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Sports stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MetLife Stadium is an open-air multi-purpose stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. It opened in 2010, replacing Giants Stadium, and serves as the home for the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). It is also scheduled to host the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At an approximate cost of $1.6 billion, it was the most expensive stadium built in the United States at the time of its completion.[10]
The Meadowlands | |
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.jpg) Aerial view | |
  MetLife Stadium Location near New York City  MetLife Stadium Location in New Jersey  MetLife Stadium Location in the United States | |
| Former names | New Meadowlands Stadium (2010–2011) New York/New Jersey Stadium (2026 FIFA World Cup only) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 MetLife Stadium Drive |
| Location | East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°48′48.7″N 74°4′27.7″W |
| Public transit |   Meadowlands Coach USA: 351 |
| Owner | New Meadowlands Stadium Company, LLC[1] |
| Capacity | 82,500[2] |
| Record attendance | Any event: 93,000 (12th Siyum HaShas, August 1, 2012) Concert: 89,106 (Ed Sheeran +-=÷x Tour, June 11, 2023) American football: 83,367 (New York Jets @ New York Giants, October 29, 2023) College football: 82,285 (122nd Army Navy Game, December 11, 2021) Soccer: 82,262 (Manchester United vs. Arsenal, July 22, 2023) |
| Surface | UBU Speed S5-M (2010–2022)[3] FieldTurf Core HD (2023–present) |
| Screens | Four 30 ft × 118 ft (9.1 m × 36.0 m) big-screen monitors One 360 degree ribbon board display[4] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 5, 2007[5] |
| Built | 2008–2010 |
| Opened | April 10, 2010[6] |
| Construction cost | $1.6 billion ($2.24 billion in 2023 dollars[7]) |
| Architect | 360 Architecture EwingCole Rockwell Group Bruce Mau Design, Inc. |
| Project manager | Hammes Company Sports Development |
| Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti |
| General contractor | Skanska[8] |
| Main contractors | Structal–Heavy Steel Construction, a division of Canam Group[9] |
| Tenants | |
| New York Giants (NFL) (2010–present) New York Jets (NFL) (2010–present) New York Guardians (XFL) (2020) | |
| Website | |
| metlifestadium.com | |
MetLife Stadium is one of two NFL stadiums shared by two teams, the other is SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Additionally, MetLife Stadium is the fifth building in the New York metropolitan area to be home to multiple teams from the same sports league, after the Polo Grounds, which was home to the baseball Giants and Yankees from 1913 to 1922, the third Madison Square Garden which hosted the NHL's Rangers and Americans from 1926 to 1942, Shea Stadium, which housed both the Mets and Yankees during the 1974 and 1975 seasons and both the Jets and Giants in 1975, and Giants Stadium, which hosted both the Giants and Jets from 1984 to 2009. MetLife Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVIII and will host multiple matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including both finals. It is the largest stadium in New Jersey with a capacity of over 82,000.
As Giants Stadium approached 30 years of age, it was becoming one of the older stadiums in the NFL. The Jets, who had been the tenants to the Giants, were looking to have a proposed West Side Stadium built in Manhattan. Originally intended to be the 85,000-seat main stadium for New York's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, it was designed to be downsized to 75,000 seats for the Jets. However, it would have required significant public funding; progress on the project was halted in 2005 due to opposition from a number of sources, including Cablevision, who owned the nearby Madison Square Garden at the time.[11] The Giants then entered into a joint venture with the Jets to build a new stadium in which the two New York teams would be equal partners.
The architects were tasked with designing a neutral stadium that would still embody the distinct personalities of both franchises. The Giants favored a traditional look of exposed steel framework and rusticated stone while the Jets wanted a sleek and modern look highlighted by metal and glass. With those features in mind the designers used the column/tower dynamic seen in many of Manhattan's skyscrapers as inspiration for the stadium's design.[12]
The base of the stadium's facade is clad in limestone-like stonework while the rest of the stadium is distinguished by an outer skin of aluminum louvers and glass and by interior lighting capable of switching colors, depending on which team is currently playing–blue for the Giants and green for the Jets.[13] This idea originated at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany; which was previously shared between the city's two major soccer clubs, Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich. Unlike Giants Stadium, MetLife Stadium can easily be reconfigured for the Giants or Jets within a matter of hours.[14] The louvers' total linear length is exactly 50,000 meters (50 kilometers) or 163,681 feet (31.1 miles).
