NFL Stadium Rankings 2026

My analysis of NFL stadium experiences as a traveling Lions' road fan

The complete Detroit Lions 2026 schedule releases on May 14 which is a big deal for those of us planning to travel to road games. We already know some of the games - like when the Lions break open the seal on the Buffalo Bills new stadium on Thursday Night Football, September 17.

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel as a fan to many road games to join in the Honolulu Blue Wave. Here is my ranking of the stadium (and surrounding area) experiences, along with some tips I’ve picked up along the way.

#1 - Los Angeles Rams/Chargers (Sofi Stadium)

I’ve been to 2 Lions games in LA - 1 each for the Chargers and Rams. This stadium clearly stands out as the nicest of all I’ve visited.

In person, the exterior architecture looks as great as it does on TV. But what makes this stadium special is the ridiculously nice, interior concourses. It’s like you’re walking around a luxury hotel rather than the concrete jungle of typical stadiums.

There are an infinite number of escalators connecting all the different sections inside, which also serves to gatekeep the sections. This seems to help prevent some areas from becoming overcrowded which is nice.

Food options are plentiful, fancy, and varied. If you want the nicer, premium menu items, you’ll want to get it early before the lines start getting ridiculously long.

While the stadium itself is majestic, the immediate surrounds of the stadium are barren, so you’ll need to find somewhere else to hang out before and after the game. This also means that there are no walkable hotels worth staying at.

Pro tip: Parking at the nearby Forum is easy and convenient. You need to book a spot in advance. Getting in and out by car was faster than I expected.

#2 - Denver Broncos (Empower Field)

There is something majestic about the rolling top sightline of the stadium, which nicely frames the vast blue (usually cloudless) sky of Colorado. The bronze metal broncos outside look very cool, as does the real live horse that gallops around on the field.

The stadium is pretty close to downtown and within walking distance of the Denver light rail, which is a good option for transportation.

Pro tip: The temperature in Colorado varies dramatically depending on if you are in the sun. When the sun dips below the stadium sightline, it can get very cold, very fast. Layer up.

#3 - Arizona Cardinals (State Farm Stadium)

The stadium is located about a 30-minute drive from downtown Phoenix in a spread-out area of Glendale with lots of hotels, restaurants, and retail. Driving around is easy but can take a while given the spread-out nature. There is a shopping mall and a lot of eateries next to the stadium to hang out at before the gates open. Overall, this is an extremely convenient place to go watch an NFL game.

While the roof is retractable, it’s basically an indoor stadium which means reliable comfort - good thing as the weather outside can be oppressively hot. While you’re braving the sun and heat, check out the impressive Saguaro cacti around the city.

Hotel: There are a ton of hotels within easy walking distance to the stadium if you prefer to walk to the game.

Food: I ate a lot of fry bread which is a regional specialty in Arizona. Fry bread is freshly fried dough with your choice of taco filling piled on top. Angelina’s Fry Bread was my favorite.

I also recommend Angie’s, which is a regional fast-food, drive-thru restaurant uniquely offering lots of seafood options including tasty lobster rolls.

#4 - Houston Texans (NRG Stadium)

This stadium is located about a 20 minute drive outside of downtown Houston. While this stadium is technically open-air due to the retractable roof, it still feels like an indoor stadium even with the roof open - which apparently is a rare occurrence. The roof happened to be open when I witnessed Jared Goff’s 5 INT game that still somehow ended in a victory.

Hotel: There are a decent number of walkable hotels nearby if you don’t want to drive.

Food: It’s Texas, so BBQ brisket is a must. I tried Killen’s BBQ …

and Truth BBQ…

Both briskets lived up to the hype.

#5 - Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field)

I was impressed with the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame & Museum which is located in the atrium of the stadium. It is extremely well done and worth it even for Lions’ fans. I think all NFL teams should try to copy this concept.

The Titletown area adjacent to the stadium is a really nice place to walk around on gamedays and non-gamedays.

Hotel: The Lodge Kohler Hotel across the street from the stadium was a fantastic location and a nice stay. You need to book it immediately upon schedule release as it can sell out instantly. The major negative is you will need to sleep with pictures of Packers legends looking down upon you.

Pro tip: This stadium is mostly metal bleacher seats so you may want to bring a seat cushion with you. A cheap, mouth-inflatable cushion worked well for me. This is extra important if it is a cold-weather game so you don’t get butt frostbite (frostbutt?). You have the option of renting a seatback at the game for about $10.

Food: While in Wisconsin, go get your cheese curds which are readily available at grocery stores and gas stations. For extra calories, the poutine at the The Booyah Shed will get you feeling all warm inside on a cold day.

#6 - NY Giants (MetLife Stadium)

New York City is my favorite US city to walk around, and I was impressed with how nice it was during my visit in 2022. My mood was likely boosted by the upset victory over the Giants, which became a turning point for the franchise.

The non-descript stadium is not a long drive from Manhattan making rideshare transportation a viable option if you are staying in the city.

A must-see in NYC is the 9/11 Museum for the historical relevance as well as the amazing interior architecture.

