California has 2 NFL stadiums. See which one made USA Today’s top 10 list
Are you ready for some football?
USA Today recently ranked the top 10 sports stadiums across the United States where National Football League fans flock for “superior game experiences.”
“For a serious football fan, nothing beats the thrill of stepping into a legendary NFL stadium where iconic players have created those big, game-winning moments.,” USA Today said in an Aug. 27 article.
Although California is currently home to two stadiums that host NFL games, only one of them made USA Today’s list.
Here’s which one:
What makes SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles one of the nation’s best?
SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles is one of the top 10 NFL stadiums in the nation, USA Today said, landing at No. 9 on the list.
Part of the nearly 300-acre Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, SoFi Stadium seats approximately 70,000 sports lovers with room for up to 30,000 more, the venue said on its website.
At 3.1 million square feet, SoFi Stadium is “the largest stadium in the NFL” — and “the first indoor-outdoor stadium” of its kind, according to engineering film Walter P. Moore.
The Southern California venue is home to two NFL teams — the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams — and regularly hosts concerts and other events.
“With its translucent canopy, immaculate concourses, excellent seating and a vast array of dining options, it offers an experience that’s worth the trip,” USA Today said, calling the state-of-the-art venue an “architectural marvel.”
SoFi Stadium opened in 2020, making it a few years younger than its rival sports arena to the north.
Where are other pro football stadiums in California?
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara opened in 2014 and underwent a $200 million upgrade a decade later.
The San Francisco 49ers play at the Bay Area venue, which seats 68,500 fans.
The nearly 60-year-old Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, formerly home to the Raiders football team, now hosts the Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul soccer teams.
What are the top 10 NFL stadiums in the US?
Lumen Field was the best place to watch an NFL game in the nation in 2025, USA Today said, thanks to its diverse food options, “bountiful selection of local craft beer” and “staggering views of downtown Seattle.”
The home of the Seattle Seahawks also topped the publication’s list of the nation’s top pro football venues in 2024.
These were the best places to catch a pro football game in the United States, according to USA Today:
- 1. Lumen Field in Seattle
- 2. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
- 3. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
- 4. U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
- 5. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
- 6. NRG Stadium in Houston
- 7. Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- 8. Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
- 9. Sofi Stadium in Inglewood
- 10. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
How did USA Today come up with sports venue rankings?
To determine the best destinations for “epic game day magic,” USA Today said it asked a panel of experts to nominate their favorites.
USA Today readers then voted to pick the top 10 spots.