Front row 50 yard line seats are 46 feet (14 m) away from the sideline, which is the shortest distance of all NFL stadiums. To change the field decorations, two 4-person crews take approximately 18 hours using forklifts and other machinery to remove the 40 sections of Act Global UBU Speed Series which make up the teams' respective end zones.[15] Replaceable team logos at midfield were removed in August 2010, after Domenik Hixon tore his anterior cruciate ligament at a practice at the stadium during training camp. For the next decade, the NFL's logo was painted at midfield, instead of the logo of one of the teams, also shortening the transition time.[16] However, in 2023, the Giants announced they would paint their team logo at midfield during their home games, with the Jets likewise doing the same approach.[17] The paint is formulated to be easily dissolved by water to ensure it can be quickly removed, and as such it is not expected to be used when precipitation is expected. If the two teams are playing each other, the designated home team will have its configuration around the stadium. During their annual preseason matchups, both the Giants and the Jets will have an end zone with their team logo. Additionally in 2023, the stadium installed a new artificial surface called the FieldTurf Core System, the first multilayer dual-polymer monofilament fiber surface. The new surface also contains heavyweight infill. Overall, the system should be more durable and lower incidences of player injury.[18]
Unlike a number of other new NFL venues, MetLife Stadium does not have a roof, as proposals to include a roof failed, over a dispute for funding.[19] Thus, indoor events such as the Final Four cannot be held at the facility, which runs counter to the original aims for a new arena in northern New Jersey.[20]
Ten giant HD-ready light emitting diode (LED) pylons, located at the north, south, east, and west entrances, display videos of the team currently in-house. The pylons measure approximately 54 feet (16 m) high by 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. Inside, are four 30 feet (9.1 m) by 116 feet (35 m) HD video displays, and hang from each corner of the upper deck.[21]
The new stadium seating bowl is laid out similar to that of Giants Stadium[12] and has seating for 82,500[2] people, including 10,005 club seats and approximately 218 luxury suites, making it the largest NFL stadium in terms of total seating.[22] The seating bowl is also raked in a way that eliminates overhangs from the upper decks that would impede views and allows fans to see the full arc of a 90-foot (30 yd) punt.[12]
| Lower bowl | Mid-bowl | Upper bowl |
|---|---|---|
| 33,346 | 21,323 | 27,897 |
MetLife Stadium includes a total of four locker rooms: one each for the Giants and Jets, as well as two for visiting teams. The home teams have locker rooms on opposite ends of the stadium with a visitors' locker room adjacent to it. On most game days the visitors use the locker room at the end opposite that of the home team while the unused visitors' locker room is used for spillover by the home team.[22][23] For games in which neither the Giants or Jets are playing, each team uses one of the visitor's locker rooms. When the Giants and Jets play each other, each team uses its own locker room plus the adjacent visitor's room for spillover.
In 2012, DLR Group partnered with NRG Energy to design and install a "Solar Ring" on the upper rim of MetLife Stadium. The Solar Ring consists of 1,350 building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar panels assembled into 47 individual frames. The BIPV panels are illuminated with LED lighting and programmed to display the signature blue and green colors of the Giants and the Jets along with other hues for events such as concerts, soccer matches, and college sports. The panels generate about 350 KW, nearly 25 times the amount of electricity that's actually needed to power the LED display system. The excess power generated can go into the general stadium use or back to the grid.[24][25]
In January 2024, renovations began on the lower bowl of MetLife Stadium to enlarge the playing field to meet necessary FIFA requirements to host the eight games, including the final, of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To limit disruption of regular stadium usage, the project is being done in two phases. Phase I was completed in May 2024 and Phase II will commence in January 2025 and be completed in May 2025.
To expand the field's dimensions for the tournament and maintain the current NFL seating capacity and layout, four corners of the existing precast concrete seating bowl will be demolished and replaced with a new modular steel composite seating system that includes related mechanical, electrical, audio visual and plumbing adjustments. Additionally, 1,740 permanent seats will be replaced with the new seating system.[26]
The design of the stadium makes it mainly accessible via automobile. The car-centric design of the stadium and adjacent areas frequently leads to traffic jams.[27]
In addition, the sports complex was not designed for pedestrian access to the stadium without jeopardizing safety. There are no sidewalks or pedestrian paths on the roads that access the stadium. Officials explicitly discourage pedestrians to walk to the stadium and in some cases forbid it due to safety concerns.[28]
The two teams formed the New Meadowlands Stadium Company, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture, to build and operate the stadium. The two teams leased the parcel of land on which the stadium stands from the NJSEA for a 25-year term, with options to extend it which could eventually reach 97 years. After the 15th year of the lease, and every five years, hence; one of the two teams may opt out of the lease after giving the state 12 months notice. The first such opportunity to opt out will occur in 2025 with a notice date of 2024. There will then be an opportunity to opt out in 2030, 2035, 2040, etc... However, if one team leaves for a new stadium, the other team would have to remain for the remainder of the lease. However, the high cost of building and relocating to a stadium makes it very unlikely. The teams also get parking revenue from the Meadowlands' western parking lots year round, even when there are no events at the stadium (this would occur when other parts of the Meadowlands host events).[29]
Allianz, a financial services and insurance company based in Munich, Germany, expressed interest in purchasing naming rights to the stadium. The proposal was for a period of up to 30 years,[30] and was estimated to be valued at between $20 million and US$30 million. Allianz sponsors the venue that inspired the color-change technology for MetLife Stadium: Allianz Arena in Munich.
