www.stadiaworld.com SPORTS VENUES 2023/24 | 63 CONSTRUCTION to be installed. This will be financed in part by borrowing from the NFL Stadium Fund, which is intended to help teams implement stadium projects. The money comes from a pool of all 32 teams and acts as a low-interest loan. Back in 2022, Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, underwent minor renovations. A 585-square-meter fan zone was built, as were two new video screens in the north of the stadium. Hospitality areas will be improved this year and next in preparation for the FIFA World Cup. A Tunnel Club is planned that will allow fans to watch players as they walk from the locker room to the field. The Seahawks are also planning numerous renovations to the lounges, as well as the construction of two open-air standing areas overlooking the field and the installation of a new premium bar. Three stadiums shortlisted for the Final Three candidates were originally considered favorites to host the tournament’s Final: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, home of the LA Rams and Chargers, and AT&T Stadium of the Dallas Cowboys. However, the layout of the field at SoFi Stadium probably ruins their Final dream – it is simply too narrow in the current configuration. Designed for the main tenants and thus the NFL games specifically, the field currently measures 110 meters long and 49 meters wide. This means that the width is almost 20 meters short of the standard FIFA dimensions (105 x 68 meters). In principle, a temporary widening of the field at SoFi Stadium would of course not be an insurmountable obstacle. The problem, however, is that this would inevitably entail the loss of seating capacity in the lower tier, which would create a new conflict with FIFA regulations. These stipulate a minimum capacity of 80,000 seats for the Final stadium of the World Cup; according to reports, the minimum number of 70,000 seats would also have been accepted for the Californian stadium (capacity: 70,240) by way of an exemption. A further loss of seats due to the inevitable enlargement of the playing field would thus be the almost certain end for the 4.9 billion euro stadium. Meanwhile, the MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010, is scheduled for only minor work. At a cost of around 27.5 million euros, the main focus will be on design upgrades in and around the stadium. The money will also be used to make adjustments to the pitch (mainly: installing natural grass, adjusting the pitch size) in order to meet FIFA requirements. The financing will be provided by taxpayers’ funds. Considering the prestige factor of the city of New York, the more advantageous time zone and the stadium’s experience in hosting soccer matches, MetLife is the clear favorite to host the Final. The Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium is a promising competitor. The Cowboys want to upgrade their stadium for around 276 million euros and make it suitable for the finals. The general appearance of the stadium is not to change and the work can probably be carried out while the game is in progress. The plan is to upgrade the large video board hanging in the middle to 4K, refresh all seven fan stores located in the stadium, and invest once again in the modernisation of many displays. However, the biggest visual changes are to take place in the suites and premium areas. Above all, the corridors between the suites are to be given a new coat of paint. New suites are also to be built and older ones renovated. New wellness areas are planned, too. The renovation work is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2025, in time for the World Cup the following year. At the NFL’s annual winter meeting in December 2022, NFL owners approved the Dallas Cowboys’ remodeling plan. The project will be funded entirely by the ownership family, according to the franchise. The remaining four stadiums have yet to announce renovations in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They include NRG Stadium (Houston), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) and Hard Rock Stadium (Miami). AT&T Stadium: In regular operation, home to the Dallas Cowboys and their NFL games. Picture: ames D. Smith
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