Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
MetLife Stadium 1 Metlife Stadium Dr East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 82,500
J – E- T- S, Jets, Jets, Jets !!!
MetLife Stadium was opened in 2010 as the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets to replace Giants Stadium. It is located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex just like its predecessor.
The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. They had one Super Bowl championship (Super Bowl III) in 1968.
Food & Beverage 4
There are numerous food options within the surprisingly crowded inner concourses.
Options are many as there with concession stands such as Bubba Burgers, Frank’s, BBQ Shack, Boardwalk Fryer, Wingman NY, and Momma Fusco’s Kitchen. Our personal favorite was Mr. Tot. Food prices are high, as likely expected for an NFL stadium within the New York City area. The combined Mrs. Field’s and Dippin’ Dots stands to seem to be very popular starting in the second half.
There are also a few specialized bars and lounges, some of which may cost an additional admissions fee. MetLife sells Pepsi brand sodas.
Atmosphere 5
When you enter the venue you actually begin on an outside concourse that wraps around most of the stadium. There will be activities and events pre-game in this area. This area is also a good meet-up spot for pre and post-game.
Once inside the stadium, there is a pretty small set of concourse walkways around the venue. It is a unique setup, but it is easy enough to navigate.
There are plenty of pre-game activities with bands, cheerleaders, etc to keep the fans interested. There is a new tradition where everyone in the stadium is encouraged to sing along together with the National Anthem, with the anthem singer leading that sing-along
Metlife Stadium really tries to make the stadium awash in green for Jet’s games. With the stadium being a shared venue it is tough making it seem like a Jets stadium and not a GIants stadium. It is not always a success, as the venue can feel sterile at times.
Neighborhood 3
The Meadowlands is a swamp. That is not some kind of put-down, but it is in a literal swamp. There is not a normal neighborhood nearby. Of course, New York City is a car or train ride away and offers many options for everyone. Parking lots surround the stadium.
The addition of the recently opened American Dream Mall helps the place in the neighborhood score. While still not 100% open, it is home to many stores, restaurants, an indoor amusement and water park, an NHL-sized skating rink, an indoor ski slope, and an aquarium just to name a few. Please note that due to county laws, many stores in the mall are closed on Sundays due to existing blue laws.
Fans 4
The Jets fans seem very blue-collar, especially compared to the fans of the other team that shares the stadium. They are a boisterous bunch that seems to stay excited even when the team’s success has been not great for many years. The Jets cheerleaders and other pre-game personnel and activities keep the crowd engaged.
Access 4
The Meadowlands is located off many major highways and has massive parking lots. You will not fight to find parking, although expect to pay $40 and up. There are train and bus options but expect long lines and a large number of fellow riders to fight through to use those services. The Coach USA bus service round trip to Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal is one of our favorite options, depending on where fans are coming from.
We do not recommend using rideshares after games as the setup and operations are a major disaster. We tried for a rideshare after another event at the stadium for a bit of time and it kept saying our ride was arriving in three minutes for nearly 25 minutes, all the while we were harassed by taxi drivers offering their much more expensive services. We ended up taking the train to nearby Secaucus Junction Station and getting a much cheaper rideshare from there, and it only cost a fraction of our original ride choice.
Return on Investment 4
This is the NFL so the prices can be high, coupled with pretty expensive parking, which means the game will not be cheap. But for the experience you will get, the price seems fair and reasonable. If the Jets start losing more the tickets do come down to a cheaper level.
Extras 4
The 50-yard line seats are only 46 feet from the sidelines. This is the closest to the field of any stadium in the NFL.
MetLife Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLVIII, two Wrestlemanias, and concerts by artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Paul McCartney.
The Meadowland Rail Station for New Jersey Transit is located right by the stadium and offers easy game-day transit.
The American Dream Mall is a bit of a mess, having many business issues, but it is still an interesting spot to check out in the area.
Final Thoughts
A game at MetLife Stadium is a great way to cap a trip to New York City and is also great for locals. The stadium may not feel like it costs 1.6 Billion dollars, but that does not mean it isn’t a good place for a game.
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