By: Gus Wilson

The National Football League (NFL) is one of the oldest running sports leagues in the United States. Existing for a little over a century, they are the third longest running league, behind Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and in front of the National Basketball Association. This longevity creates history among the 32 franchises, including where each team comes home. Today, I will be going over the 5 oldest NFL stadiums in existence and speaking on some of their history.

5. Caesars Superdome

Photo provided by the Las Vegas Review Journal

Previously and most widely known as the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the now Caesars Superdome has been the home of the Saints since 1975 and comes in at number 5 of the oldest stadiums in the NFL. The closed in stadium is located in the heart of New Orleans and is neighbors with the Smoothie King Arena, the home of the New Orleans Pelicans. Besides football, the stadium was also found extremely helpful to the citizens of Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. The stadium was used for shelter and an area to help pass out food during these hard times.

4. Highmark Stadium

Photo provided by USA Today

The fourth oldest stadium is located in Orchard Park, New York. The only team whose stadium is truly in New York, the Buffalo Bills, have played in Highmark Stadium since 1973. In the years the team has played in the venue, they have gone through a number of changes. From Rich Stadium, to Ralph Wilson Stadium, New Era Field, Bills Stadium, and now Highmark Stadium, the loyal fanbase has stuck with them through it all. Since 1973, Bills Mafia has and will always flood to Orchard Park on Sundays.

3. Arrowhead Stadium

Photo provided by Newsroom KC

While the full name of the venue is GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the entirety of the NFL knows the legendary arena as Arrowhead Stadium. Arrowhead opened and held its first game in 1972, just edging out the Buffalo Bills to make the podium on the oldest stadiums in the league. The home of the Chiefs is located in Kansas City, Missouri. With the Chiefs recent success in the league under young star and MVP Patrick Mahomes, the tomahawk chops and chants can almost be heard throughout the state. Arrowhead is also known as the loudest stadium in the league according to the Guinness World Records.

2. Lambeau Field

Photo provided by Crestron

The silver and gold medalists on this list are also some of the franchises in the history of the league. Lambeau Field has been the well-renowned home of the Green Bay Packers since 1957, creating a huge gap between second and third on this list. The stadium is surrounded by many neighborhoods in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and is a part of the community itself. Lambeau Field is known for its harsh weather when December and January hit, and also for the Lambeau Leap, one of the most iconic celebrations in any sport. Although the venue is old, the picture shows the many renovations it has undergone in its existence.

1. Soldier Field

Photo provided by Enjoy Illinois.

The oldest stadium in the over 100 years the NFL has been in existence is Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears, similar to the Packers, are one of the longest running teams in the league’s existence. Soldier Field opened in 1924, creating a large margin between the oldest and second-oldest stadiums in the NFL. Located just outside of downtown Chicago, the Bears’ home is not hard to spot. While the stadium had major renovations conducted in 2002, the history of the venue was never altered.