NFL stadiums are getting out of control. Since 2000, a staggering 14 teams (nearly half the league) have built brand new stadiums to replace their old ones. That’s bad news for taxpayers, who are usually left footing the bill, and fans who continue to pay higher ticket prices to cover the costs of these technological sports wonders. It’s no surprise that ticketing companies like Ticketmaster have NFL ticket exchanges just for fans who are looking for a break in price so they can see some gridiron in person.
But the latest and greatest stadiums aren’t a buzzkill for everyone. The newest buildings pack some serious innovation and give fans an experience the older stadiums just can’t match. While some of the technology is in your face and some works quietly in the background, it all contributes to the ultimate Sunday.
#4 University of Phoenix Stadium: Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is hot, really hot. If you can believe it, the Cardinals played in the open-air Sun Devil Stadium at Arizona State University for years before the team had a home of its own. The University of Phoenix Stadium is one of the first in the NFL to have a retractable roof that can open up on cooler days. It can also grow its entire field of real grass outside and cart it via conveyer belt into the stadium come game day. This gives Cardinals fans the experience of a game outside while enjoying the comforts of indoor temperatures.
#3 Gillette Stadium: New England Patriots
There’s a saying that the best seat in the game is your living room couch. This is mostly because TV coverage gives you a better look at the action than witnessing a game in person. Commentary, instant replay, and chosen camera angles, ensure you never miss a beat. The Patriots found a way to bring that same experience right into their own house.
Gillette Stadium offers fans free high-speed Wi-Fi and an app that gives them unique camera angles, instant replay, live stats and the NFL Red Zone channel. This means they never miss important moments from the other games. Now there’s no reason for a fan in Foxborough to watch a game at home.
#2 AT&T Stadium: Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones, the owner and general manager of the Cowboys, took the saying “everything is bigger in Texas” quite literally when he built his new stadium. The scale of it is so massive and packed with ridiculous features that fans call it “Jerry’s World.”
The most notable piece of tech is hanging right from the middle of the roof — the 130-foot Jumbotron spans more than half the field. It is, by a huge majority, the largest screen in the NFL, if not all of sports.
#1 Levi’s Stadium: San Francisco 49ers
The most technological stadium in the NFL is also the newest. Levi’s Stadium cost a whopping $1.3 billion and is only about to see its second season. However, it’s packed with more bells and whistles than even the biggest nerds know what to do with.
Levi’s Stadium sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and partners with almost every tech company imaginable, including Google, Yahoo, HP, Dell and Twitter. Its most unique feature is a living roof where plants grow around solar panels that help with power. The Wi-Fi network is also 30 times faster than any stadium in the league and can handle connections from all 60,000 fans inside. While AT&T Stadium in Dallas boasts in-your-face features, Levi’s Stadium sticks to the Silicon Valley style and boasts its superiority from behind the scenes.
This is a post by Jim Burch, who says: “My copy is sexy, but I still take my writing to the gym.”
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech