We all know that Soccer is not the biggest sport in the United States. However, it is growing rapidly in recent years and new stadiums are being committed to the ever-growing sport. It is therefore imperative to find out the largest and overall best Soccer Stadiums in USA.
When it comes to soccer, the conditions of the field can make or break a game.
There are many factors that go into how good a soccer field is for play: the lighting, climate, and size all play a major role in determining its quality.
A bad soccer field can be an obstacle to your ball-handling skills and make you feel like you’re playing on a patch of grass instead of a professional soccer pitch.
So how do you find the best soccer fields in the US?
Here, we’ve compiled the list of the best soccer fields and Stadiums in the United States.
They include all stadiums in the top three levels of the USA soccer and some lower league and collegiate stadiums in the United States.
Some of these venues are soccer-specific stadiums. Other venues are multipurpose stadiums, or for other sports but also host soccer games.
The lists compiled are according to Features, design, surface, location, and capacity.
Consider Reading: Best Africans To Play in The MLS
1. Finley Stadium
Finley Stadium is a soccer stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The stadium, which opened in 1997, has a current capacity of 20,412.
Inaugurated on August 18, 1999, the stadium was originally known as Adelphia Coliseum from 1999-2002 and then as LP Field from 2002-2016.
Finley Stadium was constructed at a cost of $292 million by FieldTurf Inc., which still holds the naming rights to the stadium.
Adjacent to the stadium is the First Horizon Pavilion.
The pavilion offers tailgaters a perfect atmosphere around the stadium while providing protection from the weather without being indoors.
The venue can host other sporting events such as soccer and rugby and has hosted concerts by famous performers like Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.
One of the notable events that happened at Finley Stadium was when the U.S. Men’s National soccer team played a friendly match against Jamaica. The match took place on February 3, 2017, at Finley Stadium and the U.S. defeated Jamaica 1–0.
Read Also: How To Get Football Scholarship or Club Signing
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 20,412
* Surface – AstroTurf Gameday Grass
* Location – 1826 Carter Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
2. Ricardo Silva Stadium
The Ricardo Silva Stadium is located in Tampa Bay, Florida. It was built in 2017 and has a capacity of about 25,000.
It is the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies USL club and is also used for concerts and other sports events like soccer.
The stadium has many great features that make it an excellent choice for a soccer game or concert.
There are four different levels of seating on each side that can accommodate up to 8,000 people.
The seats are all padded with armrests and cup holders, so you’ll be comfortable during the entire soccer game or concert.
There are also several bars within the stadium that provide plenty of food and drinks to keep your energy up while cheering on your team or favorite artist.
In April 2017 Riccardo Silva Stadium also had significant improvements with the completion of two major projects.
One of the improvements is the installation of a new world-class playing surface.
The new surface – FieldTurf’s Revolution 360, features fibers that provide optimal durability, resilience. The new surface is used by many of the country’s Soccer teams.
Consider Reading: How To Make Money From Football
Some interesting facts about Ricardo Silva stadium
- The stadium has a capacity of over 30,000 people, making it one of the largest in Latin America.
- The stadium was completed in 2005 and cost $140 million.
- Ricardo Silva stadium held up well during the 2010 earthquake.
- When not being used for Soccer or other sports, Ricardo Silva Stadium is rented out for concerts and other events.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 25,000
* Surface – FieldTurf
* Location – 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199
Read Also: The Best South Americans in The MLS
3. Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a soccer stadium located in the Greater Boston region.
It serves as the home to both the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.
The stadium is nicknamed “The Death Star” by fans of the Patriots due to its resemblance to the large spherical space station from the Star Wars franchise.
Originally constructed as a multi-purpose stadium, Gillette Stadium has been an exclusive football venue since 2002.
Although the full capacity of the stadium (for other events or sports) is about 68,890 for soccer, it is about 20,000 (expandable).
It’s no surprise that Gillette Stadium has become one of America’s most famous sporting venues.
Consider Reading: How To Apply For Football Scholarship Online
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – Full: 68,890, Soccer: 20,000 (expandable)
* Surface – FieldTurf
* Location – Foxborough, Massachusetts.
4. Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is a 74,867-seat stadium located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
It opened in 1996 and is the home of the Carolina Panthers and the Belk Bowl.
The Bank of America Stadium was built to replace the aging Rosenblatt Stadium (in Omaha, Nebraska) as the home for a new NFL expansion team.
The stadium’s original capacity was set at over 80,000 seats but due to safety concerns following a partial collapse of its roof in December 1999, it was reduced to around 74,867 seats.
The stadium has hosted various events including college football games (including six playoff games), professional soccer matches (including Major League Soccer and CONCACAF Champions League), and motocross races.
Bank of America Stadium has many standout external peculiarities.
Aspects of the stadium’s architecture, such as the three huge main entrances, incorporate the team’s colors of black, process blue, and silver.
It is interesting to note that the Arches that connect column supports on the upper deck resemble the shape of half a football.
Furthermore, several acres of numerous trees and landscaping surround the building.
The stadium’s architecture and design have been compared to that of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Soldier Field, among others.
Each of the stadium’s entrances is flanked on both sides by two larger-than-life bronze panther statues, something unique throughout the entire NFL.
Another striking feature the stadium contains is its six light domes. These are found on top of the main entrances, two per entrance, and set over a hundred feet in the air.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 74,867
* Surface – FieldTurf
* Location – Charlotte, North Carolina
Read Also: Most Successful American Soccer Players
5. M & T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose soccer stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the first stadium to be built without public taxpayer money since 1997.
The facility was completed in 1998 and can seat 71,008 fans for football games.
It also has 18 luxury suites and a club area that holds 1,000 people or 400 people on non-game days.
The M&T Bank Stadium’s construction was privately funded by those who believed that it would be an asset for the city of Baltimore as well as provide benefits to Marylanders statewide.
The stadium has five levels, namely:
- The lower bowl
- club level
- 300 suites level
- 400 suites level, and the
- Upper bowl.
The lower bowl contains 42 rows of seats. These seats are then split into two different sections.
The seats below the tunnel entrances are labeled from 1 to 18.
However, the seats above the tunnels are labeled from 19 to 42, except in sections 123-130. These seats contain rows 19-35, due to the press box taking up sideline space.
Read Also: Best American Soccer Players to Play in The Premier League
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 71,008.
* Surface – Tifway 419 Bermuda.
* Location – Baltimore, Maryland.
6. Banc of California Stadium
Banc of California Stadium is a soccer stadium in Carson, California that was completed in 2003.
The stadium has hosted two Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup finals, one MLS All-Star Game, and several international soccer games.
Banc of California Stadium is also the home of the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC).
Both clubs are owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).
It was the first open-air stadium built in the City of Los Angeles since 1962.
The seating capacity of the stadium is 22,000 and the stadium’s seating is at 34 degrees. It is indeed one of the steepest in MLS.
The stadium also features press box suites with a water fountain.
Five percent of the stadium’s parking spaces have electric vehicle charging stations and 20% electric vehicle-ready infrastructure.
The stadium has 440 planned parking spaces for bicycles and a bike path to the stadium as part of the My Figueroa Project.
The stadium is a LEED Silver-certified building.
In the 2028 summer Olympics, the stadium will host both men’s and women’s soccer when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 22,000
* Surface – Bermuda grass
* Location – Los Angeles, California, US.
Consider Reading: MLS vs Premier League
7. Fedexfield Stadium
FedExField is a soccer stadium located near the Capital Beltway in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The stadium is the home of the Washington Football Team of the NFL.
However, it has been used for some international soccer matches — both for the United States and also for El Salvador.
FedExField has also hosted a number of club soccer exhibition matches.
During the July 2005 World Series of Football, D.C. United hosted Chelsea F.C.
In 2011, Manchester United ended its summer tour with a 2–1 win over F.C. Barcelona at FedExField in front of 81,807 fans. This represented the largest soccer crowd in D.C. area history.
At the moment, FedExField is currently being considered as a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 82,000
* Surface – Latitude 36 Bermuda Grass
* Location – Summerfield, Maryland.
8. AT & T Stadium
AT&T Stadium is a soccer stadium in Arlington, Texas. Originally, It is the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and also hosts college football games, concerts, and shows.
The AT&T Stadium is commonly referred to as Jerry’s World, in reference to team owner Jerry Jones who financed its construction.
The stadium can hold more than 80,000 people which makes it one of the largest in North US.
It has been ranked as having the best game day experience from a stadium, by ESPN in 2017, due to its size and quality seating options.
It also has the world’s 31st largest high-definition video screen.
The facility, owned by the city of Arlington, can also be used for a variety of other activities and sports apart from Soccer.
Rumor has it that the stadium uses consumes more electricity than the whole country of Liberia.
The stadium’s actual construction cost $1.15 billion, and it is one of the most expensive sports venues ever built.
One top-notch fact about the stadium is that it has more than 3,000 Sony LCD displays throughout the luxury suites, concourses, concession areas, and more.
This offers fans viewing options that extend beyond the action on the field.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention that the stadium also houses a center-hung Mitsubishi video display board.
This board was the largest HDTV screen in the world at the time of its installation.
The highlighted facilities in the AT & T stadium make it one of the very best soccer stadiums in USA.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 80,000(expandable to 105,000)
* Surface – Hellas Matrix Turf with Helix Soft Top artificial turf.
* Location – Arlington, Texas.
Read Also: Best MLS Transfers From European Clubs
9. BBVA Stadium
BBVA Stadium is the home of the Houston Dynamo and the Houston Dash organizations of Major League Soccer and hosts various international soccer matches.
The BBVA Stadium was launched in May 2012. It became the first open-air stadium in Major League Soccer located in a city’s downtown district.