Pro-tip: Located a short 10-minute walk from the stadium is an enormous shopping mall, which includes a huge Ferris wheel, a water park, and an indoor ski slope. It’s a great place to hang out before and after the game.

#7 - Washington Commanders (Northwest Stadium)

This current stadium is in a safe, pleasant location outside the nation’s capitol. It’s a pretty generic stadium that is starting to show its age. Construction on a new stadium is going to start soon.

The city was very clean, safe, and walkable during my 2025 visit. I was there during the government shutdown which meant many museums were closed, but there was still a ton to see and do throughout the downtown area. Overall, I was extremely impressed with DC.

Pro tip: This stadium is far away from downtown, but there is excellent transportation via the Metro subway. You get off at the Morgan Blvd Station which is a pleasant 30 minute walk from the stadium.

Hotel: Because the Metro subway works so well in DC, it makes staying at a downtown hotel a great option. You have easy access to all the famous historical sites via subway, rideshare, or your feet.

#8 - Kansas City Chiefs (GEHA Field)

The stadium is about a 30-minute drive from downtown out in the middle of nowhere, which doesn’t make for the most scenic atmosphere… unless you love tailgating. A new stadium is expected to be completed by 2031.

The pregame tailgating scene is legendary and for good reason. The parking lot extends as far as the eye can see, allowing for plenty of people to get their grilling on.

The downtown area of Kansas City is very nice and walkable. The free KC Streetcar is an effective way to travel between the famous Union Station and downtown.

Pro tip: Make sure you have a solid plan how to get back from the stadium. I tried getting a rideshare back downtown which was impossible after the season-opening night game in 2023. There is no public transportation to or from the stadium. Renting a car seems like the smart move.

Food: KC is famous for its burnt ends which are basically just BBQ brisket cut into cube shapes and tossed in BBQ sauce. I sampled 5 different KC BBQ places and the clear winner was Wolfpack BBQ located within walking distance of downtown. The burnt ends and brisket were very tender with a nice bark.

#9 - Dallas Cowboys (AT&T Stadium)

The stadium is definitely nice, but the hype feels overrated. Maybe it’s time for Jerry Jones to upgrade since this current version is already 20 years old.

The famously enormous scoreboard negatively affected the game atmosphere. I was sitting in the upper bowl which meant I had to stare straight into that monstrosity the entire game. It cluttered up my visual field and the airspace. Maybe if I had sat in the lower bowls, it wouldn’t be as obtrusive. Not everything has to be bigger in Texas, Jerry.

Credit to the Cowboys for offering opposing team cupcakes which were surprisingly delicious…

I stayed in downtown Dallas which felt a bit rough in spots, but had convenient access to many tourist sites - including the famous JFK assassination site. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get to the stadium except by car.

The stadium is halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. Transportation after the game can be tricky if you don’t have a car. There is a Wal-Mart adjacent to the stadium where many fans congregated while waiting for a rideshare. There is also an entertainment and restaurant venue just to the east of the stadium.

Pro tip: The stadium offers an unlimited-refill popcorn option if you like to munch on something the entire game.

#10 - Seattle Seahawks (Lumen Field)

My stadium experience was marred by an overenergetic DJ who was yelling and playing max-volume club music through the speakers the entire game. I sat in the upper bowl directly under the speakers hanging from the roof, which meant I couldn’t hear myself think, much less talk to somebody sitting right next to me. The only time the speakers were silent all day was when the offense broke the huddle until the end of the play.

It didn’t help my experience that Jared Goff was hurt, and I had to watch a beleaguered Tim Boyle throw 3 INT’s.

On the positive side, I like how the stadium is semi-open at the ends allowing for a nice view of the city and surrounding areas.

For transportation, there is the Sounder train station within walking distance that works very well if you are coming from surrounding areas.

Pro-tip: Try to sit in the lower bowl so you are as far away from the obnoxious speakers as possible.

#11 - San Francisco 49ers (Levi’s Stadium)

Aesthetically, this is the ugliest stadium of them all. From the outside, it looks like my kid’s half-completed erector set project. On the inside, the lower-bowl seat sections have some strange angles, nonsensical juts, and awkward sightlines. Having said all that, it’s still a perfectly fine place to watch a game.

This stadium located in Santa Clara is nowhere near San Francisco which is an hour or more away (depending on traffic). There really isn’t anything around the stadium except for the Great America amusement park next door (usually closed during football season)… and a bunch of unsightly (and unhealthy?) electrical substations.

The nearest big city is San Jose where I spent much of my time.

Pro tip: The hotel situation is sparse near the stadium as there are only 2 hotels within easy walking distance. I stayed in one of these nearby hotels which made my walk back from the 2024 NFC Championship Game shorter… but no less depressing. Plan on reserving a room early if you want to stumble to and from the stadium.

SUMMARY

There are really no bad stadium experiences here, as all my visits were pleasant. The number of Lions’ fans at all these road games has been impressively high which means you are far from alone if you travel to a game. Wear your Honolulu Blue proudly.