The Coolest Sports Stadiums and Arenas in Each State

There are plenty of sports and events for spectators to enjoy throughout the year at stadiums and arenas across the country.

Get ready to grab your best travel credit card and check out the coolest sports stadiums and arenas in each state to see if the one you root for made the list.

1. Alabama: Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa)

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The University of Alabama is home to Bryant-Denny Stadium, which has a seating capacity of more than 100,000 fans who pack it during college football season.

2. Alaska: Sullivan Arena (Anchorage)

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Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena is open again for hockey after being shuttered for several years to use as a COVID-19 response center and then a homeless shelter.

Instead, fans can pack the stands again to watch one of the area’s most popular sports.

3. Arizona: State Farm Stadium (Glendale)

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The Arizona Cardinals football team calls State Farm Stadium in Glendale home.

The stadium, which opened in 2006 and has hosted three Super Bowls, has a retractable roof and retractable field, which gives the grass plenty of sunshine before Sunday games.

4. Arkansas: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville)

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The University of Arkansas Razorbacks play football at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium with a seating capacity of 72,000 for fans to enjoy college football in the fall.

5. California: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)

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You may be surprised to find that Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the third-oldest stadium in Major League Baseball.

It was built in 1962, a few years after the Dodgers left Brooklyn and moved to sunny Los Angeles.

6. Colorado: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)

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Empower Field at Mile High in Denver gets its name from the city’s elevation, which is a mile above sea level.

That higher elevation even gives the Denver Broncos, which call the field home, an advantage over some of its rivals.

7. Connecticut: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (Storrs)

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UConn is well known for its men’s and women’s basketball teams, which both call the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion home.

The domed arena, built in 1990, has a capacity of almost 10,000 spectators.

8. Delaware: Delaware Stadium (Newark)

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Delaware Stadium welcomes fans to college football games each autumn for the Delaware Blue Hens. So it’s probably appropriate that the stadium’s seats are all blue.

9. Florida: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)

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Hard Rock Stadium is home to two football teams: the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami college football team.

However, the stadium also hosts the Orange Bowl college football bowl game, the Miami Open tennis tournament, and Formula 1 racing’s Miami Grand Prix.

10. Georgia: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

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The Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a unique, eye-catching look. Its retractable roof allows extra sun inside for games. The building is the first LEED Platinum sports stadium in the NFL.

11. Hawaii: Les Murakami Stadium (Honolulu)

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Les Murakami Stadium is perfect for a college baseball game on a warm night in Hawaii. The stadium was named after the University of Hawaii’s former team baseball manager.

12. Idaho: Albertsons Stadium (Boise)

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Although you may not know Albertsons Stadium by name, you would immediately recognize it if you saw it.

The stadium’s unique blue-colored turf is home to the Boise State University football team.

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13. Illinois: Wrigley Field (Chicago)

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Wrigley Field is the second-oldest baseball stadium in Major League Baseball. It’s got old-school charm, a neighborhood ballpark feel, and the iconic ivy in the outfield that make it the perfect spot to watch a game.

14. Indiana: Hinkle Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)

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Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University may not be the biggest or fanciest arena in Indiana. Still, its reputation as a Basketball Cathedral in a state that loves basketball makes it a must-see for fans.

In fact, the arena even appears in the legendary basketball movie Hoosiers.

15. Iowa: Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City)

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The University of Iowa plays its home football games at Kinnick Stadium, with a seating capacity of almost 70,000.

The university’s children’s hospital overlooks the field, and fans have a tradition of waving to kids in the hospital after the first quarter of every game.

16. Kansas: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)

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Allen Fieldhouse is home to the University of Kansas basketball team, and four national championships hang from the rafters.

The arena opened in 1955 and has a stated seating capacity of 16,300.

17. Kentucky: Rupp Arena (Lexington)

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University of Kentucky basketball fans flock to Rupp Arena to watch the Wildcats play. The Wildcats won eight national championships, including the most recent victory in 2012.

18. Louisiana: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)

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The Caesars Superdome is home to the New Orleans Saints football team and hosts concerts, sporting events, and more.

The Superdome is also close to the famed French Quarter for fans to enjoy after a game.

19. Maine: Cross Insurance Arena (Portland)

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Take in some hockey in a colder weather state like Maine at the Cross Insurance Arena.

The arena is home to the Maine Mariners hockey team in the ECHL and also hosts basketball, track and field, and other sporting events.

20. Maryland: Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore)

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One of the unique features of Oriole Park at Camden Yards is the historic warehouse in the outfield.

The warehouse was completed in 1905 and currently houses the executive offices for baseball’s Baltimore Orioles among its uses.

21. Massachusetts: Fenway Park (Boston)

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Fenway Park has the distinction of being the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball.

The ballpark and its famous Green Monster in the outfield hosted its first game in 1912 and has been the home of the Boston Red Sox ever since.

22. Michigan: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor)

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There’s a reason fans call Michigan Stadium the Big House.

The home of the University of Michigan football team is the largest stadium in the United States, with a seating capacity for more than 107,000 fans.

23. Minnesota: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)

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U.S. Bank Stadium has been the home of the Minnesota Vikings since it opened in 2016. The stadium has received LEED awards for its construction, design, and operations.

24. Mississippi: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford)

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Ole Miss uses Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the largest stadium in the state, for college football games and other events on the University of Mississippi campus.

25. Missouri: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

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Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs actually play in Missouri and have been there since the stadium was built in 1972. The stadium underwent a major renovation in 2010.

26. Montana: Washington-Grizzly Stadium (Missoula)

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You may be surprised to find out that Washington-Grizzly Stadium is actually in Montana.