The Stadium hosted its first international match on May 23, 2012, when New Zealand and El Salvador played to a 2–2 draw.
In addition, it hosted its first women’s international match when it hosted a 4–0 win by the United States over China in December 2012.
The construction of the stadium is considered to be an important step for both the club and for MLS because it helped bring back soccer to Downtown Houston after years of being played at various other venues.
The $95 million stadium construction cost makes the BBVA Compass Stadium the most cost-effective of modern soccer-specific stadiums.
The stadium has a capacity of 22,039 seats, including 34 private suites, 1,100 club seats, Premium Club, dedicated supporters stand, and food court.
The stadium is designed to accommodate MLS and FIFA standard international soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, and concerts.
The stadium architect, Christopher Lee of Populous, stated that “We set out to design the perfect urban soccer stadium: tight, atmospheric, and intimate.”
In 2012, The stadium received the award for its innovative construction and sustainable design from the US green building council.
Currently, they have official stadium partner’s in the likes of Audi, Papa Johns, AT&T, Budweiser, Life storage, TriEagle Energy.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 22,039
* Surface – Celebration’ Bermuda grass
* Location – Houston, Texas.
10. Lincoln Financial Field
The Lincoln Financial Field is home to the Philadelphia Eagles in Pennsylvania. It is indeed one of the best soccer stadiums in USA.
It was opened in 2003, and was originally called the Lincoln Financial Field but was renamed after a new sponsorship deal with the financial services company.
The Philadelphia Eagles play soccer there, and it has a capacity of 69,176.
Apart from soccer, the field has been used for concerts, college games, and other events.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 69,796
* Surface – Bermuda Grass
* Location – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
11. MetLife Stadium
The MetLife Stadium is one of the best soccer stadiums in USA. It is located in East Rutherford, NJ, officially opened in 2010.
Since the stadium’s opening day in 2010, it hosts soccer matches and other events.
To prepare for a match, the stadium uses retractable seating in the field level corners to fit a FIFA-sanctioned soccer field.
At the time of its completion, the stadium is regarded as the most expensive stadium ever built in America.
In July 2017, MetLife Stadium won the “Venue of the Year” Award at the Stadium Business Summit.
The award is handed to the world’s best stadium, arena, or sports venue, which deserves recognition for an outstanding performance over a 12-month period.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 82,500
* Surface – FieldTurf
* Location – East Rutherford, Jersey
12. Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The Mercedes-Benz stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
It replaced the Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium as the home of Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United FC and the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons.
The new name was announced on August 16, 2017.
The stadium has a retractable roof and an artificial turf field.
The decision to build a new stadium for both teams was driven by two factors:
First, the age of the two team’s respective stadiums at the time of construction (1961 for Fulton County Stadium and 2017 for Mercedes-Benz Stadium) made it necessary to update them to contemporary standards.
Second, downtown development since 1998—specifically Centennial Park—made it more desirable to place this major league sports venue in that area.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is well equipped with technology and innovation.
It’s the best modern stadium in the whole world.
The construction of the Mercedes-Benz stadium started in May 2014 with 1.5 Billion Dollars.
Officially, it’s the most eco-friendly stadium in the whole world.
What really makes Mercedes-Benz exceptional it’s because design, features, and amenities.
In 2026, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be one of the main Stadiums for the world cup which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
It will host at least 6 matches including the 2026 world cup final.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – Full Capacity: 71,000, Soccer: 42,500.
* Surface – FieldTurf CORE
* Location – Atlanta, Georgia
13. Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium is the official Football (not soccer) stadium for the University of Michigan but it also hosts many soccer matches. The Stadium has an official capacity of over 107,000.
The Michigan Stadium is nicknamed “The Big House” but can you guess why? Yes, you’re right. It is because of its large capacity.
Originally, the Stadium was constructed in 1927 but of course, has been renovated and expanded many times since then.
Today, the Stadium is worth about $11.4M.
One unique feature of the Michigan Stadium is that it was constructed with Footings. This makes it easy for the Seats to be expandable to about 200,000.
Michigan Stadium is no doubt one of the best soccer stadiums in USA.
Stadium Summary
* Capacity – 109,000 (expandable to 200,000)
* Surface – FieldTurf DURASPINE
* Location – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Which is the Biggest Soccer Stadium In The USA?
Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the United States that can host a Soccer Match.
In August 2014, Michigan Stadium hosted a preseason match between Manchester United and Real Madrid.
There were 109,318 Soccer fans present, which is the highest of any soccer match in the United States.
Final Thoughts on Soccer Stadiums in The USA
Most of the Stadiums highlighted here are multipurpose however, soccer can be played in all of them.
The Stadiums mentioned here are beyond those for Major League Soccer.
All the same, in this piece, you now know the best Soccer Stadiums in USA and also the largest.
To reiterate, the Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the United States.
Hopefully, in the nearest future, soccer would grow bigger in USA and there would be more Stadiums specifically dedicated to it.
Further Reading:
