Where Could Future Football Stadiums Be Constructed?
- Future Football Stadiums
- Future NFL Stadiums
- Goodbye To Highmark Stadium?
- Titan’s New 60,000-Seat Stadium
- Washington Commanders
- The Bears Are Fighting – Hard
- New England Patriot Stadium Renovations
- Frequently Asked Questions
Football stadiums are iconic places; they’re home to NFL teams, and these stadiums become almost holy-like for the fans. The vast majority of teams are incredibly loyal to their stadiums – often sticking with them for decades – but sometimes, new stadiums need to be built. A number of future football stadiums are in the pipeline – and on this page, we’re going to be looking at some of these future plans!
Future Football Stadiums
Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the future football stadiums planned. For example, the Buffalo Bills are finalizing the details of a new stadium, and other teams – some that may surprise you – are also looking at different options. While this isn’t always welcome news for fans, sometimes it’s inevitable – and let’s kick things off with a look at why future NFL stadiums sometimes need to be built.
Why Build Future NFL Football Stadiums?
There are several reasons why there’s a need for new NFL stadiums, as well as future NCAA football stadiums. One of the main reasons is that the current stadium may be old and in need of repair or replacement. For example, the technology used in stadiums has changed a lot over the past few generations, and older stadiums may not have the modern features that fans have come to expect, like Wi-Fi, luxury suites, and high-definition television boards.
New NFL stadiums might also include sportsbooks, where fans can place bets – or they can alternatively do football betting on the go at online sportsbooks. We’ve written about the best NFL betting sites, so check out what we have to say!
Another reason why football teams might need new stadiums is that the current one might not be big enough for the growing number of fans. As a team gets better, more people want to buy tickets and merchandise, and a bigger stadium may be needed to accommodate all the new fans.
A new stadium can also help a team make a lot more money. When new stadiums are built, they often have more high-end seating options like suites and club seats, which can bring in more money than regular seats. A new stadium can also bring in money when it’s not used for games, like when it’s used for concerts, events, and other things. Some of the costs of building a new stadium can be subsidized by a lucrative sponsorship deal with a company.
Lastly, an NFL team can help the local economy by building a new stadium. Building a new stadium can lead to jobs, and the stadium itself can bring businesses and other changes to the area around it. This can be especially helpful for teams that come from economically challenged areas.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills currently play at the Highmark Stadium – and in 2012, they signed an agreement with the state of New York and Erie County that allowed them to lease the stadium until 2023. Over the years, there were several attempts to renovate the existing stadium – but budget concerns and regulatory issues meant any plans kept coming to a dead end.
However, on March 28, 2022, the state of New York and Erie County publicly announced that they’d reached a deal with the team. They would allow the Buffalo Bills to build a brand-new stadium – and it’s set to be constructed in Orchard Park. There’s a hefty price-tag – it’s estimated it will cost around $1.4 billion – although several stakeholders will help pay for it, including New York, Erie County, the team themselves, and the NFL. According to recent reports, construction has already begun – and the stadium is set to open by the end of 2026.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have played at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville since 1999. Things were supposed to stay this way – however, for the team to continue playing there, the stadium would need to undergo some serious renovations, and while they started towards the end of 2021, they were paused in February 2022.
Rather than spending a small fortune on renovating the stadium, the Titans, instead, came up with the idea of building a whole new stadium – and, surprisingly, the idea was met with little resistance from the state. It’s estimated it will cost in the region of $1.75 billion, and it will be paid for by the team and the state. Revenue bonds issued by the Metro Sports Authority will also contribute towards construction costs.
According to reports, the new stadium is set to seat 60,000 fans, and it will feature an artificial turf field. There will also be a total of 170 luxury suites, and it’s planned to open its doors in 2026. It will also be located in Nashville, and the old Nissan Stadium will be demolished once the new stadium is completed.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are another team who may be changing their home soon, perhaps by 2027! As of now, their FedEx Stadium, located in Landover, Maryland, is contracted until 2026. However, once this date has passed, the team is free to explore other options – and President Jason Wright appears to plan on doing just that. Already, the team is looking at constructing a new stadium, although it’s said that they’re still looking for potential locations.
Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C are all contenders for the new stadium – and Maryland is so keen to have them on board, they’ve offered to contribute a giant $400 million towards construction costs!
While there are numerous reasons behind wanting to build a new stadium, the FedEx Arena has never been overly popular with fans. Seats are positioned in poor locations, and many fans end up having to stand in order to catch the gameplay. The goal is to have a new stadium built by 2027, but for now, there’s still a lot of speculation surrounding the move!
Chicago Bears
When you picture football stadiums in the future, the Chicago Bears’ stadium probably aren’t a name that springs to mind, as they’ve been playing in the same stadium since 1920. But now they’re in the early stages of moving operations to Arlington Heights. Here, they plan to build a brand-new stadium, and the team has already purchased 326 acres of land for a reported $200 million. While the Mayor of Chicago was vocal about wanting to renovate the current stadium instead, the Bears dismissed this idea.
They’re legally obliged to stay playing at their current stadium until 2026, but after that, they’re free to do as they please – and there’s a good chance they will choose to build a new stadium given the issues with their current one.
Gillette Stadium Renovations
We’ve talked about new football stadiums in the future – and to finish off, we’re going to look at a team that isn’t planning a new stadium, but which is planning extensive renovations. The New England Patriots have played at the Gillette Stadium for two decades, and this is unlikely to change any time soon. Instead of doing what the other teams on this page have done – deciding on building a new stadium – they’ve chosen, instead, to carry out extensive renovations.
In the table below, we’ll look at some of the renovations the Patriots are carrying out:
Renovation Plan | Explanation |
---|---|
Outdoor Video Board | The renovations are set to include a 22,000 square feet outdoor video board which will showcase gameplay in real-time as well as fantasy football updates |
Lighthouse | There will also be a new 218-feet lighthouse which will provide visitors with a 360-degree view of the stadium and local area. |
Hospitality and Function Spaces | Some 75,000 square feet of new hospitality and function spaces will be built in an attempt to bridge the gap between the West and East Putnam Clubs. |