It serves as the home of the University of Montana Grizzlies football team and has a seating capacity of more than 25,000.

27. Nebraska: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)

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Memorial Stadium is so big that on football Saturday when fans pack in to see the University of Nebraska football team, it has the third-highest population in the state.

The stadium has an official seating capacity of 90,000.

28. Nevada: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)

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The Oakland Raiders found a new home in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium, which is just off the Las Vegas Strip across from Mandalay Bay.

It’s the perfect spot for a great football game and then a fun night in Vegas.

29. New Hampshire: Wildcat Stadium (Durham)

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Wildcat Stadium in Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire football team. It has a seating capacity of more than 11,000 fans and was built to meet LEED Silver standards.

30. New Jersey: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)

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The home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets is actually in New Jersey.

MetLife Stadium opened in 2010 to replace Meadowlands Stadium, which was the previous home for the Jets and Giants.

31. New Mexico: University Stadium (Albuquerque)

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University Stadium is home to the University of New Mexico football team, and it has a fan section dubbed the “Howl Raisers” for students to enjoy the game.

During the college football bowl season, it also hosts the New Mexico Bowl each year.

32. New York: Madison Square Garden (New York City)

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There is no arena quite like Madison Square Garden, right in the heart of Manhattan.

The arena hosts the New York Rangers hockey team, the New York Knicks basketball team, and plenty of concerts and other events.

33. North Carolina: Dean E. Smith Center (Chapel Hill)

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The University of North Carolina hosts home games for its basketball team at the Dean E. Smith Center.

The arena opened in 1986, only a few years after its most famous alum, Michael Jordan, left for the NBA.

34. North Dakota: Fargodome (Fargo)

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The Fargodome name is a bit of a misnomer, as the stadium isn’t actually a dome but rather a fixed roof that covers the field for football games for North Dakota State University and other concerts and events.

35. Ohio: Ohio Stadium (Columbus)

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Ohio Stadium is the third-largest stadium in the U.S., with a capacity of more than 102,000 fans who mainly show up on Saturdays during college football season to cheer on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

36. Oklahoma: Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman)

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The University of Oklahoma hosts Sooners football games in the fall at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, with a seating capacity that puts it among the top 20 college football stadiums in the country.

37. Oregon: Autzen Stadium (Eugene)

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The Oregon Ducks play at Autzen Stadium, which is known for its loud and raucous fans. In fact, opponents have said it’s difficult to win there because of the noise.

38. Pennsylvania: PNC Park (Pittsburgh)

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There are plenty of well-known arenas and stadiums from Pittsburgh to Philly, but none of them have quite the view that fans can find at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Head to a Pittsburgh Pirates game and take in the view of downtown Pittsburgh and the Roberto Clemente Bridge, named after a former star player for the Pirates.

39. Rhode Island: Amica Mutual Pavilion (Providence)

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The Amica Mutual Pavilion hosts a variety of sports and concerts, including men’s basketball for Providence College.

The arena has also hosted preseason games for the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.

40. South Carolina: Williams-Brice Stadium (Columbia)

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Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina football team. It has a natural grass surface and seats for more than 80,000 fans.

That’s much higher than the 17,000 seating capacity for the stadium when it first opened in 1934.

41. South Dakota: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium (Brookings)

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The South Dakota State Jackrabbits moved into Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in 2016 to play football in front of almost 20,000 spectators on Saturdays.

The stadium also hosts concerts and other events.

42. Tennessee: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville)

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Neyland Stadium in Knoxville has a rich history with a field to support football for more than 100 years. The current version of the stadium hosts football games for the University of Tennessee.

43. Texas: AT&T; Stadium (Arlington)

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Everything’s bigger in Texas, including its stadiums. The AT&T; Stadium, home of the famous Dallas Cowboys, is one of the largest covered stadiums in the world by seating capacity and the largest covered stadium in the United States.

44. Utah: Delta Center (Salt Lake City)

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The Delta Center hosts the Utah Jazz basketball team as well as concerts and other events. The arena is also set to be the home of the NHL’s Utah hockey team for the club’s inaugural season in 2024.

45. Vermont: Gutterson Fieldhouse (Burlington)

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Gutterson Fieldhouse, nicknamed “The Gut,” is the largest indoor arena in Vermont and home of the University of Vermont’s hockey team.

The arena has also hosted international games for both men’s and women’s hockey.

46. Virginia: Lane Stadium (Blacksburg)

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Lane Stadium is home to Virginia Tech’s football team in the fall. The stadium is well known for fans cheering to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” to welcome their team on the field before games.

47. Washington: T-Mobile Park (Seattle)

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T-Mobile Park features a retractable roof to protect fans and players during rainy Seattle weather. The stadium opened in 1999 as the home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team.

48. West Virginia: Milan Puskar Stadium (Morgantown)

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Morgantown is home to Milan Puskar Stadium and the University of West Virginia football team. The stadium’s facilities were updated in 2016 and 2017.

49. Wisconsin: Lambeau Field (Green Bay)

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Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, is notorious for really cold football games.

The stadium still holds the league record for the coldest NFL game, the 1967 NFL championship, which was played there in a game now known as the Ice Bowl.

50. Wyoming: War Memorial Stadium (Laramie)

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The University of Wyoming is the only football stadium in the state and hosts college football games each year.

It has the distinction of being the highest NCAA Division I college football stadium with an elevation of more than 7,000 feet above sea level.

Bottom line

It can be expensive to go see events at some of these stadiums and arenas as ticket prices rise, but there are some ways to save money to see your favorite athletes.

Consider getting a side hustle to earn extra cash for a football, baseball, basketball, or hockey game.

You can also find ways to get in the stadium by working there to put you in the action during the game.

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