Major League Soccer boasts some spectacular stadiums all across the country. Franchise owners are proposing further investment in their franchises, as a growing number have beautiful stadiums that specialize in soccer and are located in downtown areas. The future looks bright for MLS
Atlanta United and Seattle Sounders both have demonstrated that they are able to draw large numbers of fans in order to fill NFL-sized stadiums.
These are the 15 most beautiful stadiums in Major League Soccer.
15. Stade Saputo
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Club: CF Montreal
- Capacity: 20,801
CF Montreal had to temporarily relocate to Inter Miami CF Stadium, 2021 due to travel restrictions. They are a regular fixture at Stade Saputo. Montreal Impacts’ home now holds 20,520 spectators due to the stadium expansion.
A stadium for soccer was built during the 1976 Olympics to replace an old training ground. The original stadium could only hold 13,034 people, which severely limited the profitability of CF Montreal.
Half of the $17 million required to build the new stadium was paid by the Saputo family. The remaining funds were found through strategic commercial partners.
14. Lower.com Field
- Location: Columbus Ohio
- Club: Columbus Crew
- Capacity: 20,371
After playing at Historic Crew Stadium in their last season, the Columbus Crew SC was awarded their new stadium. The Crew and New England Revolution played in a friendly match to mark the opening of the stadium.
The construction of the new arena was delayed due to delays. This means that the first four games in the 2021 MLS Season will be played in the old stadium.
Some 20,000 people can be seated in the new stadium, with 3,400 in the Nordecke – a new grandstand reserved for the most vocal supporters.
13. TQL Stadium
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Club: FC Cincinnati
- Capacity: 26,000
FC Cincinnati spent its first three seasons in the United Soccer League’s second division at Nippert Stadium, a college football stadium.
Following the team’s first season, it became clear that the demand for soccer in Cincinnati was strong as home games averaged 17,296 spectators. The ownership group was established. They started negotiations with Major League Soccer to form an expansion team.
Cincinnati officially submitted an expansion bid for a new stadium in January 2017. The emphasis was on the potential location of a soccer-specific stadium. This is another outstanding soccer-specific stadium.
12. Subaru Park.
- Location: Chester, Pennsylvania.
- Club: Philadelphia Union
- Capacity: 18,500
The stadium’s construction began in late 2008 and was completed during the summer 2010. Philadelphia Union and Seattle Sounders played in the stadium’s first match on 27 June 2010.
It was also expected that it would spur a revitalization in Chester’s waterfront area. However, this didn’t happen in the years to follow.
As a result of Subaru’s stadium naming rights deal, the Philadelphia Union’s stadium is now Subaru Park. It has hosted many sporting events since its opening in 2010.
MLS Union attendance was 92.5% for the 2019 season. This makes them one of the best-supported teams within MLS.
11. DRV PNK Stadion
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Club: Inter Miami CF
- Capacity: 18,000
Inter Miami CF temporarily relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
To accommodate the club and its fans, there has been rapid development on the site of the Lockhart Stadium. This temporary home is owned partly by David Beckham, but it will be used for the newly formed MLS franchise.
When it opens, Miami Freedom Park will be a permanent home and training facility for the Clubs’ teams, including their youth academy.
The next stadium will feature a stadium for Inter Miami FC.
10. Paypal Park
- Location: San Jose, California
- Club: San Jose Earthquakes
- Capacity: 18,000
The proposal for the new Earthquakes arena was presented to the San Jose City Council in June 2007. According to the plan, San Jose would rezone industrial land in Edenvale to residential use.
The new Earthquakes stadium cost more than $100 million. This is $40m more than was originally expected. It was funded entirely by private sources.
One open end with a scoreboard and no stand, but one pitch-level box are two notable features. This end can have seating added later if they need to hold more people.
9. Lumen Field
- Location: Seattle, Washington
- Club: Seattle Sounders
- Capacity: 68,740
Although the stadium has a total seating capacity of 68,740, it operates with a much smaller capacity of 37,722 during the regular season of Major League Soccer, 5,000 additional seats for special events, and 1,400 wheelchair-accessible seats.
The seating area is covered with a 70 percent roof. Fans can sit comfortably in wide seats located 52 feet from their field and 40ft from the endzone. The stadium is also home to 12 elevators and concession stands. It is considered one of most welcoming in the league.
Stadium Art Program allows people to enjoy diversity and culture while enjoying the view of the field and surrounding areas. From across the United States, 254 responses were received in 1998.
Twelve artists were selected from all submitted submissions. The stadium currently has $2 million in art.
8. Q2 Stadium
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Club: Austin FC
- Capacity: 20,500
Gensler Sports designed the Q2 Stadium and soccer park for Austin FC, the city’s first professional soccer team. The Q2 Stadium can accommodate 20,500 soccer fans, combining the city’s natural landscape, cultural heritage, and forward-looking growth.
