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20 Biggest stadiums in the US

20 Biggest stadiums in the US

Posted by Trashcans Unlimited on 10th Oct 2022

When the first ever football game was played at the Rutgers campus, only about 100 spectators showed up to watch the match.

Things have changed since then. Today, football has become the most popular game in the US, attracting crowds of over 100,000 for a single game. Big football stadiums (used by teams competing in the NCAA and NFL) have been built to house these large crowds and ensure the spectators have a great experience while watching the games.

That said, while a large crowd is good for revenue generation, a single football game can produce large volumes of waste. The EPA approximates that college football games produce 50 to 100 tons of waste. Needless to say, it's crucial for stadiums to take measures to manage their waste, including strategically placing stainless trashcans so spectators can easily dump waste.


Top 20 Stadiums in the US by Capacity

Let's check out the largest stadiums in the US by seating capacity:

1. Michigan Stadium

  • Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Capacity: 107,601
  • Opened: October 1, 1927
  • Operator: University of Michigan

Nicknamed the 'Big House,' Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the US and the western hemisphere and the second-largest stadium in the world. Michigan Stadium mainly hosts American football college matches, but at times hockey matches and soccer matches are played there as well. In fact, a 2014 International Champion Cup soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester United, which had an attendance of 109,318, holds the record for the largest crowd for a soccer match in the US.

2. Beaver Stadium

  • Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
  • Capacity: 106, 572
  • Opened: September 17, 1960
  • Operator: Pennsylvania State University

Named after former Pennsylvania Governor James A Beaver (1887-91), the Beaver Stadium is the second largest stadium in North America and the third greatest in the world. Beaver Stadium was voted the number one football stadium in football college in a USA Today poll. The record attendance of Beaver Stadium is 110,889, which was in a 2018 football match between Ohio State vs. Penn State.

3. Ohio Stadium

  • Location: Columbus, Ohio
  • Capacity: 104,944
  • Opened: October 7, 1922
  • Operator: Ohio State University

Also known as the Shoe or the Horseshoe, Ohio Stadium is the third largest stadium and the fifth in the world. While Ohio Stadium predominantly holds football games and other athletics, it's also a concert venue and has seen the likes of The Rolling Stones and Metallica play at the venue. Its record attendance is 110,045, which was in a football game between Ohio State vs. Michigan State.

4. Kyle Field

  • Location: College Station, Texas
  • Capacity: 102,733
  • Opened: September 24, 1927
  • Operator: College Station, Texas

Kyle Field is the fourth largest stadium in the US and the sixth largest non-racing stadium globally. Kyle Field's largest attendance is 110,663, which came in a match between Texas A&M and the Ole Miss Rebels on October 11, 2014. Unfortunately, the home side lost to the visitors 35-20.

5. Neyland Stadium

  • Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Capacity: 102,455
  • Opened: September 24, 1921
  • Operator: University of Tennessee

Named after Robert Neyland, a former head football coach at the University of Tennessee (1926-1952), the Neyland stadium is the second largest stadium in the southeastern conference and the seventh largest in the world. Its record attendance is 109,061, which came on September 18, 2004, in a match between Tennessee State vs. Florida State.

6. Tiger Stadium

  • Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Capacity: 102,321
  • Opened: November 25, 1924
  • Operator: Louisiana State University

Popularly known as the Death Valley, Tiger Stadium is the sixth largest stadium in the US and the eighth largest in the world. Due to its electric game-day atmosphere, Tiger Stadium is one of the most difficult places for visiting teams to play.

7. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

  • Location: Austin, Texas
  • Capacity: 100,119
  • Opened: November 8, 1924
  • Operator: University of Texas at Austin

Named after the legendary football coach Darell K Royal in 1996, the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is the seventh largest stadium in the world. Its record attendance is 103,507, set on September 15, 2018, when Texas played the University of South Carolina.

8. Bryant-Denny Stadium

  • Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Capacity: 100,077
  • Opened: September 28, 1929
  • Operator: the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa

Bryant-Denny Stadium was previously named Denny Stadium in honor of George H Denny, the school's president (1912-1932). In 1975, the State Legislature added the name of the long-time head coach and alumnus Paul Bryant to the stadium's name. Bryant-Denny Stadium is the eighth largest in the US and the tenth largest in the world.

9. Sanford Stadium

  • Location: Athens, Georgia
  • Capacity: 92,746
  • Opened: October 12, 1929
  • Operator: University of Georgia in Athens

Named after Dr. Steadman Vincent Sanford, Sanford Stadium is the home of the Georgia Bulldogs. Unlike most stadiums that have artificial playing surfaces, Sanford Stadium continues to have natural grass. Its record attendance is 93,246, which came in a game played on September 21, 2019, between the Bulldogs and Notre Dame.

