia Eagles)
  14. Raymond James Stadium, 69,218 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
  15. Nissan Stadium, 69,143 (Tennessee Titans)
  16. TIAA Bank Field, 69,132 (Jacksonville Jaguars)
  17. Lumen Field, 69,000 (Seattle Seahawks)
  18. Levi’s Stadium, 68,500 (San Francisco 49ers)
  19. Acrisure Stadium, 68,400 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
  20. FirstEnergy Stadium, 67,895 (Cleveland Browns)
  21. FedExField, 67,717 (Washington Commanders)
  22. Lucas Oil Stadium, 67,000 (Indianapolis Colts)
  23. Gillette Stadium, 66,829 (New England Patriots)
  24. U.S. Bank Stadium, 66,655 (Minnesota Vikings)
  25. Paycor Stadium, 65,515 (Cincinnati Bengals)
  26. Hard Rock Stadium, 65,326 (Miami Dolphins)
  27. Allegiant Stadium, 65,000 (Las Vegas Raiders)
  28. Ford Field, 65,000 (Detroit Lions)
  29. State Farm Stadium, 63,400 (Arizona Cardinals)
  30. Soldier Field, 61,500 (Chicago Bears)

As shown in the list above, the biggest stadium doesn’t belong to the highest-rated team, with Arrowhead Stadium for the favoured Kansas City Chiefs at +550 in the betting to win the Super Bowl down in fourth by capacity. 

What is the Biggest NFL Stadium by Capacity?

The biggest NFL stadium by capacity is MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets. 

Opening as New Meadowlands in 2010 as the joint home of the Giants and Jets, the stadium was originally set to be built in Manhattan, but a lack of public funding meant that the two teams had to settle for a location in New Jersey.

So, the two New York teams continue to play in East Rutherford, around 8km west of New York City, in front of a league-leading stadium capacity of 82,500 seats. 

A mere two years after moving to the new stadium, the Giants brought back Super Bowl XLVI, but now, it looks like the Jets are building towards a championship-winning season. 

Given odds of +1400 in the outright odds, the Jets are considered to be a top-ten team coming into the 2023 season, so they will be sought out in the NFL spreads once the campaign gets underway.

What is the Smallest NFL Stadium by Capacity?

The smallest NFL stadium by capacity is Soldier Field, which also happens to be the oldest stadium still used by an NFL team. 

As the home of the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field has witnessed many exciting players come through since opening as Municipal Grand Park Stadium in 1924. 

Naturally, Soldier Field has undergone several renovation projects over the years, with construction performed in 2002 to 2003 bringing it to its lower capacity of 61,500 – as opposed to the near-67,000 count in the 90s. 

What is the Biggest NFL Stadium with a Retractable Roof?

AT&T Stadium is the biggest NFL stadium by capacity with a retractable roof, capable of seating 80,000 fans down in Arlington, Texas. 

The oldest retractable roof stadium still in the NFL is NRG Stadium (2002), home of the Houston Texans, but just seven years after it was built, the Dallas Cowboys opened their much larger stadium with a 660,000 sqft roof. 

What is the Biggest NFL Stadium with a Fixed Roof?

The biggest NFL stadium with a fixed roof is the 73,208-seat Caesars Superdome in Louisiana, which is the home ground of the New Orleans Saints. 

Opened in 1975, the stadium’s 440,000 sqft fixed roof makes for a distinct playing environment and stood it as the largest domed structure in the world at the time. 

With retractable roofs, the Singapore National Stadium and the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium stand ahead with larger roof measurements for a domed stadium when they close the top. 

When it comes to NFL stadiums by capacity, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford reigns supreme, with Soldier Field standing as the oldest and smallest venue in the league.

*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*

About the Author See all Ben Chopping Articles
Ben Chopping
Ben Chopping - 888sport Canada writer

Ben is very much a sports nerd, being obsessed with statistical deep dives and the numbers behind the results and performances.

Top of the agenda are hockey, soccer, and boxing, but there's always time for the NFL, cricket, Formula One, and a bit of mixed martial arts.