The year is 2023, the NFL has the biggest following so far, and people from all over the world have a favorite team they would like to see play. The stadiums are part of every team’s history. Some stadiums even got a new renovation in recent years, making them more appealing and expanding their seating capacity.
If you are a true fan of the league and you’ve been watching the games even before Brady came on to the scene, then you probably like to familiarize yourself with the history of the teams and their stadiums. The arenas we now know and love may have been a product of new tools and modern engineering, but nothing says football like puddles of mud in front of the goal line.
In recent years, NFL stadiums went from “boom” to “swoon,” and they offer quite a different experience; for the viewers and the players. Wondering what are the oldest NFL stadiums?
Our article will rank the arenas by age and give you more insight into the oldest NFL stadiums.
NFL Stadiums
The NFL has been a ballpark-based league since its existence. For more than 100 years, teams have been sharing facilities with baseball teams and musicians. What’s different in today’s modern age is that every NFL team has full control over its arena.
The NFL history is rich with beautiful moments, where everything happened on the field, from winning and losing tears to blood and sweat. So, fans are bound to have a different experience in each arena.
Moreover, the stadiums have different designs, architecture, and seating capacities. Thus, they are a huge piece of the NFL puzzle and the glorious culture we call football.
History of NFL Stadiums
The oldest NFL stadiums were not even stadiums. Back in the day, the NFL teams were playing on green fields, which paved the way for today’s modern stadiums. At the beginning of the league, the fields were pale and filled with mud pools.
That was probably the main reason why people were drawn to the sport. They finally saw a contact sport and players who were not afraid to get dirty just to score a point. One thing that has been consistent about the NFL stadiums over the years is the seating capacity. Even though the oldest NFL stadiums don’t come even close to today’s stadiums in terms of seating capacity, the teams always wanted fields that could fit a large audience.
For instance, the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as the Cowboys Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys at one point, held more than 100,000 fans. The Cowboys played the Giants, and there was a lot of heat and excitement.
If a football stadium can fit 100,000, but a Roman Colosseum has a maximum capacity of 87,000, it means that football has even surpassed the popularity of gladiator games.
Ranking the NFL Stadiums by Age
Here is a full list of the oldest NFL stadiums still used by their home teams. Even if some of them have been renovated and completely transformed, some date back much further than others, but they are a huge part of NFL history.
| NFL Stadium | Location | Home Team | Seating Capacity | Opening Year |
| LA Memorial Coliseum | LA Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles Rams | 78,467 | 1923 |
| Soldier Field | Soldier Field | Chicago Bears | 61,500 | 1924 |
| Lambeau Field | Lambeau Field | Green Bay Packers | 81,441 | 1957 |
| Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum | RingCentral Coliseum | Oakland Raiders | 63,132 | 1966 |
| Arrowhead Stadium | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City Chiefs | 76,416 | 1972 |
| New Era Field | Highmark Stadium | Buffalo Bills | 71,600 | 1973 |
| Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Caesars Superdome | New Orleans Saints | 73,208 | 1975 |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Dolphins | 65,326 | 1987 |
| EverBank Field | TIAA Bank Field | Jacksonville Jaguars | 67,164 | 1995 |
| Bank of America Stadium | Bank of America Stadium | Carolina Panthers | 75,523 | 1996 |
Top 5 Oldest NFL Stadiums
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
This stadium dates back to the dawn of the league. The LA Memorial Coliseum may not be as intricate as newer NFL stadiums, but it definitely has a large seating capacity. The Coliseum can fit even 93,000 people, and it was also the host of the USC Trojans. The Los Angeles Raiders used this field from 1982 to 1994, and the Chargers in 1960.
Additional information
| Team | Los Angeles Raiders, Rams, and Chargers |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Year | 1923 |
| State | California, USA |
Soldier Field
The Soldier Field was opened in 1924, but it didn’t become the home of the Chicago Bears until 1971. This was a major facility back in the day and could fit 74,000 people. The Soldier field hosted many popular events like Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Soldier Field was also home to the Chicago Cardinals from 1980 to 1950. In 1959, they transferred to St.Louis and became the Arizona Cardinals.
In 1970, the Chicago Bears moved from Wrigley to Soldier Field. The seating capacity during this change was downsized.
In 2003, the field got a new renovation which altered the field even more. The historic exterior is still there, reminding fans of their team’s legacy.
Additional information
Lambeau Field
Vince Lombardi left a lot of legacy on this field, which is why the Super Bowl trophy is named after him. The Green Bay Packers are one of the best teams in the history of the NFL, and they have some of the most devoted fans in the entire league.
Every opponent of the Packers fears this stadium; it might be the cannon arm of Aaron Rodgers or just the searing cold. In Wisconsin, the temperatures drop down quite low, and there is snow during most of the season. However, this doesn’t stop the loyal Packers fans who love Lambeau and the home-field advantage.
A small chunk of the team’s history holds a special place in every fan’s heart between 1957 and 2003. The Packers were undefeated at Lambeau Field between 1957 and 2003, and this small chunk of history has a special place in every fan’s heart.
Overall, Lambeau is one of the most iconic stadiums of all time and also one of the largest. Today, the arena can fit more than 81,000 people.
Additional information
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
This stadium is now known as the RingCentral Coliseum and is part of the Oakland-Alameda County complex. Unfortunately, this stadium back in the day had some of the worst facilities in the entire league. However, the Coliseum is filled with a lot of great memories.
This stadium separates from the other arenas because it hosts the NFL and the MLB team. Anyone that is not an Oakland Raiders fan does not find the stadium aesthetically pleasing.
However, to be fair, John Madden, an NFL legend, coached the Oakland Raiders in 1976 and managed to win the Super Bowl at the Alameda County Coliseum. In 1980, the Raiders were champions again and won matches on this field, eventually leading them to the “big game.”
Additional information
| Team | Oakland Raiders |
| City | Oakland |
| Year | 1966 |
| State | California, USA |
Arrowhead Stadium
Since Patric Mahomes joined the Kansas City Chiefs, we are used to seeing this stadium a lot. Chief’s fans put this stadium in the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest arena in the world, and they are pretty proud of that.
The Arrowhead Stadium gets so loud sometimes that in 1990 when the Chiefs were playing the Broncos, the quarterback could not start the play because of the cheering.
Moreover, the arena was constructed in 1972 and has been the home of the Chiefs ever since.
Additional information
| Team | Kansas City Chiefs |
| City | Kansas City |
| Year | 1972 |
| State | Missouri, USA |
Summary
In our article, we have ranked the oldest NFL stadiums. Some were constructed just for football, and others for many different events. It is no surprise that teams today like to upgrade the aesthetic and extend the seating capacity of their stadium while still keeping the culture.
In 2020, the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Los Angeles Rams opened up their new venues. Let’s see what the future holds for other teams and stadiums.
James is a big time NBA Golden State follower, who makes sure to catch games when he's in the area. He likes to follow International Soccer, with an interest in small town soccer club, Blackburn Rovers located in the North on the UK.