10. Cotton Bowl

  • Location: Dallas, Texas
  • Capacity: 92,100
  • Opened: October 11,1930
  • Operator: City of Dallas

The Cotton Bowl is among the biggest stadiums in the US that aren't located on a university campus. It's located in Fair Park, east of downtown Dallas, and is the venue of the annual State Fair of Texas. The record attendance of Cotton Bowl Stadium is 96,009.

11. Rose Bowl

  • Location: Pasadena, California
  • Capacity: 88,565
  • Opened: October 28,1922
  • Operator: City of Pasadena

The Rose Bowl is one of the most famous sporting Arenas and is best known as a college footballing facility. The Rose Bowl is also a popular soccer facility, having hosted the 1994 Fifa World Cup Final, the 1984 Olympic Soccer Gold Medal Match, and several other USSF and CONCACAF events.

12. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

  • Location: Gainesville, Florida
  • Capacity: 88,548
  • Opened: November 8, 1930
  • Operator: University Athletic Association

Popularly known as the 'swamp,' Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was named after Ben Hill Griffin Jr, a benefactor of the sports program, in 1989. A series of expansions over the years have made Ben Hill Griffin Stadium one of the largest in the US and the world.

13. Jordan-Hare Stadium

  • Location: Auburn, Alabama
  • Capacity: 87,451
  • Opened: November 9, 1939
  • Operator: Auburn University

Jordan-Hare Stadium got its name from Ralph Jordan (who had the most wins in the school's history) and Cliff Harre (a member of Auburn's first football team as well as the dean of the Auburn University School of Chemistry). Jordan-Hare Stadium is the home field of the Auburn University Tigers football team.

14. Memorial Stadium

  • Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Capacity: 85,458
  • Opened: October 20, 1923
  • Operator: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The stadium was built in honor of all Nebraskans who served in the civil war and the Spanish-American wars and those who died in World War I. It also honors the 3,839 Nebraskans who died in World War II, the 442 who died in Vietnam, and the 225 who died in Korea. The memorial stadium has a record attendance of 91,585, set on September 20, 2014.

15. MetLife Stadium

  • Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
  • Capacity: 82,500
  • Opened: April 10, 2010
  • Operator: New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority

Having been opened in 2010, MetLife Stadium is among the newest stadiums in the US. MetLife Stadium is the home of the New York Jets and the New York Football Giants. The stadium has held over 500 major events and 2,500 special events, including Wrestlemania 29 and 35 and the Copa America Centenario final. It is the finalist to host games for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

16. Frank Howard Field at Clemson Memorial Stadium

  • Location: Clemson, South Carolina
  • Capacity: 81,500
  • Opened: September 19, 1942
  • Operator: Clemson University

Dubbed 'Death Valley', the Frank Howard Field at Clemson Memorial Stadium was named in honor of former Clemson students and alumni who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty while serving their country. The stadium is the home of the Clemson University Tigers.

17. Lambeau Field

  • Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • Capacity: 81,441
  • Opened: September 29, 1957
  • Operators: City of Green Bay

Lambeau Field, formerly City Stadium, is the home of the Green Bay Packers. Besides being the oldest stadium in the NFL, Lambeau Field still has its bowl seating beneath all the new renovations, as well as the natural grass.

18. Camp Randall Stadium

  • Location: Madison, Wisconsin
  • Capacity: 80,321
  • Opened: November 3, 1917
  • Operator: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Distinguished by its impressive double-deck structure, Camp Randall Stadium has been the home of the badgers since it was opened. Over the years, it has hosted UW football games, Drum Corps International, and other public events.

19. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

  • Location: Norman, Oklahoma
  • Capacity: 80,126
  • Opened: October 20, 1923
  • Operator: University of Oklahoma

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the home field of the Oklahoma Sooners football team, a perennial powerhouse. The stadium is the thirteenth largest college stadium in the US and the twenty-second largest in the world.

20. AT&T Stadium

  • Location: Arlington, Texas
  • Capacity: 80,000
  • Opened: May 27, 2009
  • Operator: Dallas Cowboys

With a total construction cost of 1.2 billion, the AT&T stadium is one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. The stadium is right at the center of the District, meaning there are plenty of options for your pre- and post-game fun. AT&T stadium is the home of the Dallas Cowboys.


Trashcans Unlimited for Stadium Waste Management

Whether for American football, soccer matches, music concerts, or wrestling events, stadiums across the country are producing tons of garbage and waste, which may end up in minefields if sustainable measures aren't implemented.

Play your part in ensuring environmental sustainability by getting the right stadium recycling bins and stadium trash cans from Trashcans Unlimited. Start browsing our inventory today.