Ranking NFL Stadiums By Best Pregame Fan Experience
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Sure, you can lounge in your favorite chair, remote in one hand and beverage in the other, and catch NFL action all Sunday long just like that.
But that’s not the bucket-list way to do anything. In this country, Sunday afternoons are reserved for the NFL, a league that dominates the airwaves and drives the national entertainment narrative.
While TV networks have modernized broadcasts to make watching games a technological spectacle, nothing beats the energy and social connections of being at an NFL game in person (which now includes in-stadium NFL betting in some places).
The game itself can be the icing on the cake. The real fun comes from all the activities surrounding it, from the grilling and tailgating to the vibrant bar scene with everyone adoring their team colors, to families creating core memories for their kids.
Bookies.com has compiled a comprehensive list of the top NFL pregame destinations. The list is borne from an algorithm based on multiple factors, some of which are weighed differently to differentiate ties. Among them:
- Location: Close to the action, accessible to fans
- Tailgating: The ability to park and enjoy a crisp fall day with a beverage and grill
- Entertainment Around Stadium: A vibrant bar and restaurant scene within walking distance to your seat
- Family Sentiment: Is the area safe and entertaining for kids and those with kids?
Below is a comprehensive pregame ranking of all NFL franchises for 2025, with a breakdown of the Top 10 – and the Bottom 5.
Best NFL Stadiums To Visit By Pregame Experience: Top 10
1. Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field is a bucket list destination, more so than any other NFL stadium. It’s an oasis of modern football surrounded by old-school charm. Green Bay ranks No. 1 for family fun, No. 2 for overall vibe and atmosphere and No. 3 for tailgating, ensuring a scene for anyone. A full-sized football field for fans to play their own games is a unique treat. The only ding is the relative remoteness of Green Bay, roughly 100 miles north of the nearest major airport in Milwaukee. That isn’t enough to knock Lambeau from the top spot for the third year in a row. (2024 Ranking: 1st)
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2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Only one stadium ranks in the Top 10 in all four major categories. It starts with a tailgating scene on the river and adjacent to all the major local highways, and continues from there with an array of events at the Steel Yard and beyond. Acrisure Stadium ranked No. 2 for the third year in a row, but has closed the game on No. 1. (2024 Ranking: 2nd)
3. Dallas Cowboys
The idea that everything’s bigger in Texas seems to hit the mark when it comes to the Cowboys and AT&T Stadium. It’s massive and so is the entertainment value the Cowboys bring, ranking No. 1 for overall entertainment and No. 2 for families. The location between Dallas and Fort Worth creates a traffic snarl for most fans, but once there, Big D is tough to beat. (2024 Ranking: 3rd)
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4. Atlanta Falcons
The Home Depot Backyard adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a pregame open-air destination for families, and there is enough of a scene to make just about everyone satisfied. Tailgating isn’t as much of a thing at the metro Atlanta locale, but the ease of getting there and overall vibe once you’re there push the score upward, from seventh in 2023. (2024 Ranking: 6th)
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City has earned a reputation as a top-shelf BBQ and rib city, and the Chiefs have used that to turn the Arrowhead Stadium lot into one of the top-ranked tailgating spots. The location and setup are made for grilling and chilling. The only attribute that dinged KC was the location of the stadium, near major highways but well outside of town. That could change, with a new stadium in discussions. (2024 Ranking: 4th)
T6. Indianapolis Colts
Tailgating at Lucas Oil Stadium isn’t the best option because the stadium is right downtown, almost uniquely so considering the scale of the massive dome. But around the stadium, there’s something for everyone. Downtown options push Colts games into the top 10 in three of the four categories, including family sentiment and overall atmosphere. (2024 Ranking: 8th)
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T6. Seattle Seahawks
If you’re all about tailgating, Seattle’s Lumen Field may not be your No. 1 choice. But if you like pretty much anything else, the Seahawks are among the very best at doing it. Lumen Field ranked Top 8 in every other key metric. The team tied to the top spot in the 2022 rankings before plummeting due to crime concerns and no real tailgating, but has since remained steady. (2024 Ranking: 5th)
8. Denver Broncos
Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High ranks in the top-half of every measured category, one of only three spots to boast such all-around attributes (Packers, Steelers). The highest of all scores came from overall entertainment, but tailgating and family scores are boosted with the Mane Street area. (2024 Ranking: 10th)
T9. Tennessee Titans
Nothing beats the location of Nissan Stadium, within walking distance of Nashville’s famous Broadway Street and its limitless and unique entertainment options. In fact, no stadium ranked higher in location. There’s also enough for families that want to avoid the entertainment district chaos. A new stadium, with new amenities, is expected to open in 2027. (2024 Ranking: 11th)
T9. Minnesota Vikings
No team has taken a longer tumble down the chart than the Vikings, due mainly to tailgating limitations and crime concerns. But tailgating isn’t the draw in downtown Minneapolis, and U.S. Bank Stadium is considered one of the premier NFL stadiums. It still ranks top-five in location and overall entertainment. Minnesota games ranked third in 2023. (2024 Ranking: 7th).
The Bottom Five
28. Detroit Lions
Ford Field ranked Top 10 for its location, but far lower in the other key metrics. There is enough nearby for the adults, but family score took a dent due to the highest crime rate of any NFL stadium area. Despite the jump in team success, the pregame rank has dropped from 19th two years ago. (2024 Ranking: 24th)
29. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams and Chargers share a stadium, but this L.A. team gets the nod thanks to a slight edge in overall atmosphere. The Rams have had the better product on the field in recent seasons, and that never hurts. (2024 Ranking: 30th)
30. Los Angeles Chargers
SoFi Stadium is a modern marvel, but the modern don’t extend beyond the gates. No team ranked worse in terms of tailgating and it was bottom-five in overall location. The Los Angeles vibe adds to the spectacle and still makes pre-games unique, and those with kids found the area inviting. (2024 Ranking: 29th)
31. Miami Dolphins
It’s tough to beat the weather of south Florida, but the stadium isn’t that close to the hub of the city and is tough to get to. Hard Rock Stadium ranked last in location and, like Washington, finished bottom-10 in all four categories. That the team hasn’t advanced past the Wild Card round since 2000 probably doesn’t help. (2024 Ranking: 31st)
32. Washington Commanders
The Commanders are coming off their best season since 1991, with energizing QB Jayden Daniels at the helm. But Commanders Field remains in the bottom run of NFL stadiums. The spot ranked dead-last in overall atmosphere and was one of just two stadiums ranking in the bottom-10 across the board. For the fourth time in four rankings, Washington ranks at the bottom, but with a new owner and a new stadium in the works, Washington could be zooming up the list before long. (2024 Ranking: 32nd)
Image credits: Top image courtesy of PA. All other images courtesy of USA Today.
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