Allianz's proposal drew protests from New York's Jewish community (the largest outside of Israel) and the Anti-Defamation League, due to Allianz previous close ties to the government of Nazi Germany during World War II. Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, secretary general of the North American Board of Rabbis, noted however that while the survivors' sensibilities were understandable, a naming deal is legitimate, noting "I have found Allianz to be receptive, to be sensitive and a friend of the Jewish people today."[31] No agreement was reached and talks between Allianz and the teams ended on September 12, 2008.[32]
On June 27, 2011, it was reported that New York City-based insurance company MetLife entered discussions to purchase naming rights to the stadium.[33] The new name, MetLife Stadium,[34] became official when all parties signed a 25-year deal on August 23.[35][36][37]
In June 2009, the New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation and the EPA signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines plans to incorporate environmentally-friendly materials and practices into the construction and operation of MetLife Stadium. The agreement includes strategies to reduce air pollution, conserve water, and energy, improve waste management, and reduce the environmental impact of construction. The goal of the agreement is to save the emission of nearly 1.68 million metric tons of carbon dioxide during the stadium's construction and its first year of operation. Under this agreement, the stadium construction must use around 40,000 tons of recycled steel, recycle 20,000 tons of steel from Giants Stadium, install seating made from recycled plastic and scrap iron, and reduce air pollution from construction vehicles by using cleaner diesel fuel, diesel engine filters, and minimizing engine idle times. Other goals of this agreement include providing mass transit options for fans and replacing traditional concession plates, cups and carries with compostable alternatives. The New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation is to report the progress on its goals to EPA every six months. Based on the reports, the EPA has stated it will quantify the benefits of the venue's environmental efforts.[38][39]
MetLife Stadium is accessible by car via Exit 16W on the western spur of the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) and is also located adjacent to NJ Route 3 and NJ Route 120.[40]
Coach USA provides the 351 Meadowlands Express Bus service between MetLife Stadium and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.[41] New Jersey Transit provides the 353 Bus service for select events between MetLife Stadium and Secaucus Junction.[42]
The Meadowlands Rail Line operates on event days between Meadowlands station and Hoboken Terminal via Secaucus Junction, where there is connecting service to Pennsylvania Station (New York City), Pennsylvania Station (Newark), and other New Jersey Transit rail operations. The line opened to the public on July 26, 2009.[43]
MetLife Stadium enforces a clear bag policy, allowing only transparent bags no larger than 12”x6”x12” and small clutches of 4.5”x6.5”, with exceptions for medically necessary items after inspection.[44]
In 2009, MetLife Stadium was named the "Greenest Stadium" in the NFL by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[45]
In July 2017, MetLife Stadium was named "Venue of the Year" by the Stadium Business Summit. The award is awarded to the world's best stadium, arena or sports venue, that deserves recognition for an outstanding performance over a 12-month period.[46]
On May 25, 2010, it was announced that Super Bowl XLVIII was awarded to the stadium, the first time a Super Bowl would be played in the New York metropolitan area, and the first time that a non-domed stadium in a cold-weather city would host it.[60] Normally, Super Bowls must be held in indoor climate-controlled stadiums if they are held in a city with an average temperature lower than 50 °F (10 °C). However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell waived this requirement and allowed MetLife Stadium on the ballot because of a "unique, once-only circumstance based on the opportunity to celebrate the new stadium and the great heritage and history of the NFL in the New York region."[61][62] The game was played on February 2, 2014. The temperature at kickoff was 49 °F (9 °C), making it only the third-coldest Super Bowl on record.[63] The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43–8 for their first Super Bowl victory.[64]
MetLife Stadium has twice hosted WrestleMania—the flagship pay-per-view event of the professional wrestling promotion WWE. WrestleMania 29 was held at MetLife Stadium on April 7, 2013. With 80,676 spectators, it was the third most-attended event in WWE history, and the highest-grossing event in WWE history at $12.3 million. Six years later, MetLife Stadium hosted WrestleMania 35 on April 7, 2019, overtaking WrestleMania 29 with an attendance of 82,265, and $16.9 million in revenue.[65]
MetLife Stadium is also designed for soccer. To prepare for a match, the stadium uses retractable seating in the field level corners to fit a FIFA-sanctioned soccer field.[66] Along with being noted for providing exceptional sight-lines,[67] this has allowed the stadium to host several major international matches.
The first international exhibition match was between Mexico and Ecuador on May 7, 2010, in front of 77,507 fans. The stadium hosted another international exhibition soccer match between the United States and Brazil on August 10, 2010. Brazil won 2–0 in front of a near-sellout crowd of 77,223; the game was played on a temporary grass field.[68][69]
On March 26, 2011, the stadium hosted an international friendly, between the United States and Argentina, which ended in a 1–1 draw and was played in front of a sellout crowd of 78,926.[70]
On June 18, 2011, the stadium hosted two quarter-final matches of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Costa Rica played Honduras to a 1–1 draw with Honduras winning on penalties 4–2 in the first match. The second match featured Mexico against Guatemala with Mexico winning 2–1.
On June 9, 2012, Argentina and Brazil played a friendly match, with Argentina winning in a thrilling 4–3 match featuring a Lionel Messi hat-trick.[71] Another exhibition match in preparation for 2014 FIFA World Cup was played on November 14, 2012, between Colombia and Brazil, with Brazil acting as the local team despite a higher affluence of Colombian fans.
On August 4, 2013, the stadium hosted two second round matches of the 2013 International Champions Cup. The first match saw Valencia CF defeat Inter Milan 4–0 and the second match saw Chelsea F.C. defeat A.C. Milan 2–0.
On November 15, 2013, Argentina and Ecuador played an international friendly to a 0–0 draw.[72]
On June 10, 2014, the stadium hosted an international friendly before the 2014 FIFA World Cup between the Republic of Ireland and Portugal with Portugal beating Ireland 5–1.[73]
On September 9, 2014, the stadium hosted an international friendly between Brazil and Ecuador with Brazil victorious 1–0.[74]
On March 31, 2015, the stadium hosted an international friendly rematch of Argentina and Ecuador with Argentina prevailing 2–1 in front of 48,000 fans.[75][76]
On July 19, 2015, the stadium hosted hosted two quarter-final matches of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Trinidad and Tobago played Panama to a 1–1 draw with Panama winning on penalties 6–5. The second match saw Mexico defeat Costa Rica 1–0.
