If you’re a sports fan, you may have heard of New Jersey’s own MetLife Stadium. But did you know that this ambitious, multipurpose arena is one of the most interesting in the country? The history of this iconic stadium is nearly as interesting as its impressive roster of teams, sports, and events. At New Jersey State Auto Used Cars, we love to celebrate the places that make our state unique. Read on to learn some fascinating facts and information about MetLife Stadium.

MetLife Stadium Size

With seating for 82,500, MetLife Stadium is the largest NFL stadium by capacity. It covers more than 2.1 million square feet and has approximately 28,000 parking spaces. The stadium also offers more than 200 suites on four levels and several club areas. One club area, the EY Coaches Club, stretches more than 18,000 square feet and includes an on-field deck that can be found five yards from the home team’s bench.

MetLife Stadium Location

MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This Meadowlands area location is just five miles west of New York City, making it a perfect spot to serve city residents and those who call New Jersey home. This major destination is easily accessible by New Jersey Transit, with a rail station located right in front of the stadium that runs from New York’s Penn Station and Newark Penn Station. With about a 20-minute public transportation ride from the line’s endpoints, you can easily make the trip for your next game or show.

Teams That Play at MetLife Stadium

One of the most unique things about MetLife Stadium is the teams that call it home. Both the New York Giants and New York Jets NFL teams play home games in this iconic location. Up until Los Angeles recently opened SoFi Stadium to the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, MetLife was the only stadium to host two NFL teams. With two major organizations, the stadium hosts up to 20 NFL games per season. It’s also home to the XFL team the New York Guardians.

Besides football, MetLife hosts other major sporting events and tournaments. In the past, it has held soccer’s Copa America Centenario and CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals. It’s also expected that the stadium will hold some games during the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Just three years after it opened, MetLife hosted WWE’s WrestleMania 29. A few years later, it held WrestleMania 35. With the event drawing 82,265 fans, it was one of the largest in the stadium’s history.

MetLife Stadium History

Before MetLife Stadium, the Giants and Jets shared Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. Looking to branch out on their own, the Jets began looking into building a separate stadium in Manhattan. Instead of going through with this plan, though, in 2005 the Jets organization decided to make an agreement with the Giants to build a new stadium. In 2007, construction began.

In 2010, the first NFL game was held at the newly finished stadium between the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants. Amazingly, the project had finished five months ahead of schedule and within budget. At that time, the stadium was called Meadowlands Stadium. In 2011, MetLife signed a $17 to $20 million deal to acquire naming rights from 2011 to 2036. MetLife Stadium was born.

Besides hosting a variety of major events for various sports, MetLife is famous for hosting one very important NFL game. In 2014, MetLife became the first open-air stadium in cold weather to host the Super Bowl. Typically, these early February games take place in warmer climate cities, like Miami.

However, the game went off successfully with record-high temperatures and no inclement weather. As the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos by a score of 43 to eight, MetLife cemented itself as a contender for future Super Bowl host. Some stadium executives even believe that the Super Bowl could come back to East Rutherford within the next 10 years.

MetLife Stadium Interesting Facts

MetLife Stadium has a fascinating history and several unique, little-known qualities and stories. Here are some of the most interesting facts about this stadium:

• For six of its first seven years of operation, MetLife Stadium was named the highest-grossing stadium in the world for non-NFL events by Billboard Magazine.
• Security magazine also ranked MetLife number one in the arenas and stadium category for its 2011 “Security 500” list.
• Besides sporting events, MetLife Stadium hosts major concerts and other performances. With the stage erected, the stadium can hold up to 50,000 fans. Some major artists who’ve performed here include U2, Bruce Springsteen, and Taylor Swift.
• Since two NFL teams play in the stadium, the lights and decor change color depending on which team is playing for each game. The stadium was designed with the dual team structure in mind, with a neutral backdrop that can easily transform into a home stadium for either organization. Removable end zones, banners, and a changing merchandise store transition from Jets green to Giants blue and back again.
• Although they are in different conferences, the New York Giants and New York Jets have played 14 times since the 1970 NFL merger. The Giants have won eight of those games, while the Jets have won six.
• During construction, the stadium’s contractors decided to implement an aggressive energy efficiency program. This includes solar panels to generate some of the stadium’s electricity.
• Contractors also ended up using 7,000 tons of debris from landfills during construction, incorporating recycled materials in steel piles and aluminum louvers.
• Around one-third of the workers and subcontractors for the stadium were women or minority business enterprises.
• After 4.5 million labor hours, the stadium was finished without a single serious accident.

Whether you’re an NFL fan, a WWE fanatic, or simply someone who’s interested in local New Jersey attractions, MetLife Stadium is a fascinating place to learn about. At your New Jersey State Auto Used Cars dealer, we’re proud to be from this great state, and we love to explore the places that make it so unique. Did you find this list of facts interesting? Are there any other tidbits of information we missed? Will you be backing the Jets or the Giants next season? Contact us today to let us know your thoughts!