A large canopy is placed above the seating bowl to shade the seats and protect them from rain. It features an open concourse, open corners and breathable mesh fabric seats. This venue is unlike any other major league sporting arena.
7. Children’s Mercy Park
- Location: Kansas City, Kansas
- Club: Kansas City FC
- Capacity: 18,467
Visitors to Children’s Mercy Park got a second chance to make an impression. Sporting Kansas City is now able to restructure its organization after fifteen years of playing at ill-suited venues. This will allow for sustained long-term growth and success.
They now have one the most impressive stadiums in the MLS. Children’s Mercy Park’s design celebrates both the body and the ball through stop-motion techniques. A building’s exterior is composed of repeated angular metal fins representing a player’s body or their athleticism and movement on the field.
6. Banc of California Stadium
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Club: Los Angeles FC
- Capacity: 22,000
Los Angeles Football Club is the new home for the latest expansion soccer team in Major League Soccer. For the new 22,000-seat facility for Los Angeles’ Exposition Park, Gensler designed it to anchor the Figueroa corridor and take advantage of the incredible views of the downtown skyline.
This state-of the-art facility allows for a more personal game-day experience by allowing the staff to imbue a European-style personality and focusing on the excitement of the day.
Stadium-goers can also enjoy the many ancillary programs offered by the University of Southern California campus and nearby museums. The stadium was officially opened in 2018 to the public.
5. BBVA Stadium
- Location: Heuston, Texas.
- Club: Houston Dynamo
- Capacity: 22,000
The BBVA Compass Stadium was constructed for San Jose’s franchise in 2005, when it moved to Houston. After several years of negotiations, construction was completed.
Robertson Stadium, an American football stadium located on the University of Houston campus where the Houston Dynamo played, is known as Robertson Stadium.
Construction began in February 2011. The stadium was inaugurated by DC United on 12 May 2012. It featured a 1-0 win by the Houston Dynamo.
4. Exploria Stadium
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Club: Orlando City SC
- Capacity: 25,500
Orlando City SC is a local team that has been playing in this stadium since 2017. Orlando City SC has been playing here since 2017. Although it was planned for 19,000 seats upon groundbreaking, these plans soon changed as the club’s owners witnessed its popularity grow.
Orlando City’s popularity during the first MLS season (played temporarily at the nearby Citrus Bowl) caused the tribunes to be expanded immediately.
The three corners and the two upper tiers can accommodate a total of 25,500 persons. The final price for the venue, which was privately funded at $155 million, was $155 million.
3. Audi Field
- Location: Washington, D.C
- Club: D.C. United
- Capacity: 20,000
Audi Field was the most anticipated stadium in the MLS. DC United has dreamed for years of a soccer-specific stadium. It finally became a reality in 2018.
The stadium is not the league’s most important or most impressive venue, but it makes the most of a very tight and constrained site. The stadium, which seats 20,000 people, averaged 88% attendance during its inaugural season.
In contrast to many other countries, however, the stadium’s construction, valued at around $200 million, was not paid for by the public authorities. The scheme was also privately funded. Audi Field joined a growing list of MLS clubs through the implementation of standing sections.
2. Red Bull Arena
- Location: Harrison, New Jersey
- Team: New York Red Bulls
- Capacity: 25000
The club also changed the stadium in Los Angeles before the 2020 campaign, just like the Banc of California Stadium. Red Bulls also created a section vertical with rail seating as part of their renovation.
This will be the venue’s debut during the new season. They let New York City FC host 8 games in their stadium, as well as against Kansas City.
Red Bull Arena hosts two American professional soccer teams. In addition to the NYC Red Bulls, there is a women’s team here, NJ/NY Gotham FC. Red Bulls defeated Santos 3-1 when the stadium opened in March 2010—since then, explicitly been used as the home for Red Bulls MLS games.
Many top international clubs and teams have played in the arena. These include the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Juventus, Ecuador, Colombia.
1. Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Team: Atlanta United
- Capacity: 71,000
If you’re walking around downtown, it might seem like a spaceship just arrived in Atlanta. This stadium wouldn’t look out of place, gracing the top soccer leagues in the world.
It measures 62,350 feet in area. This building is reminiscent of science-fiction movies. It is amazing that Atlanta United chose to call it home. They share the same stadium with the Atlanta Falcons.
The team’s soccer matches always draw huge crowds, unlike those of many of its MLS rivals. Atlanta United averaged 52,510 fans for the 2019 season – over 12,000 more than their closest rivals.
Besides being the biggest stadium in Major League Soccer, Mercedes-Benz Stadium is also one of the nation’s most modern sporting venues.
The first 360-degree halo display is available. This allows fans to follow the action from a 1,075-foot-high screen. A 6,700-square-foot indoor display column is also included.
American soccer fans should visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium to enjoy the most memorable matchday experience in MLS.