On June 26, 2016, the stadium hosted the final of the Copa América Centenario—a special U.S.-hosted edition of the Copa América tournament co-organized by CONCACAF, marking the centennial of South America's soccer federation CONMEBOL. After a 0–0 draw after extra time, Chile beat Argentina 4–2 on penalties to win the tournament.[77]
On August 3, 2016, MetLife Stadium hosted a 2016 International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munich; Real Madrid won the match 1–0.[78]
On July 22, 2017, a match of the 2017 International Champions Cup was played between FC Barcelona and Juventus. Barcelona won the match 2–1 in front of 82,104 fans.[79]
MetLife Stadium hosted two matches as part of the 2018 International Champions Cup. The first match on July 25, 2018, between Manchester City F.C. and Liverpool F.C., with it ending 2–1 in favor of Liverpool, and the second match on August 7, 2018, between Real Madrid and AS Roma, also ending in a 2–1 victory for Real Madrid.[80][81]
On September 7, 2018, the stadium hosted the United States and Brazil in an international friendly match as part of U.S. Soccer's "Kickoff Series",[82] which Brazil won by a score of 2–0 with goals from Roberto Firmino and Neymar.[citation needed] On September 11, the stadium hosted an international friendly between Colombia and Argentina.[83]
On July 29, 2019, during the 2019 International Champions Cup, the stadium hosted the first Madrid derby held outside of Europe between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, which Atlético won 7–3.[84] On September 6, MetLife Stadium hosted the 70th all time meeting of the United States and Mexico with Mexico winning 3–0 in front of a crowd of 47,960.[85]
On July 23, 2023, the stadium hosted an international friendly between Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal in front of a stadium soccer record crowd of 82,262 with United winning 2–0.[86]
On August 3, 2024, MetLife Stadium hosted a preseason match of El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid with Barcelona winning 2–1 in front of 82,154 fans.[87]
On September 28, 2024, it was announced that Metlife Stadium would be one of 12 venues that will host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. In addition, it was also announced that it will host the final on July 13, 2025.
| Date | Winning Team | Goals | Losing Team | Goals | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2010 | Mexico  | 0 |  Ecuador | 0 | 77,507 |
| August 10, 2010 | Brazil  | 2 |  United States | 0 | 77,223 |
| March 26, 2011 | United States | 1 |  Argentina | 1 | 78,926 |
| June 18, 2011 | Honduras  | 1 (4) |  Costa Rica | 1 (2) | 78,807 |
| Mexico | 2 |  Guatemala | 1 | ||
| May 27, 2012 | Mexico | 2 |  Wales | 0 | 35,518 |
| June 9, 2012 | Argentina | 4 | Brazil | 3 | 81,994 |
| November 14, 2012 | Colombia  | 1 | Brazil | 1 | 38,624 |
| August 4, 2013 | Valencia  | 4 |  Inter Milan | 0 | 39,764 |
Chelsea  | 2 | Milan | 0 | ||
| August 14, 2013 | Mexico | 4 |  Ivory Coast | 1 | 35,671 |
| November 15, 2013 | Argentina | 0 | Ecuador | 0 | 38,000 |
| June 10, 2014 | Portugal  | 5 |  Republic of Ireland | 1 | 40,000 |
| September 9, 2014 | Brazil | 2 | Ecuador | 0 | 35,975 |
| March 31, 2015 | Argentina | 2 | Ecuador | 1 | 48,000 |
| July 19, 2015 | Panama  | 1 (6) |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1 (5) | 74,187 |
| Mexico | 1 | Costa Rica | 0 | ||
| June 12, 2016 | Ecuador | 4 |  Haiti | 0 | 50,976 |
| June 17, 2016 | Colombia | 0 (4) |  Peru | 0 (2) | 79,194 |
| June 26, 2016 | Chile  | 0 (4) | Argentina | 0 (2) | 82,026 |
| August 3, 2016 | Real Madrid | 1 |  Bayern Munich | 0 | 82,012 |
| June 1, 2017 | Mexico | 3 | Republic of Ireland | 1 | 42,017 |
| July 22, 2017 | Barcelona | 2 | Juventus | 1 | 82,104 |
| July 25, 2018 | Liverpool | 2 | Manchester City | 1 | 52,635 |
| August 7, 2018 | Real Madrid | 2 | Roma | 1 | 51,528 |
| September 7, 2018 | Brazil | 2 | United States | 0 | 32,489 |
| September 11, 2018 | Colombia | 0 | Argentina | 0 | 35,624 |
| July 29, 2019 | Atlético Madrid | 7 | Real Madrid | 3 | 57,714 |
| September 6, 2019 | Mexico | 3 | United States | 0 | 47,960 |
| July 23, 2023 | Manchester United | 2 | Arsenal | 0 | 82,262 |
| August 3, 2024 | Barcelona | 2 | Real Madrid | 1 | 82,154 |
The stadium hosted three matches during the 2024 Copa América: two in the group stage and a semi-final match.
