What makes a stadium truly bad? Some stadiums are just falling apart and are in total disrepair. Others, have terrible locations, lack functionality, and have no amenities. Worst of all, some stadiums don’t reflect the culture of the teams that play there or the spirit of the fans within their community. Here we’ll discuss the 7 worst sports stadiums around the country.
1. Washington Commanders Northwest Stadium
It would take us a lot less time to discuss what this stadium has going for it than what makes it terrible. Northwest Stadium tops our list because it’s just falling apart. The stadium hasn’t aged well since its opening in 1997. Plus, it’s one of the most basic football stadiums. Once, sewage poured onto seats due to a burst pipe. Oh, and some seats have an obstructed view because of overhang issues.
2. Everbank Field Jacksonville Jaguars
To be fair, the City of Jacksonville and the team have reached an agreement to renovate the stadium. They both acknowledge that EverBank Stadium needs a facelift. Construction will start in 2026, which is not soon enough. First off, the stands are almost horizontal and fans will find no shade from the Florida sun. At this point, it’s just a generic stadium from the 90s.
3. New York Jets and New York Giants MetLife Stadium
MetLife stadium lacks personality. East Rutherford New Jersey doesn’t offer much ambience and the stadium is just surrounded by a parking lot. Some say there is a sulfuric smell around MetLife Stadium due to its synthetic turf and the area’s historic pollution. The stadium’s turf has been criticized for its poor quality and is notorious for causing season-ending injuries.
4. Carolina Hurricanes PNC Arena
This one makes the list based on location. PNC Arena is outside of Raleigh and shares its grounds with NC State Football. They also share their arena with NC State basketball. There really isn’t much around the area either.
5. Boston Red Sox Fenway Park
For some, this might seem harsh, but Fenway Park is overrated. It’s difficult to find parking around the stadium. There are many seats that don’t face the infield. The grandstand’s wooden seats were made to accommodate fans of the stature of 1912 more than the fans of 2024. Quite frankly, it’s not comfortable. To ownership’s credit, they have put a lot of resources into renovating and preserving the stadium’s history, but Fenway doesn’t offer much for comfort and functionality.
6. Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field also known as The Trop is home to the Tampa Bay Rays and is located in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, Hurricane Milton blew off the roof of the field so renovations are inevitable. The stadium was not built for baseball. In 1993 the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning moved into the facility. They were there from ’93-’96 while their new home in Tampa was being built. Tropicana’s location and design have been criticized. Even Major League Baseball has acknowledged the need to redo the stadium.
7. Oakland Athletics Oakland Coliseum
Construction for the Oakland Coliseum broke ground in 1964. The last renovation was in 2017. The current state has been criticized. Fans and players often say that it’s poorly maintained and outdated. It’s often called one of the worst stadiums in baseball along with the previously mentioned Tropicana Field. The Athletics are currently in the process of moving to Las Vegas and have already moved out of the stadium at the conclusion of their lease even though the stadium in Vegas won’t be ready for three seasons.
Embarrassing Stadiums Around The Country
Whether your team’s stadium is in disrepair or just doesn’t function, we sympathize with you if your favorite team calls one of these stadiums home. Ultimately, these 7 stadiums need major upgrades to make the fan experience a better one. Better yet, many of these teams like Oakland Athletics have just up and left their terrible stadiums. What’s the worst stadium experience that you’ve ever had?