It’s no secret that the National Football League is one of the most watched sports in the United States. With players from all fifty states, it seems like hardly a city in the US doesn’t boast a team. Now, if you’re anything like me and you’re passionate about the sport, you know where nearly all of the thirty-two teams are located. But for less experienced fans, putting names to locations can start to get a little tricky. So, I thought I’d share a few insights about NFL Team Locations.
NFL teams are mostly located on the East Coast, with one in Canada. There’s the New England Patriots up in New England, and they’re the only non-east-coaster to win a Super Bowl since the 80s. Down South you have two amazing teams – the Washington Red Skins and the Atlanta Falcons. Over in the Midwest, you have the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, both major contenders. Head a little further West and you’ll find the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, all with massive fan bases.
The West Coast of the US has two major teams as well. Out in San Francisco you have the San Francisco 49ers, one of the most iconic teams in the NFL. And don’t forget the Los Angeles Rams, who have had some great success in the past decade. Of course, the only non-US team is located in Canada, the Toronto Argonauts. Go far south enough and you’ll find the Florida Gators and the Miami Dolphins.
It’s amazing to think that there’s actually only three locations on the planet that don’t have an NFL team – China, India and the UK. But with the ever-growing popularity of the sport, it’s not unlikely that we’ll see teams popping up in these countries as well in the near future.
So, that’s a run-down of the thirty-two teams currently in the NFL and where you’ll find them. Now, if you’re ever planning on going to an away game, you’ll know which city you should head to!
Let me tell you about the three largest stadiums that accommodate these 30 teams. First of all, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is the largest stadium in size, with seating capacity of 82,7000. The second largest is the EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida with a seating capacity of 70,000. The third largest is MetLife Stadium located in East Rutherford, New Jersey with seating capacity of 82,500.
Remember when the Los Angeles Rams, who were the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers were both in California? This was prior to 2015 when the Chargers sold their stake in San Diego and started in Los Angeles. Just to give you a sense of the geographical mobility of NFL teams.
The great thing about being a NFL fan is that whether you are an avid supporter of particular team or you simply love the sport, you have the unique benefit of watching your favorite teams playing all across the country. I remember when I was living in Illinois and traveled to New Orleans to see the Saints play against the Bengals in 2017. The atmosphere was incredible and an experience I will never forget.
Team owners know the power of location too. For example, Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, realized the power of Atlanta as a destination for big NFL games and built a world-class, state-of-the-art stadium. His team has seen a lot of success since.
Have you ever had the opportunity to attend a game live? For me, attending a live game is more exciting and thrilling than watching it on television. When attending, you can feel the excitement emanating from the players, the coaches, and the fans. You can smell the hot dogs cooking and experience the emotions each team experiences as they fight to reach the Super Bowl.
One of the most interesting parts of the NFL teams is thenicknames they go by. Take the Cincinnati Bengals for example, they’re often referred to as the “Bungles”, a play on their animal mascot, the Bengal tiger. Not only does this make a cool nickname but also creates brand loyalty for the team.
The Cleveland Browns also have an interesting story. The team originally adopted the nickname the “Brownies” but had to switch to the “Browns” in a match of NFL etiquette that prohibits double nicknames.
Interstate rivalries can make a big fuss of a matchup between two teams and that’s why the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles are such an iconic rivalry. The two teams have battled for every division title since 1972 and the annual matchups are always must-see games.
Making travel plans to see one of the teams playing in the Midwest can be surprisingly tricky. Since the region is so vast, you must make sure to double check the start and end times of each game since it can often be difficult to anticipate travel delays.
With an iconic match up in the NFC North, there’s no doubt that the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Detroit Lions should not be missed. But even with all the great matchups between those two teams, there’s no question that the season will be defined by the two biggest games in the division, the Vikings vs. the Green Bay Packers.
One of my favorite rivalries is that of The Indianapolis Colts Vs. The Pittsburgh Steelers. This rivalry is known as the “battle of the horseshoes” and often the games come down to the wire as the two teams battle it out for victory.
No matter if you’re a fan or a non-fan, there is no doubt that NFL teams locations are geographically varied. With club’s situated on both coasts, the Midwest, and even further north in Canada, believe me when I say that the league is full of surprises.
The return of the Dallas Cowboys to Texas after a three-season stint in the Metroplex of North Texas just goes to show the passion and dedication of the fans through thick and thin. Even though many may not be aware, the Cowboys actually played in four different states over the course of their seven-season franchise existence from 1960 to 1966.
In addition to Texas, fans saw the Cowboys play in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Louisiana. Throughout the states, the team was known as the Dallas Cowboys but had different nicknames for each one such as the Dallas Texans intheir home state of Texas.
Finally, I can’t help but mention how amazing the atmosphere is when teams come to the home stadiums. Every NFL stadium has an incredible fan base, so you can usually expect a great atmosphere no matter where you’re watching the game.
So, that’s my run down on NFL Team Locations! It’s inspiring to know how much support and loyalty the teams receive from all over the United States. Do you have a favorite team you like to watch? Let me know in the comments!