The stadium will host nine matches during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, including the final.
| Date | Time (UTC−4) | Team #1 | Score | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2025 | 18:00 | Palmeiras |
– | Porto |
Group A | |
| June 17, 2025 | 12:00 | Fluminense |
– | Borussia Dortmund |
Group F | |
| June 19, 2025 | 12:00 | Palmeiras |
– |  Al Ahly |
Group A | |
| June 21, 2025 | 15:00 | Fluminense |
– |  Ulsan HD |
Group F | |
| June 23, 2025 | 21:00 | Porto |
– | Al Ahly |
Group A | |
| July 5, 2025 | 16:00 | Winner Match 55 | – | Winner Match 56 | Quarter-finals | |
| July 8, 2025 | 15:00 | Winner Match 57 | – | Winner Match 58 | Semi-finals | |
| July 9, 2025 | 15:00 | Winner Match 59 | – | Winner Match 60 | Semi-finals | |
| July 19, 2026 | 15:00 | Winner Match 61 | – | Winner Match 62 | Final |
MetLife Stadium is one of 16 venues, as well as one of the eleven American venues which will host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[88] As per FIFA requirements, the stadium will have a grass field installed for the World Cup matches. During the event, the stadium will be temporarily be known as "New York/New Jersey Stadium" in accordance with FIFA's policy on corporate sponsored names.[89][90] In February 2024, the stadium was announced as the host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.[91] In addition, the stadium will host five group stage matches, one Round of 32 match, and one Round of 16 match.[92]
| Date | Time (UTC−4) | Team #1 | Score | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group C | |
| June 16, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group I | |
| June 22, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group I | |
| June 25, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group E | |
| June 27, 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group L | |
| June 30, 2026 | --:-- | Winner Group I | – | 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H | Round of 32 | |
| July 5, 2026 | --:-- | Winner Match 76 | – | Winner Match 78 | Round of 16 | |
| July 19, 2026 | --:-- | – | Final |
On October 16, 2010, Rutgers hosted Army in the first college football game to be played in the new stadium, with the Scarlet Knights defeating the Black Knights in overtime, 23–20. During the game's second half, Rutgers player Eric LeGrand was injured on a special teams play, defending a Rutgers kickoff, and paralyzed from the neck down.
Syracuse University has hosted selected home games at MetLife Stadium in lieu of the Carrier Dome. The first of these games, branded as New York's College Classic, was played in 2012 against the visiting USC Trojans, who won 42–29. In 2013, the team opened its season against its rival Penn State at the stadium, losing 23–17.[93] In 2014, the team hosted the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at MetLife Stadium, losing 31–15. A rematch was held in 2016, once again losing to the Fighting Irish 50–33.
On November 16, 2019, MetLife Stadium hosted the 61st Cortaca Jug rivalry game between the NCAA Division III Cortland Red Dragons and Ithaca Bombers. With an attendance of 45,161, it set a record for the most-attended football game in Division III history. The game was held at MetLife Stadium as part of season-long commemorations of the 150th anniversary of college football.[94]
On December 11, 2021, MetLife Stadium hosted the 122nd Army-Navy Game. This was the first time the historic matchup was held at MetLife and the fifth time it was held in East Rutherford. Previous matchups were held at Giants Stadium in 1989, 1993, 1997, and 2002. Navy defeated Army 17–13.
On June 3, 2023, the National Hockey League announced that MetLife Stadium would host two outdoor games as part of the 2024 NHL Stadium Series. The New Jersey Devils hosted the Philadelphia Flyers on February 17, 2024. Devils captain Nico Hischier scored the first NHL goal in MetLife Stadium history on a breakaway 32 seconds into the first period of the game, ultimately scoring two goals on the night en route to the Devils victory over the Flyers by a final score of 6–3 before a crowd of 70,328 fans.[95] The following day, the New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders 6–5 in overtime following a 3-goal comeback from a 3–5 deficit in front of 79,690 fans in attendance, which was the third largest attendance in NHL history. Rangers forward Artemi Panarin was awarded the game-winning goal 10 seconds into overtime as the net came off its moorings by Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson. After video review, it was confirmed that the puck would've crossed the goal line had the net stayed in place.[96][97] This was the first time MetLife Stadium had ever hosted NHL hockey, the first time outdoor NHL hockey had ever been played in the state of New Jersey, and the fourth and fifth time outdoor NHL hockey would be played in the New York City/New Jersey area. Yankee Stadium hosted two games as part of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series, in which the New York Rangers won both games, defeating the New Jersey Devils 7-3 and defeating the New York Islanders 2–1. Citi Field previously hosted the 2018 NHL Winter Classic as well, with the Rangers defeating the Buffalo Sabres 3–2 in overtime.
