The 12 Oldest NFL Stadiums Have Endless History

The oldest NFL stadiums in the history of the League are packed full of NFL team history. These football stadium coliseums have hosted Super Bowls, made legends out of football teams and cemented themselves as the all-important background throughout NFL history.

Today's stadiums have immense seating capacity, unheard-of fan comforts and behemoth budgets compared to the stadiums of old. One example is the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which replaced the Atlanta-based Georgia Dome in 2017. The Atlanta Falcons' home cost a reported $1.5 billion, can hold 75,000 eager sports fans and has already hosted NFL playoff games, including a Super Bowl.

The NFL has been around since 1920, and it welcomed its first stadium shortly afterward. The newest stadiums are SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Las Vegas, both of which opened in 2020. The first is the home of both the Los Angeles Chargers (formerly of San Diego) and Los Angeles Rams; the second houses the Las Vegas Raiders, formerly of Oakland.

None of the new stadiums need renovations, and you'll be amazed at how long the oldest active stadium has been around.

These are the 12 oldest NFL stadiums, filled to capacity with history.

The 12 Oldest NFL Stadiums

12. First Energy Stadium: Cleveland Browns (1999)

First Energy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, is home to the Cleveland Browns since 1999. The stadium opened up as Cleveland Browns Stadium and has always had a dedicated Dawg Pound. The stadium sits right on Lake Erie.

11. Raymond James Stadium: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1998)

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, is home to the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raymond James is perhaps best known for having a huge pirate ship in the end zone in honor of Tampa's scallywaggin' roots.

10. M&T Bank Stadium: Baltimore Ravens (1998)

M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, is home to the Baltimore Ravens since 1998. M&T was originally called Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards before becoming PSINet Stadium and eventually M&T Bank Stadium in 2003. It is located next to Orioles Park.

9. FedEx Field: Washington Football Team (1997)

FedEx Field in Summerfield, Maryland, is home to the Washington Football Team, former the Washington Redskins, since 1997. It opened up as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium but changed its name to FedEx Field in 1999. Like Dan Snyder, FedEx Field is almost universally disliked, especially by Washington fans who miss RFK Stadium.

8. Bank of America Stadium: Carolina Panthers (1996)

Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, is home to the Carolina Panthers since 1996 when it was built for the expansion team. It opened as Ericsson Stadium until Bank of America took over in 2004. The downtown stadium can seat nearly 75,000 fans.

7. TIAA Bank Field: Jacksonville Jaguars (1995)

TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars since 1995. It began as Jacksonville Municipal Stadium before becoming Alltel Stadium, EverBank Field and then TIAA Bank Field. In addition to hosting Super Bowl XXXIX, TIAA Bank Field also hosts the Gator Bowl and the Florida-Georgia game, the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

6. Hard Rock Stadium: Miami Dolphins (1987)

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, is home to the Miami Dolphins since 1987. It's hosted six Super Bowls, four BCS National Championship games and the most recent CFP National Championship game.

5. Caesars Superdome: New Orleans Saints (1975)

Caesars Superdome, formerly the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is home to the New Orleans Saints since 1975. Before it was the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it was originally the Louisiana Superdome. The stadium has a significant place in New Orleans history as it housed thousands during 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

4. Highmark Stadium: Buffalo Bills (1973)

Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, is home to the Buffalo Bills since 1973. Highmark Stadium is formerly known as Rich Stadium, Ralph Wilson Stadium, New Era Field and briefly as Bills Stadium. Many fans describe the facilities as "old school," a deceptive synonym for uncomfortable.

3. Arrowhead Stadium: Kansas City Chiefs (1972)

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Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, is home to the Kansas City Chiefs since 1972. The sports complex is officially named GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and is next to the MLB's Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium. In 2014, Chiefs fans inside of Arrowhead Stadium broke Seattle's Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium, a record that stands today.

2. Lambeau Field: Green Bay Packers (1957)

Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is home to the Green Bay Packers since 1957. Draped in cheesehead history, Lambeau is named for Packers legend Curly Lambeau and located on Vince Lombardi Avenue. The Packers have dispatched all rivals at Lambeau, from the Bears to the Detroit Lions.

1. Soldier Field: Chicago Bears (1924)

Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, has been home to the Chicago Bears since 1970, but the stadium itself has been around since 1924. And before the Bears played there, the Chicago Cardinals took flight from Soldier. It hosted Notre Dame and Northwestern games before the Chicago Bears moved there from Wrigley Field in 1970. The name is a memorial to U.S. soldiers who have died in combat.

Honorable Mentions

The 15th oldest stadium is home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz Field, finished in 2001, followed by Paul Brown Stadium of the Cincinnati Bengals, completed in 2000. Lucky number 13 is Nissan Stadium from 1999, home of the Tennessee Titans.

Many more teams didn't make the list than those that did, including the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium (2009) in Arlington, Texas, the Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium (2008), the New York Giants MetLife Stadium (2010), the New England Patriots Gillette Stadium (2002), Levi's Stadium in San Francisco (2014), the Philadelphia Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field (2003), the Denver Broncos' Mile High Stadium (2001) and the Houston Texans' NRG Stadium (2002).

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