| Date | Main act(s) | Opening act(s) / Guest(s) | Tour / Concert name | Tickets sold / available for | Gross revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2010 | Bon Jovi | Train, Gavin DeGraw, OneRepublic, Kid Rock | The Circle Tour | 206,099 / 206,099 (100%) (with July 9 show) | $21,386,437[98] (with July 9 show) | [99] |
| May 27, 2010 | ||||||
| May 29, 2010 | ||||||
| June 6, 2010 | 2010 Summer Jam | 49,048 / 49,048 (100%) | $4,308,316[100] | |||
| June 10, 2010 | Eagles | Dixie Chicks Keith Urban | Long Road Out of Eden Tour | 31,482 / 33,564 (94%) | $3,390,308[98] | |
| July 9, 2010 | Bon Jovi | Train, Gavin DeGraw, OneRepublic, Kid Rock | The Circle Tour | (see above) | (see above) | |
| June 5, 2011 | 2011 Summer Jam | 45,633 / 45,633 (100%) | $4,791,268[101] | |||
| July 20, 2011 | U2 | Interpol | U2 360° Tour | 88,491 / 88,491 (100%) | $8,927,150[102] | |
| August 13, 2011 | Kenny Chesney Zac Brown Band | Billy Currington Uncle Kracker | Goin' Coastal Tour | 55,239 / 55,239 (100%) | $5,058,534[103] | |
| May 18, 2012 | Performers |
— | 2012 Electric Daisy Carnival New York | 100,000 / 110,000 (91%) | $7,294,307[104] | [105][106] |
| May 19, 2012 | — | |||||
| May 20, 2012 | Performers
|
— | ||||
| June 3, 2012 | Guests |
2012 Summer Jam | 42,696 / 42,696 (100%) | $4,597,632[107] | ||
| August 11, 2012 | Kenny Chesney Tim McGraw | Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Jake Owen | Brothers of the Sun Tour | 56,285 / 56,285 (100%) | $5,523,669[108] | |
| September 19, 2012 | Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | — | Wrecking Ball World Tour | 152,290 / 159,000 (95%) | $14,409,760[109] | Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez was the special guest at the first show and Gary U.S. Bonds was the special guest at the second and third shows. The third (and final) show was delayed for two hours due to a strong thunderstorm. The show finally got underway around 10:30 pm, prompting fans to sing "Happy Birthday" to Springsteen at midnight to celebrate his 63rd birthday. At the end of the show, Springsteen was presented with a guitar-shaped birthday cake onstage. The concert was released as a live album in June 2019[110][111] |
| September 21, 2012 | ||||||
| September 22, 2012 | ||||||
| June 2, 2013 | 2013 Summer Jam | 41,598 / 41,598 (100%) | $3,793,412[112] | [113][114] | ||
| July 13, 2013 | Taylor Swift | Ed Sheeran Austin Mahone Joel Crouse | The Red Tour | 52,399 / 52,399 (100%) | $4,670,011[115] | Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy was the special guest.[116] |
| July 25, 2013 | Bon Jovi | The J. Geils Band | Because We Can | 95,991 / 95,991 (100%) | $9,594,635[117] | |
| July 27, 2013 | ||||||
| August 10, 2013 | Kenny Chesney Eric Church | Eli Young Band Kacey Musgraves | No Shoes Nation Tour | 53,416 / 53,416 (100%) | $4,849,247[118] | |
| July 11, 2014 | Beyoncé Jay-Z | — | On the Run Tour | 89,165 / 89,165 (100%) | $11,544,187[119] | [120][121][122] |
| July 12, 2014 | ||||||
| August 4, 2014 | One Direction | 5 Seconds of Summer | Where We Are Tour | 139,247 / 139,247 (100%) | $12,345,803 | |
| August 5, 2014 | ||||||
| August 16, 2014 | Eminem Rihanna | — | The Monster Tour | 100,420 / 100,420 (100%) | $12,358,850 | Both shows were the 6th highest-grossing box office of the year.[123] |
| August 17, 2014 | ||||||
| July 10, 2015 | Taylor Swift | Vance Joy Shawn Mendes HAIM | The 1989 World Tour | 110,105 / 110,105 (100%) | $13,423,858 | The Weeknd; Heidi Klum and United States women's national soccer team; Lily Aldridge, Lena Dunham, Gigi Hadid and Hailee Steinfeld were special guests at the first show.[124] Nick Jonas; Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Lily Aldridge, Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, Karlie Kloss, and Uzo Aduba were special guests at the second show.[125] |
| July 11, 2015 | ||||||
| August 5, 2015 | One Direction | Icona Pop | On The Road Again Tour | 56,159 / 56,159 (100%) | $5,156,858 | |
| August 15, 2015 | Kenny Chesney Jason Aldean | Brantley Gilbert Cole Swindell Old Dominion | The Big Revival Tour (Chesney) Burn It Down Tour (Aldean) | 58,642 / 58,642 (100%) | $6,067,017 | |
| August 26, 2015 | AC/DC | Vintage Trouble | Rock or Bust World Tour | 48,881 / 50,000 (98%) | $4,492,251 | |
| July 16, 2016 | Coldplay | Alessia Cara Foxes | A Head Full of Dreams Tour | 100,763 / 100,763 (100%) | $10,749,394[126] | [127] |
| July 17, 2016 | ||||||
| July 23, 2016 | Guns N' Roses | Lenny Kravitz | Not in This Lifetime... Tour | 100,177 / 100,177 (100%) | $11,687,391[128] | |
| July 24, 2016 | ||||||
| August 7, 2016 | Paul McCartney | — | One on One | 52,465 / 52,465 (100%) | $7,808,072 | |
| August 20, 2016 | Kenny Chesney | Miranda Lambert Sam Hunt Old Dominion | Spread the Love Tour | 56,292 / 56,292 (100%) | $5,736,232 | |
| August 23, 2016 | Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | — | The River Tour 2016 | 153,930 / 153,930 (100%) | $18,239,039 | The first show lasted 3 hours and 52 minutes, at the time his longest show ever in the United States and the third longest show of his career.[129] The second show lasted 3 hours and 59 minutes surpassing the previous show in which Tom Morello was the special guest.[130] The third and final show lasted 4 hours and 1 minute in which Rickie Lee Jones was the special guest.[131] |
| August 25, 2016 | ||||||
| August 30, 2016 | ||||||
| October 7, 2016 | Beyoncé | DJ Khaled | The Formation World Tour | 50,703 / 50,703 (100%) | $6,064,625[132] | This concert was originally scheduled to take place on September 7, 2016, but was rescheduled due to doctor's orders for vocal rest.[133] Serena Williams, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar were special guests. Beyoncé also added "6 Inch" to the setlist.[134] |
| May 14, 2017 | Metallica | Avenged Sevenfold Volbeat | WorldWired Tour | 46,941 / 49,155 (95%) | $5,955,038[135] | |
| June 28, 2017 | U2 | The Lumineers | The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 | 110,642 / 110,642 (100%) | $14,568,805[135] | |
| June 29, 2017 | ||||||
| August 1, 2017 | Coldplay | AlunaGeorge Izzy Bizu | A Head Full of Dreams Tour | 54,501 / 54,501 (100%) | $7,861,460[136] | |
| June 2, 2018 | Luke Bryan | Sam Hunt John Pardi Morgan Wallen | What Makes You Country Tour | 46,057 | $3,900,000[137] | |
| July 20, 2018 | Taylor Swift | Camila Cabello Charli XCX | Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour[138] | 165,564 / 165,564 (100%) | $22,031,386 | Swift became the first female artist in history to headline and sell out three consecutive shows at the stadium. During the second show, Swift performed "Clean" before the "Long Live" / "New Year's Day" medley. During the third show, Swift performed "So It Goes..." in place of "Dancing with Our Hands Tied".[139] |
| July 21, 2018 | ||||||
| July 22, 2018 | ||||||
| August 2, 2018 | Beyoncé Jay-Z | Chloe x Halle DJ Khaled | On the Run II Tour | 99,755 / 99,755 (100%) | $13,886,416 | At the beginning of the first show, the entire stadium was evacuated due to a nearby thunderstorm. The show start time was postponed until 11:30pm with the show ending at 1:30am. During the second show, "Nice" was added to the setlist. |
| August 3, 2018 | ||||||
| August 18, 2018 | Kenny Chesney | Thomas Rhett Old Dominion Brandon Lay | Trip Around The Sun Tour[140] | — | — | |
| September 21, 2018 | Ed Sheeran | Snow Patrol Anne-Marie | ÷ Tour[141] | 107,500 / 107,500 (100%) | $11,220,207 | |
| September 22, 2018 | ||||||
| May 18, 2019 | BTS | — | Love Yourself World Tour | 98,574 / 98,574 (100%) | $14,050,410[142] | BTS became the first Korean act to perform at the stadium. |
| May 19, 2019 | ||||||
| August 1, 2019 | The Rolling Stones | The Wombats | No Filter Tour | 104,964 / 104,964 (100%) | $25,510,438 | These concerts were originally scheduled to take place on June 13 and 17, 2019 but were postponed due to Mick Jagger recovering from a heart procedure.[143] |
| August 5, 2019 | Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real | |||||
| September 21, 2019 | Romeo Santos | Guests |
Utopía Concert | $9,003,680 | The first Latin artist ever to perform in this stadium as a headliner[144][145] | |
| August 5, 2021 | Guns N' Roses | Mammoth WVH | We're F'N' Back! Tour | TBA | TBA | Originally planned for July 18, 2020 as a stop on the Guns N' Roses 2020 Tour;
Postponed due to pandemic [146] |
| October 9, 2021 | Aventura | Guests •Radel Ortiz •Isabel Ortiz |
Inmortal Stadium Tour | 48,327 / 48,327 (100%) | $7,339,642 | The first Latin band ever to perform in this stadium as a headliners. This was also the end of the Inmortal Tour in the United States.[147] This was also their second time at MetLife. Their first was when they were the closing act for the lead singer Romeo Santos's Utopía Concert back in 2019.[148] |
| June 4, 2022 | Coldplay | H.E.R. Bea Miller |
Music of the Spheres World Tour | 117,240 / 117,240 (100%) | $13,153,892 | Kylie Minogue was the special guest at the first show, performing "Can't Get You Out of My Head" with the band. Bruce Springsteen was the special guest at the second show, performing "Working on a Dream" and "Dancing in the Dark" with the band.[149][150] |
| June 5, 2022 | ||||||
| June 16, 2022 | Paul McCartney | — | Got Back | 51,872 / 51,872 (100%) | $13,012,034 | Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi were the special guests.[151][152] |
| June 18, 2022 | Grupo Firme | — | Enfiestados y Amanecidos Tour | [153] | ||
| July 16, 2022 | The Weeknd | Kaytranada Mike Dean |
After Hours til Dawn Tour | The Weeknd premiered a trailer for his upcoming HBO series, The Idol, at this show right before he went on stage.[154][155] | ||
| July 23, 2022 | Elton John | — | Farewell Yellow Brick Road | |||
| July 24, 2022 | ||||||
| July 30, 2022 | Los Bukis | — | Una Historia Cantada | [156] | ||
| August 11, 2022 | Lady Gaga | — | The Chromatica Ball | 53,155 / 53,155 (100%) | $8,412,348 | Originally planned for August 19, 2020, before initially being delayed to August 19, 2021; Postponed due to pandemic[157] |
| August 13, 2022 | Kenny Chesney | Dan + Shay Old Dominion Carly Pearce |
Here and Now Tour | Originally known as the Chillaxification Tour; Originally planned for August 22, 2020, before initially being delayed to August 13, 2021; Postponed due to pandemic[158] | ||
| August 17, 2022 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | The Strokes Thundercat |
2022 Global Stadium Tour | 50,944 / 50,944 (100%) | $9,475,596 | [159] |
| September 6, 2022 | Rammstein | — | Rammstein Stadium Tour | Originally planned for September 10, 2020, before initially being delayed to September 10, 2021; Postponed due to pandemic[160] | ||
| May 26, 2023 | Taylor Swift | Phoebe Bridgers Gayle |
The Eras Tour | Swift became the first artist in history to headline and sell out three consecutive shows at the stadium twice. Highest three-day attendance in stadium history. | ||
| May 27, 2023 | Phoebe Bridgers Gracie Abrams | |||||
| May 28, 2023 | Phoebe Bridgers Owenn | |||||
| June 10, 2023 | Ed Sheeran | Dylan Khalid |
Mathematics Tour | 173,390 / 173,390 (100%) | $18,007,052 | Sheeran broke the attendance record for a concert in this venue with 89,000 fans attending his show on June 11.[161] |
| June 11, 2023 | ||||||
| July 6, 2023 | TWICE | — | Ready to Be World Tour | 47,907
(100%) |
$7,557,127 | Became the first Korean female act to headline and sell out at MetLife Stadium |
| July 29, 2023 | Beyoncé | Renaissance World Tour | 106,056 / 106,056 (100%) | $33,082,997 | Highest-grossing boxscore report in the stadium's history.[162] | |
| July 30, 2023 | ||||||
| August 4, 2023 | Metallica | Pantera Mammoth WVH |
M72 World Tour | 163,028 / 163,028 (100%) | $20,848,071 | |
| August 6, 2023 | Five Finger Death Punch Ice Nine Kills | |||||
| August 11, 2023 | Blackpink | — | Born Pink World Tour | 95,437/
95,437 (100%) |
$17,506,005 | Became the first Korean female act to headline and sell out 2 consecutive shows at MetLife Stadium |
| August 12, 2023 | ||||||
| August 15, 2023 | Guns N' Roses | — | 2023 Tour | |||
| August 30, 2023 | Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | — | 2023 Tour | |||
| September 1, 2023 | ||||||
| September 3, 2023 | ||||||
| September 7, 2023 | Karol G | Agudelo | Mañana Será Bonito Tour | |||
| September 8, 2023 | Agudelo Young Miko | |||||
| May 17, 2024 | Morgan Wallen | One Night At A Time World Tour | Rescheduled from May 19 and 20, 2023 for health reasons. | |||
| May 18, 2024 | ||||||
| May 23, 2024 | The Rolling Stones | Hackney Diamonds Tour | ||||
| May 26, 2024 | Lawrence | |||||
| July 19, 2024 | Luke Combs | Growin’ Up And Gettin’ Old Tour | ||||
| July 20, 2024 | ||||||
| August 17, 2024 | Kenny Chesney Zac Brown Band |
Megan Moroney Uncle Kracker |
Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour | |||
| October 3, 2024 | Pink | Sheryl Crow KidCutUp The Script |
P!NK: Summer Carnival | |||
| October 9, 2024 | Travis Scott | Sheck Wes | Circus Maximus Tour | |||
| May 8, 2025 | Kendrick Lamar SZA |
Grand National Tour | ||||
| May 9, 2025 | ||||||
| May 15, 2025 | Shakira | Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour | ||||
| August 8, 2025 | Billy Joel Stevie Nicks |
Two Icons, One Night | ||||
| August 9, 2025 | My Chemical Romance | Death Cab for Cutie Thursday |
Long Live The Black Parade Tour | |||
| August 27, 2025 | System of a Down | Polyphia | System Of A Down & Korn with special guest Polyphia | |||
| August 28, 2025 | ||||||
| August 31, 2025 | Oasis | Cage the Elephant | Oasis Live '25 Tour | |||
| September 1, 2025 | ||||||
The stadium hosted the 12th Siyum HaShas, a celebration of the completion of the Talmud through the 7+1⁄2-year Daf Yomi study program, on August 1, 2012. At 93,000 seats, it was the highest capacity crowd in the stadium's history, due to on-field seating and a ticket sell-out. The siyum was a Department of Homeland Security level two security event, the most critical short of a presidential visit.[163][164] On January 1, 2020, it hosted the 13th Siyum HaShas.[165]
The stadium hosts the annual Summer Jam festival sponsored by WQHT FM ("Hot 97").
Since 2012, the stadium has been the main site of the two-day electronic music festival Electric Daisy Carnival's stop in the New York Metropolitan Area bringing electronic acts including Armin Van Buuren, Hardwell, Porter Robinson and Tiësto.
In 2014, two of the "Keep Seeking First God's Kingdom!" International Conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses were held at the stadium.[166]
On July 14 and 15, 2017, the stadium hosted the 18th International Indian Film Academy Awards, the Oscars of Bollywood, for the first time.[167]
On January 16, 2018, the stadium hosted the inaugural ball for newly elected New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.[168]
In 2023, the New York Giants and the New York Jets were among the NFL teams with the highest average home attendance. Only the Dallas Cowboys drew a higher average home attendance, with 93,594 in 8 home games.[169]
| NFL Team | Year | Home Games | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 2023 | 8 | 79,307[169] |
| New York Jets | 2023 | 9 | 77,890[169] |
| New York Giants | 2022 | 9 | 76,474[170] |
| New York Jets | 2022 | 8 | 78,009[170] |
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